Music: {allcanada} Fournier taken first

Friday, June 3, 2011

{allcanada} Fournier taken first

VICTORIAVILLE, Que. -- Defenceman Dillon Fournier was taken first overall by the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies in the Quebec Major Hockey League's special dispersal draft Friday.

The draft was held after the QMJHL bought and dissolved the Lewiston Maineiacs franchise.

The 17-year-old Montreal native had a productive rookie season, scoring three goals and 11 assists with a plus-9 rating in 60 games with Lewiston.

Defenceman Samuel Carrier went second to the Baie-Comeau Drakkar, while forward Michael Chaput was picked third by the Shawinigan Cataractes.

Carrier, a Washington Capitals draft pick, had 11 goals and 39 assists and a plus-40 rating. Chaput, a prospect with the Philadelphia Flyers, scored 25 times and had 34 assists with a plus-23 rating.

A total of 19 players were selected in the dispersal draft.

The Maineiacs, the QMJHL's only American team, made their debut in 2003 when the Sherbrooke Castors moved to Lewiston, Maine.

They won the league championship in 2007 and advanced to the Memorial Cup, where they finished 1-3 and did not advance to the playoffs.

"I am truly sad for Maineiacs fans," said majority owner Mark Just in a statement Tuesday. "For those that supported the team over the past few years, I would like to thank you. Nonetheless, mounting financial losses became too much to bear for our ownership group."