Notes:The 6'4, 210-pound defenseman out of Moncton in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. Born in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Saunders scored 14 points with 241 penalty minutes in 2002-03. He added 5 points in six postseason games. Saunders was a teammate of Anaheim's 2002 ninth round selection (261st overall) Francois Caron. Named to Team QMJHL for the RE/MAX Canada/Russia Challenge in 2003. Saunders is a big, physical, defensive defenseman. He plays a very good, simple, game and relies on his positioning and strength to interrupt the oppositions offense. His character and determination are top quality and he’s the type of defender that is willing to do whatever it takes to win, including dropping the gloves to stand up for his teammates or challenge anyone who took a run at his goaltender. Offensively he has played on the Moncton powerplay, but this is not his strength despite possessing a good hard shot from the point. Although he is big and strong, Saunders is not a huge bodychecker. He typically will use his strength to stand players up as they try to deke past him or he will pin them against the boards to allow his teammates to recover the puck. Prince Edward Island native Nathan Saunders, came to the Wildcats as a slim, shy 16-year-old. He matured into a tough, hard-fisted scrapper with amazing defensive skills. If the coaches wanted players cleared from the front of the Wildcats net, Saunders was the player they sent off the bench. Over his 261 game career, he amassed a total of 794 penalty minutes. Saunders now playing with the Portland Pirates of the American Hockey League, is emphatic about the impact playing with the Cats has had on his hockey success. “Without the Wildcats I would not be where I am today. I give a lot of credit to the coaching staff; they worked hard in helping me to improve as a player and a person. Then there’s the owner of the team, Mr. Robert Irving, he gave everyone a chance and there’s no doubt in my mind, the Wildcats organization is the best there is. I came into the Q as a somewhat shy 16-year-old with some raw talent and left after four seasons drafted to the NHL and ready for the next level of hockey. I was the team captain in 2004-2005, which was an honor and a responsibility. I tried to provide the kind of leadership that I had learned over the previous three years. I believe I did a good job and took pride in having the “C” on my jersey.”
Not one to back down from a scrap, Saunders said there was always a purpose behind his battles. “You have to stand up for your teammates, you never back down or allow anyone to intimidate you.
Sometimes there would be cheap shots and that always go me going. I found with a fight you motivate the team and change the momentum of the game and always tried to do that.
Having a chance to win the President’s Cup was a great thrill but the best part of being with the Wildcats was the friendships I made. The guys I played with will be my friends for life, ” he said.
Awards:2004-2005 Kevin Lowe Trophy (Best Defensive Defenceman)
*All photos courtesy of Daniel St. Louis Photography
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