YARMOUTH, N.S. — The Yarmouth Mariners have announced that the team has selected Yarmouth County native Ryan Semple as its territorial pick in advance of the MHL’s midget draft.
Semple, who grew up playing minor hockey in Yarmouth, has been playing with the South Shore Mustangs major midget team for the past two seasons.
The 5’9 180-lb forward led the South Shore Mustangs in scoring with 19 goals this past season and 15 assists this past season.
“Great work ethic and great kid both on and off the ice,” says Mariners head coach Laurie Barron about Semple.
Mariners fans got to see Semple on the ice at the end of the 2018-2019 MHL season, when he affiliated with the South Shore Lumberjacks during the playoffs.
“Ryan was an exemplary leader for the Mustangs this year both on and off the ice,” says Mustangs head coach Brogan Bailey. “His work ethic and desire to consistently be his best was held up as an example for everyone else with our organization. We know these qualities will continue to serve Ryan well as he moves into the junior ranks with the Mariners and wish him all the best.”
Semple was also named the Nova Scotia Major Midget League’s Most Sportsmanlike Player of the Year this past season.
This year, five MHL teams made the maximum of two territorial selections (Amherst, Miramichi, Summerside, Truro, Valley). Three teams, including the Mariners, made one selection (Edmundston, Grand Falls and Yarmouth) and will now receive a compensation pick following the third round of the Entry Draft taking place this Saturday. The four teams who did not make a territorial selection (South Shore, Campbellton, Pictou, Fredericton) will receive compensation picks following rounds two and three of the Entry Draft.
The MHL’s Annual General Meetings and Entry Draft will take place June 13-15 in Edmundston, N.B.
