Meet Tyler Peddle – the only Nova Scotian drafted into the NHL this year

It was a long wait for Tyler Peddle, but it was worth it.

Surrounded by 12 family members in the stands of Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Peddle had to wait for 223 players to have their names called.

While many would have lost hope by the end of Thursday’s rounds, the 18-year-old from Antigonish, NS, said he felt he had to stay. Finally, the Columbus Blue Jackets named him as the 224th and final pick.

“I kind of fainted,” Peddle said Saturday. “All I heard was Quebec Major Junior and then my club team, Drummondville. I didn’t even hear my name. I just heard my family start screaming.

“And so I thought it was probably me when they screamed. So no, it was crazy. I mean, it was a blur. But it’s a moment I’ll never forget for the rest of my life.”

Peddle grew up playing for the Antigonish Bulldogs, where his father Brad – who is the head coach of the St. FX X-Men hockey team – helped him develop as a player.

“He’s one of the reasons I’m where I am today,” said Tyler Peddle.

‘I’m going to prove myself’

Peddle plays center and left wing for the Drummondville Voltigeurs in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.

He will return to the Voltigeurs for training camp in August, but first he will head to development camp in Ohio with the Blue Jackets starting Sunday.

“I’m going to prove myself, I feel like that’s pretty important,” he said. “I’m ready and I’m more motivated than ever.”

He wants other young players in Nova Scotia with big hockey ambitions to “keep the dream alive”.

“You can be as talented as you want,” he said. “But I think that work ethic — that’s why I got to where I am today. That’s a pretty important thing to me. Keep believing.”

3 other players with NS connections lined up

Three other players with connections to Nova Scotia were drafted.

Mathieu Cataford, a left winger for the Halifax Mooseheads, was drafted 77th overall by the Stanley Cup-winning Vegas Golden Knights and his teammate, defenseman Dylan MacKinnon was drafted 83rd overall by the Nashville Predators. Cataford is from Saint-Constant, Que., and MacKinnon is from Riverview, NB

The Golden Knights posted a video of Cataford saying he was “really excited to be called up by Vegas” and that he “can’t wait to go.”

Fellow Moosehead Zachary L’Heureux, who was drafted to the Nashville Predators in the 2021 draft, posted a video message to MacKinnon on Twitter.

“I’m excited to have you in Nashville. Seeing you over the years and your progression and the work you’ve put into it, it’s really amazing. You’re an incredible teammate and an even better person. I’m super excited to spend some time with you in Nashville,” L’Heureux said in the video.

On their website, the Halifax Mooseheads noted that Cataford and MacKinnon were the 58th and 59th players in team history to be drafted by a National Hockey League team.

Right winger Cam Squires of the Cape Breton Eagles was drafted 122nd overall for the New Jersey Devils. Squires is from Charlottetown.