This is sad. I found out about it on Sunday night when I called my parents at
home (St. Jerome, Que.). My dad is a big QMJHL and Midget AAA follower and he
watch the midget draft really carefully.
 
The previous week, Fernandez mentionned to coach Anderson that he told all
the Major Junior team he was going to Merrimack. That was partly true. True
for all the teams but one: Les Titans de Laval (fomerly Les Voisins--Mario
Lemieux's old Junior place). The Titans apparently asked Fernandez if he
would go to the camp if he was drafted in the first round. Emmanuel must
have said yes. And the Titans did it.
 
It was not the first time that Laval stole a super star player to American
Colleges. In 1989, Laval drafted in the first round Martin Lapointe, a 16
years old superstar who had previously commited to Clarkson. The cicumstances
look the same. Very close sources allow me to say that The Laval owners,
7 rich guys (4 of them are brothers) bought Lapointe a brand new car for
his decision to stay in his province rather than leave to the states. There
are probably  other unknown financial backups that Lapointe got offered.
 
Is it going to be the same for the former Warrior who could have follow the
paths of Jimmy Hrivnak (multi All-american for Merrimack, now for the
Capitals) ? Probably.
 
For Lapointe, it turned out to be a pretty good decision. He is going to get
drafted in the first round in a few weeks, probably not very far from #88.
 
Let us see if Emmanuel also chose right.
 
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Guy Ragault
Merrimack '93
Warriors #23
 
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