The Maine Nordiques added junior hockey veterans to the organization in Wednesday’s North American Hockey League entry draft.

Four of the team’s nine selections are entering their final year of junior hockey eligibility and have at least two years of junior hockey experience.

“We targeted guys with experience, with the amount of guys moving on to college from our program or higher levels (of junior hockey),” Maine Nordiques coach Matt Pinchevsky said. “To come back (in the draft) with guys who have gained experience in various leagues to continue, to develop to the North American Hockey League, to be able to contribute and grow in our program is really exciting for us.”

The Nordiques selected three times in the first round.

Tony Anchile was the selected third overall by the Nordiques. The 20-year-old Hingham, Massachusetts native netted 15 goals and 13 assists in 47 games with the Boston Advantage of the National Collegiate Development Conference.

Maine held the seventh overall pick in the first round but traded it to the Maryland Black Bears for the 16th pick in the first round and a fourth-round pick.

With No. 16, Maine picked defenseman Sterling Wolters. The 20-year-old from Kingsville, Ontario, tallied five goals and 19 assists in 48 games with the Burlington Cougars of the Ontario Junior Hockey League.

The Nordiques added to their defensive core with their third first-round pick. John-Paul Steele of Franklin, Massachusetts, had three goals and seven assists in 14 games with the Oakland Grizzles 18U team. The 18-year-old also appeared in five games in the NAHL, with the Lone Star Brahmas, recording no points.

After not having any second- or third-round picks, Maine picked twice in the fourth round. First, with the 94th overall pick, they selected 20-year-old forward Aidan Coupe of the Old Grizzles of the Alberta Junior Hockey League. Coupe, who is from Gilbert, Arizona, found the back of the net seven times and had 20 assists in 50 games.

Patrick Somerville was selected with the fourth-round pick acquired from Maryland. The 19-year-old forward from Medford, Massachusetts, contributed 11 goals and 15 assists in 48 games with the Islanders Hockey Club of the NCDC.

Maine used its next two picks on players it gained familiarity with this past season. First was fifth-round selection Laurent Trepanier, who appeared in four games for the Nordiques as an affiliate player. They didn’t keep him on their 30-man protected roster, so he was eligible to be drafted by any of the 29 NAHL teams. With the Seacoast Performance Academy 18U team, he potted 21 goals and 30 assists in 57 games.

Jackson Foddrill, who played in two games with the Nordiques last season, also as an affiliate player, was Maine’s sixth-round pick. The 16-year-old forward from Colleyville, Texas, had 33 goals and 31 assists in 54 contests with the Dallas Stars Elite 16U team.

“We made up our mind that they are made up of the character and caliber that we were looking for,” Pinchevsky said of Foddrill and Trepanier. “They made a huge statement by being a part of our team as affiliates last year. We want players to understand: When we say, ‘Trust the process,’ and all these things they hear everywhere in the hockey world, we mean it.  Our program is built on integrity, and that’s how we handle our players, with the highest level of integrity.”

The Nordiques’ selected defenseman Caid Cox with their second sixth-round pick. The 19-year-old Livington, Montana native chipped in offensively with four goals and 13 assists in 24 games for the St. Paul School in Concord, New Hampshire.

Cade Wessman was the Nordiques’ final selection of the draft, in the seventh round. He played for the Nordiques’ North American 3 Hockey League affiliate, the Butte Cobras, last year. The 19-year-old recorded 76 points (18 goals and 58 assists) in 45 games. He also appeared in one game with the Maine Nordiques as a call-up.

NORDS ANNOUNCE SIGNINGS

The Nordiques also added two players through tender agreement signings, Swedish forward Henrik Hallberg and Canadian goalie Kael DePape.

Hallberg, 20, led the Stockholm-based AIK’s junior team with 21 goals and 28 assists in 45 games. He also appeared in seven games with AIK’s pro team that plays in the HockeyAllsvenskan — Sweden’s version of the AHL. He had an assist in seven games.

“He brings offensive creativity and some ability to flat out score,” Pinchevsky said. “He knows how to put the puck in the net and he knows how to create (plays) with players around him.”

Pinchevsky said Hallberg has already received NCAA Division I interest.

DePape, 19, had a 22-15-5 record with a 2.32 goals-against-average and a .915 save percentage for his hometown Yorkton Terriers of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League.

“He led his team to playoffs and is an exceptional goaltender, an exceptional young man, and an exceptional student,” Pinchevsky said. “He’s a pro across the board.”