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12jmoritz · 06-12-2015, 01:38 AM

Nick Leier figured that he was going to be in his seat at the S24 SHL Draft for a good chunk of the night. The late season signee, hailing from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was a solid piece on the St. Louis Scarecrows. Although he only played third line time, it was enough for him to make an impact on his team full of superstars such as Damien Wert, Mitchell Dambach, and New England Wolfpack draftee, Butch Buckley. Leier scored one goal and added two assists in seven regular season games but was quiet for the majority of his team's first round playoff series against the Montreal Impact. It was against the eventual SMJHL Four Star Cup champions, the Detroit Falcons, that he announced he was ready for the big show. Leier finished off the playoffs scoring four goals and two assists for a respectable six points in thirteen playoff games, four of those points coming in the six game Eastern Conference Championship series against the Falcons.

Even with the solid playoff performance, Leier still knew he was fighting an uphill battle coming into the draft. It was already reported to be a deeper draft than usual and was loaded with star talent in the first two rounds. Only two General Managers from SHL teams had gotten in contact with him, letting him know that he was really on their radar. Knowing this, he put his feet up on the chair in front of him as he prepared himself for the long night ahead.

He checked his phone in between draft picks as he saw his teammates go exceptionally high in the draft. He saw his rivals get picked one by one and he sank lower in his seat. No calls or texts from any GM's as the draft plodded along. He looked at family who gave him assured looks but as the first round came to a close, he started to feel this grave feeling come over him. What if he wasn't selected at all? What would come of him if he weren't selected?

The draft dragged on and the second round was moving along. Picks 12-14 came and went and Leier saw the man he was signed with, Anton Fedorov, drafted before him at fourteenth overall. This kind of annoyed Leier. He has all of the respect a man can have for Mr. Fedorov but to see Anton get drafted before him shocked him. Leier showed more promise during the regular season and playoffs. They were both signed at the same time but Fedorov performed worse in the same amount of time. Leier kind of sat there dumbfounded during pick fifteen. Even if it was him, he wouldn't have known it.

Pick 16. Leier had spoken with Edmonton before the draft but interest seemed to stall after their GM told Nick that he was positioned to go somewhere between the Blizzard's first pick and their second pick so he probably wasn't going to end up there. Then, the Blizzard made a deal that gave the team the sixteenth overall pick. Leier was hopeful that that move was made so that Edmonton could pick him. The GM came to the podium and announced that they would be taking Richard D'amour with that pick. Leier was becomingly increasingly frustrated. When was he going to be called? When was he going to get his time in the limelight?

Toronto GM Jordan Nugent-Hall took to the podium to announce their next picks. "The Toronto North Stars are proud to 17th and 18th overall in the S24 SHL Entry Draft, from the Regina Force of the SMJHL and the St. Louis Scarecrows of the SMJHL, Shea Robinson and Nick Leier!" Leier jumped out of his seat in excitement! It finally happened! He was finally an SHL teams prospect. The childhood dream had come true and it felt as good as anyone could imagine. He hugged his family and went down to the floor to collect his jersey to take his pictures next to Robinson and the North Stars brass.

He'll be back down in St. Louis under the tutelage of GM's Cuff and Daigle, looking to earn a spot on the North Stars for the S25 season.