It has been Draft Central around North America the last few weeks. Five members of the Guelph Storm were taken in the NHL draft and then the Storm took a deep breath and drafted 18-year-old forward Vadim Guskov, sight unseen, from a Russian Junior League.

Having traded away their first round Import draft pick in the Adam Comrie-Matt Hoyle trade with Saginaw, the Storm didn't pick until 73rd. By that time all the top NHL prospects were long gone. So coach and GM Jason Brooks went back to an old source in Hockey Hall of Fame member Igor Larionov to find Guskov. Larionov, an amazing player with the Central Red Army team and later five NHL teams last year suggested defenseman Evgeny Molotilov, another player the Storm had never laid eyes on, and he turned out to be a nice find. So, when it comes to the Import draft, good intelligence from a trusted source is about as good as you can hope for.

"Igor describes him as a diamond in the rough, so we'll see," said Brooks.

Guskov, a left shot who likes to play his off wing, is six feet tall and 187 pounds.

As promised last week, here are a couple of notes and quotes from the NHL Draft held in Montreal.

A few minutes after Taylor Beck and Michael Latta of the Storm had been drafted by the Nashville Predators, Beck received a text from Storm teammate Peter Holland: "Carrie Underwood - here we come!"

Both Beck and Latta were taken in the third round by the Preds, Beck 70th and Latta 72nd, and they couldn't be happier. While Latta went to the draft in Montreal, Beck decided to stay home with friends and family.

"When my agent called the whole family just started jumping around the room. It was pretty exciting," he said.

So this fall both players will be off to the Predators rookie camp.

"I'm so happy because Latts is one of my best friends on the Storm so to be going to training camp with him is pretty special."

Holland was taken in the first round, 15th overall by Anaheim.

"I'd like to thank my parents Jan and Jude," said Holland when asked who he thought of as he had time to reflect on his dream come true. "They were always there to take me to 6 a. m. practices or buy me a new hockey stick when I'd break one and were willing to put in the time and effort and pass along lots of encouragement. Also, Joe Simon of Powerhouse Hockey helped with my puck handling and shooting and of course Barb Underhill with my skating."

Matt Kennedy, eligible to come back as an overage player next season, was taken by Carolina in the fifth round.

"I had a pretty good idea going in that I might be drafted," he said. "The Islanders and Rangers both said they weren't afraid to draft 19-year-olds but I had no idea I was going to Carolina. I had never spoken to them and my agent only had a short conversation with them and they basically said I was on their radar and that was it."

From the Land of Oz....

Brooks and his wife Jessica had their second daughter last week. Kennedy Audrey Lynn weighed in at nine pounds and eight ounces. No truth to the rumour that she was named after Storm captain Matt Kennedy, although Jess has requested final say on the next Storm captain to ensure the name is appropriate, just in case.