Sam Mayer’s hometown, L’Orignal, a French-speaking town in eastern Ontario, is just an hour and a half from Montreal.
The Peterborough Petes defenseman will be at the Bell Center on Friday with his family hoping to hear his name in the 2022 NHL Draft.
“It may be a long day, but if I get rewarded at the end, it’s a moment I don’t want to miss,” Mayer said. “It’s very close to my house and it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”
The 6-foot-3 southpaw was eligible for the draft last year, but was off the radar as he had yet to play a game in the Ontario Hockey League.
That was not the case for teammate Tucker Robertson, who was also passed over during the 2021 NHL Draft. Petes’ forward was a rookie during the 2019-20 OHL season that was cut short by COVID. -19. The following season was cancelled, but Robertson thought he may have done enough to be drafted.
“Last year I sat at home watching the draft and they didn’t pick me,” Robertson said. “It was hard, but I think I used it as motivation. I hope this year works for me. If not, I will do the same and continue working. It’s pretty exciting. It is a bit stressing. I hope they choose me.”
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The two players’ paths to becoming potential NHL picks are very different.
Mayer’s was less traditional. The physical defenseman was taken by the Petes 15th overall in the 2020 U18 Draft from the Hawkesbury Hawks. The draft gives players who were overlooked during the OHL Priority Pick a second chance to break into the league.
Mayer seized the opportunity. He entered the 2021-2022 season as an 18-year-old rookie. Mayer scored 11 goals and had 26 assists in 68 games and was named the Petes’ best defenseman at the end of the season.
“I think I’ve done enough to be drafted.” Mayer said. “I think I had a really good season and I think I helped the team in a lot of situations and played a lot of roles.”
The word ‘underrated’ is one that has been associated with Mayer heading into the NHL draft.
“Not a lot of people knew who I was until the middle of the season, let’s say, so people started calling me underrated and all that,” Mayer explained. “I don’t think much about it. I just focus on myself and try to prepare for next year.”
Robertson was selected by the Petes in the fourth round of the 2019 OHL Priority Selection by the Toronto Marlboros of the Greater Toronto Hockey League.
He earned a spot in the maroon and white as a freshman by scoring eight goals and 10 assists in 55 games during his rookie season.
The Toronto native returned from the lost OHL season as one of the Petes’ best players. He quadrupled his scoring output in his second campaign with 41 goals and 40 assists in 68 games. Robertson scored more goals this season than any other draft-eligible player in the OHL.
“I think I had a good enough season to get drafted and that I deserve it,” Robertson said. “I’ve talked to a lot of (NHL) teams so far. I think everyone wants to get close to a lot of guys and see who is the best fit for the team. There are definitely no guarantees or anything, but I’m looking forward to the draft.”
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Mayer says his agent has also been in contact with several NHL clubs.
Both feel confident heading into the second day of the draft and say hearing his name would be a dream come true.
“It would mean a lot,” says Robertson. “It would just show that all the hard work is paying off and it means something now. Since he was a child, the NHL has been the goal and win the Stanley Cup. This would be just another step in the process of getting there, so it would be huge.”
“I think he would be so happy,” Mayer said. “It’s a moment you will never forget.”
Mayer is ranked 139th on the NHL Central Scouting list of North American skaters, while Robertson sat at 162nd entering the draft.
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