Calgary Flames, Vancouver Canucks make Mason McDonald, Thatcher Demko first goalies taken at NHL draft

PHILADELPHIA — Mason McDonald went first, and Thatcher Demko put it best.

For second NHL draft in succession, two Canadian teams threw a second-round dart at at a young goalie that might grow up to be a fully-padded flashpoint for an entire fanbase one day. The Calgary Flames made the Charlottetown Islanders southpaw McDonald the first 'tender taken at No. 34 overall, two spots before Boston College's Demko went No. 36 to Vancouver Canucks. The Plymouth Whalers' Alex Nedeljkovic also went No. 37 to the Carolina Hurricanes.

Gentlemen, prepare for life under a microscope.

"It's a great hockey environment — different from California," is how the 6-foot-4 Demko described going to a Canadian team. "Hopefully I can appeal to the fans up there and make them love me instead of hate me.

"I was just so happy," Demko added. "Vancouver's a great organization. They drafted Corey Schneider who also played at BC, so a little bit of a trend there."

The Flames, make of it what you will, had a sweater with a McDONALD namebar sewn to the back rather than pinned. Demko was NHL Central Scouting Service's top-ranked North American goalie after a sterling frosh season with the Eagles, which he helped reach the Frozen Four.

McDonald, a limber left-hander at 6-foot-4, played well behind a young and oft-outgunned Islanders team in the second half of his Quebec League season. He emerged as Canada's go-to goalie for the world under-18 championship.

"We'd have to go back in time and go it all over again to find out if the U18 made the difference, but I think playing well there certainly helped me be the first goalie taken," the Halifax native said.

"I knew there was a chance coming in that I would be the first goalie," McDonald added. "When it happened, I was just relieved with all the stress that was building up."

Draft watchers will no doubt revisit the Round 2 run on goalies — the Washington Capitals used its No. 39 pick on Czech junior Vitek Vanecek — as soon as one or more becomes a proven quantity in the NHL. Demko, with a season in college, is probably the most mature. McDonald fits the NHL prototype of a big goalie. Nedeljkovic is listed at 5-foot-11 3/4 but has a deep résumé, with an OHL goaltender of the year award and a world under-18 championship gold medal from last season on his mantle.

"I think we all knew that was going to happen," Nedeljkovic said of all the goalies going at once. "Once one goes, it opens the floodgates. It was up to whatever team wanted to take that first goalie."

The 18-year-old Ohioan is joining the same organization where his coach through two seasons in Plymouth, Mike Vellucci, is now assistant general manager.

"I can't say enough about Coach Vellucci over the last two years," Nedeljkovic said. "I don't know how much say he had in picking me but, for whatever he did, it's been awesome. I wouldn't be here without what he's done for me."

McDonald started to generate some more NHL draft buzz after a solid showing in the first half of the CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game in — harbinger alert — Calgary. At that point, he had been with Charlottetown for fewer than two weeks after backing up Jacob Brennan with the Acadie-Bathurst Titan before a trade.

"I got hit with a lot of shots in that game," McDonald said. "To play with so many big names, guys who are going to play in the NHL next year, t was a great experience and a good time.

"To know what it's like to play in that environment in Calgary was helpful."

McDonald will return to Charlottetown as the starting goalie for a team that is hopeful of being a Quebec League contender. Demko likely has at least his sophomore season to come at BC, where he'll work on increasing his overall athleticism to complement his rangy 6-foot-4 frame.

"My size is a tool but I don't like to rely on it," he said.

"When I'll be ready depends on when the Canucks need me and when I'm ready. I'm comfortable with staying another one to three years."

Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds goalie Brandon Halverson also went in the second round. The New York Rangers took the Michigan native No. 59 overall.

In 2013, the Montreal Canadiens took Zach Fucale No. 36 and the Winnipeg Jets added Eric Comrie at No. 59. Each is the running for Canada's national junior team, along with Tristan Jarry (No. 43 to Pittsburgh in the same draft) and Philippe Desrosiers (No. 54 to Dallas).

Neate Sager is a writer for Yahoo! Canada Sports. Follow him on Twitter @neatebuzzthenet.