SPORTS CHAT: 2000 QMJHL Entry Draft put Cape Breton on major junior hockey map

The 2000 Quebec Major Junior Hockey League Entry Draft was business as usual for the then Cape Breton Screaming Eagles.

The franchise, which had called Sydney home since 1997, was holding the No. 16 overall pick at the entry draft and officials were well aware of what was needed to be successful moving forward.

But, what the organization didn’t know, was that the team’s selection would change the franchise forever and put Cape Breton Island on the major junior hockey map.

In the early years, the Screaming Eagles saw less than stellar goaltending. Danny Lavoie, Jonathan Wilhelmy, David St-Germain, Dany Dallaire and Daniel Boisclair all had losing records, at one point, and goals-against averages above 3.89.

As the Eagles sat waiting their turn in 2000, the team watched as the Val-d’Or Foreurs drafted netminder Maxime Daigneault with the first overall pick, but it wasn’t Daigneault who would make the biggest impact between the pipes from that draft.

Approaching their selection, future NHLers Pierre-Marc Bouchard (Chicoutimi) and Maxime Talbot (Rouyn-Noranda) would be selected, as well as current Joneljim Cougars head coach James Sanford (Victoriaville).

With its past goaltending difficulties, it was clear the Eagles were looking for a netminder with potential to lead the team to the Promised Land and with that selected a young 16-year-old Marc-André Fleury.

The Sorel, Que., native didn’t take long introducing himself to Eagles fans. Barely speaking English at the time, Fleury reported to Cape Breton and quickly found a spot on the roster, appearing in 35 games in his rookie campaign in 2000-01, posting a 12-11-2-1 record.

Fleury’s special talent, development and stock continued to rise during the 2001-02 season when he took over as the team’s No. 1 netminder, posting a 26-10-8-4 record with a 2.78 goals-against-average and a .915 save percentage.

The then 17-year-old led the Eagles to their first-ever semifinal playoff appearance after eliminating the Baie-Comeau Drakkar and Halifax Mooseheads, before losing in third round to the Acadie-Bathurst Titan in five games.

Marc-André Fleury holds the Stanley Cup after winning the championship with the Pittsburgh Penguins. Fleury won three titles with the Penguins during his 16-year NHL career to date. He’s now a member of the Vegas Golden Knights. CONTRIBUTED/NHL.COM

He would play three full seasons in an Eagles uniform and an additional 10 games in 2003-04.

Fleury, sporting his well-known Eagles yellow pads, would go on to represent Canada at the IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship in 2003 and 2004, winning the silver medal both years.

In 2003, Fleury put Cape Breton Island on the major junior hockey map when the Pittsburgh Penguins drafted the netminder with the first overall pick at the NHL Entry Draft.

Prior to the draft, it’s fair to say the island was known for the Cape Breton Oilers American Hockey League Calder Cup championship, won in 1993, but many didn’t recognize the area for major junior hockey.

Since 1963, only three goaltenders have been selected with the first overall pick at the NHL draft.

Fellow QMJHLer Michel Plasse of the then Drummondville Rangers was taken by the Montreal Canadiens with the top pick in 1969. Plasse won a Calder Cup with the Nova Scotia Voyageurs in 1972. The only other goalie taken first overall since ’63 was Rick DiPietro in 2000 by the New York Islanders.

Because of Fleury’s success and accomplishment in Sydney, Cape Breton would later become known as a goaltending hotbed. Martin Houle, Ondrej Pavelec (import draft), Olivier Roy and Kevin Mandolese, all NHL draft picks, have since come through the Eagles’ system as homegrown picks.

Fleury remains the only player in Eagles history to be the first overall pick in the NHL draft. James Sheppard (2006/Minnesota), Evgeny Svechnikov (2015/Detroit) and Pierre-Luc Dubois (2016/Columbus) have also been first-round picks representing the Eagles.

Although 2000 is being highlighted, Cape Breton has had many good drafts over the years, including 2004 when Sheppard was taken first overall at the QMJHL Entry Draft.

The same year, Dean Ouellet, Chris Culligan, Francois Gauthier, Etienne Breton and Brendon MacDonald, who all suited up for the Eagles, were also picked and went on to have QMJHL careers.

The Eagles organization will welcome more members to its family this weekend when they participate in the QMJHL’s virtual entry draft, a result of COVID-19 protocols.

Cape Breton holds the No. 17 overall pick. The pick is late in the opening round, but as Fleury proved, many hidden gems can still be found.

It’s hard to believe it’s been 20 years since the Eagles drafted the now 35-year-old Fleury, who has since won three Stanley Cups. He was — and still is — a role model in the Cape Breton community, an inspiration to young goaltenders, and still to this day a fan favourite.

Jeremy Fraser covers sports, including the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, for the Cape Breton Post and Saltwire Network. He can be contacted by email at jeremy.fraser@cbpost.com. Follow Jeremy @CBPost_Jeremy on Twitter.

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