Twelve strong, determined faces ready to lay it on the line for the success of the Militia. With the wisdom of the veterans and the newly injected fire and passion from the prospects, they'll surely be a force to be reckoned with. The end tally of the draft shows Montreal shoring up on all fronts with a good spread of positions: five defensemen, three wingers, two centers and a goalie to top it off. As the spearhead pick of the group and the one that stands out is the offensive defenseman Nikolai Evans, possessing qualities that are sorely sought after in today's hockey.

Shortly after the draft we would also see the arrival of defenseman Chuck Crutchfield to further give the new prospects a solid foundation and some extra leadership in the locker room - something that a team never can have enough of. Look for Crutchfield to lead by example in the upcoming season.

Combining the eleven prospects, the trade acquisition and the established core reveals a young and unproven team - but one that has every making of a success story. And judging by the enthusiasm shown by Kristoffer Svensson, the Militia's 4th pick at 25 OA, there's a bright future ahead:

"I couldn't be happier with how the draft turned out - the guys have been nothing but welcoming and I really feel like we could have something special going for us. At this point I can't wait to lace up and get this show on the road!"

A sentiment that I'm sure is echoed by all Militia faithful.