EVERETT — As a native of Abbotsford, B.C., it makes sense that Everett Silvertips defenseman Noah Juulsen grew up as a fan of the NHL’s Vancouver Canucks.
That all changed last June when he was selected by the Montreal Canadiens in the first round of the NHL draft as the No. 26 overall pick.
Juulsen said he didn’t know where he would go in the draft, but was confident it would be within the first two rounds. That Montreal selected him was a bit of a surprise, he said.
“They said they had a couple guys they were looking at, but you don’t know who those guys are,” Juulsen said Wednesday. “You don’t know if they’ve been taken already. It’s just a process. You don’t really ever know.”
Juulsen sustained a concussion Wednesday and has yet to participate in scrimmages.
He is the seventh Everett player in team history to be taken in the first round and spent July 6-9 at the Canadians development camp in Montreal along with all the other draft picks and other signed players.
“Going to Montreal — it’s a great organization,” Juulsen said. “They treated me really well for the week I was there. I got a lot of positive feedback. I’m excited to be going back pretty quick here.”
Juulsen will head back to Montreal for training camp in early September. In all likelihood he’ll be back for his 18-year-old season in Everett.
“It’s pretty tough to make it as an 18-year-old in the NHL,” Juulsen said. “Most likely I’ll be coming back here. That’s what I expect.”
NHL campers
Four other returning Silvertips players attended NHL developmental camps this summer including 20-year-old Carson Stadnyk (St. Louis), 18-year-old defenseman Kevin Davis (Edmonton), 19-year-old defenseman Tristen Pfeifer (Arizona) and 20-year-old goalkeeper Austin Lotz (Buffalo).
The chance to attend Blues camp was particularly poignant for Stadnyk. His uncle, Bernie Federko, played 13 seasons for the Blues during his Hall of Fame career and is currently a TV analyst for St. Louis.
Stadnyk admitted being “star-struck” when he arrived in St. Louis for July’s developmental camp.
“It was the best moment of my life and all that, but also the scariest,” Stadnyk said. “I thought, ‘I’m actually here.’ The first day and the first skate were pretty nerve-wracking. I didn’t know anyone.”
Green and Grey Game
The first week of camp concludes Sunday with the Green and Grey Game at 3 p.m. at Xfinity Arena. This year’s festivities also includes a rookie game at 8 a.m. Sunday that will feature some of the 15- and 16-year-old players from camp getting one final chance to impress the organization.
General Manager Garry Davidson was pleased with the way things progressed Friday during the first scrimmages of camp.
“The younger guys that haven’t been here before are feeling their way out,” Davidson said. “Come Sunday when we get down to the Green-Gray Game it gets a little more serious.”
At Saturday’s morning session Team Red defeated Team Grey 3-2 and Team Blue defeated Team Green 3-2 in a shootout. Team Grey beat Team Red 7-5 in the third-place game Saturday, and Team Green defeated Team Blue 4-2 to win the Volunteer Cup.
Follow Silvertips writer Jesse Geleynse on Twitter @jessegeleynse.
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