Three Peterborough Petes Selected to 2021 NHL Draft
/It was a dream that Mason McTavish, Brian Zanetti and Artem Guryev all get to live as their names were called in the 2021 NHL Draft on Friday and Saturday.
McTavish helped Team Canada win gold for the first time since 2013 at the 2021 U18 IIHF World Championship in Texas. He had 11 points (five goals, six assists) in seven games, ranking fifth overall in the tournament and tied second on Team Canada. Photo Courtesy of the Peterborough Petes.
McTavish was selected third overall by the Anaheim Ducks on Friday, the earliest a Pete has ever been drafted since Nick Ritchie in 2014, 10th overall (also by the Ducks).
The Zurich, Switzerland-born centreman modelled his game after Ducks captain Ryan Getzlaf.
“He’s a bigger guy, kind of similar to me,” said McTavish. “He’s super talented and he gets around pretty well too for how big he is so I definitely look up to him and admire how he plays the game.”
The Carp, Ontario native recorded 29 goals and 13 assists for 42 points during his 2019-20 rookie campaign with Peterborough, finishing second in the OHL rookie scoring race. He was named to the OHL 2nd All-Rookie team.
Zanetti was having dinner with his family when he heard his name be called by the Philadelphia Flyers. Photo Courtesy of the Peterborough Petes
Brian Zanetti was selected 110th overall in the fourth round by the Philadelphia Flyers.
Zanetti was selected by the Petes at the 2020 CHL Import Draft, first round, 35th overall. The 172-pound defenceman played for HC Lugano U-20 Elit in Switzerland for the 2019-20 and 2020-21 season.
The 2003-born, Switzerland native recorded nine goals and 20 assists for 29 points in 41 games, during last season’s campaign. Zanetti has represented Switzerland at the U16, U17, U18, and U20 levels.
The Swiss defenceman becomes the eighth Pete in franchise history to be selected by the Philadelphia Flyers.
“When I saw my name, my parents and I were super happy and very excited,” said Zanetti. “My father did cry a bit and was very emotional for me and my grandfather and grandmother.”
Guryev was a part of the Ontario Junior Hockey League’s Lindsay Muskies in the East Division that hosts other teams, especially in the Quinte area including the Trenton Golden Hawks and Wellington Dukes. Photo Courtesy of the Peterborough Petes.