Draft Diary: Joseph Veleno

Joseph Veleno (6-foot-1, 195 pounds) of Drummondville in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League is the first player granted exceptional status to play as a 15-year-old in the league. He's in his third season in the QMJHL. Veleno had 31 points (six goals, 25 assists) in 31 games as captain with Saint John before being traded to Drummondville on Dec. 19. He has 22 points (four goals, 18 assists) in 14 games with Drummondville.
Veleno, No. 13 in NHL Central Scouting's midterm ranking of North American skaters, has offered to maintain a draft diary for NHL.com leading up to the NHL Draft in Dallas on June 22-23.

Hi everybody,
Things have been going very well since I was traded to Drummondville. We have won nine of our past 10 games and are four points from the top of the overall standings. Needless to say, all the guys are happy and all is good in our room.
For my part, winning more often has been a really good boost for my morale. It wasn't easy at the beginning of the season in Saint John, especially after last year when we were used to winning. It was hard after the games. Everyone was disappointed. We didn't have as much fun because when you lose, it's such a letdown.
Now we're having fun and we're winning.

I believe more and more that we have a chance to go a long way this spring. The league as a whole is stronger this year. There are many more teams that are better, and the standings are very tight. It will be interesting to see what will happen in the playoffs, but I see some comparisons with our team and the one we had in Saint John last year.
We are young compared to last year's Sea Dogs, but we are a very fast, well-coached and talented team. I think we'll really be a team to watch next year, because with all the experience we're getting right now, we'll be even better. But we can certainly be dangerous in the playoffs this year.
Personally, it took me nine games before I finally scored my first goal with the Voltigeurs. I scored two goals that night and I'll admit that it was a bit of a relief. I have scored four goals in my past five games and that takes a lot of pressure off, but I'm especially excited to win. When the team wins, it has an impact on the players.
It was good to finally start scoring because I was beginning to feel the pressure in Saint John about my offensive production. But I was thinking too much about that. I think I was trying to do too much on my own because I wanted to do everything I could to make us a winning team.
It's going well now and I think it will continue.
I'm working hard with my coach, Dominique Ducharme. He told me that he wants to help me a lot in my draft year so that I am the best player I can be. He wants me to be proud of the rank I'll be drafted. He shows me the details and the things I need to fix in my game so that I can continue to learn and improve. He's a really smart coach. He knows his hockey, and I'm going to listen to him because I know he wants the best for me.
Until next month!