By Drew Wilson

Two Raiders taken in NHL draft

Jun 25, 2011 | 12:55 PM

“There's nothing better than being drafted by your favourite team.”

That was Mark McNeill's first comment to the media in Minnesota moments after his selection by the Chicago Blackhawks Friday night in the first round of the NHL draft.

It was a nerve wracking to wait through the first 17 picks and a mix of relief and elation when his named was called. It's an honour to be taken by a team with so much talent and tradition, said McNeill.

“They've always been a team I've watched a lot, players like Kane and Toews are guys I look up to and like I said I couldn't be happier.”

It was difficult to know if he was high on the Hawks radar screen, said McNeill.

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“It's hard to say with all the interviews at the combine and before the draft, all the meetings were pretty much the same, the same questions. I had a few sit downs with the Blackhawks and they all seemed to go very well.”

Becoming a Blackhawk next season is a priority, said McNeill.

“I think I'm on the right track. I want to go to camp this September to make that team and at the same time I know that if it doesn't happen I'm not going to get down on myself, I have all areas of my game to improve on and I have a good place to go back to in Prince Albert to develop if that happens.”

Raider defenseman Harrison Ruopp stayed home in Zehner Saskatchewan to await his NHL draft fate. In an age of advancing technology, the news he was selected in the third round, 84th overall by Phoenix came in the old fashioned way, over the phone, said Ruopp.

“Our internet's not too good on the farm so we were watching it (the NHL draft) on the computer and I actually got a call from my agent and that's how I found out. It was a huge surprise to me and it was just a thrill. I've got my grandparents here and my parents and my family and it's just an amazing time for me.”

The prospect of going to his first NHL training camp is going to be a big motivator this summer, said Ruopp.

“I've been back in the gym and working hard. I took a little bit of a break (at the end of the playoffs), but fore sure it gives me a lot of extra motivation to push myself this summer.”

The trip itself to Phoenix for Coyotes camp is exciting, said Ruopp.

“It's definitely going to be a change for me, but it's going to be a great experience, I'm really excited. I've never actually been anywhere out of the country. The furthest I've been is, I think New Jersey when I was in grade two, so this will definitely be a change for me.”

Ruopp wasn't even mentioned on the NHL Central scouting rankings last fall and was 102nd among North American skaters on their final list. The 18 year old made a much bigger impression on the Coyotes who drafted the punishing defenseman much earlier. Ruopp is already pumped for next season in Prince Albert, feeling the Raiders are going to “do some damage”.

Meanwhile former Minto Josh Manson was taken by Anaheim in the 6th round. The son of former Raider Dave Manson is getting ready for his third season with Salmon Arm of the B.C. Hockey League and looking at landing a U.S College scholarship at Quinnipiac.

dwilson@rawlco.com