Kennedy, Guizzetti et al

A dandy duo of 2010 birth year forwards who departed the ranks of the Sault Major Hockey Association two years ago to play elsewhere have earned prime projections ahead of the upcoming June 12-13 Ontario Hockey League priority selections draft.

Colin Kennedy, who has been a productive two points per game skater over two full seasons with the famed Little Caesars AAA program of Detroit, is being touted as a sure fire first round pick at the looming OHL Draft. In fact, some insiders have the 5 foot 10, 170 pound Kennedy (in photo above) being among the top six to 12 players selected in the first round.

Then there is the electrifying Cole Guizzetti, a 5 foot 6, 155 pound speed demon. Guizzetti has spent the past two seasons starring for Upper Canada College, an Ontario prep school located in Toronto, averaging more than two points per game. Despite his lack of size, Guizzetti’s strength, compete level and all around skill and athleticism have him likely going between the second and fourth rounds of the fast approaching OHL Draft.

And two other 2010 birth year Sault Ste.Marie products who moved away from home to play as teammates with BioSteel Sports Academy of Windsor in ’25-26 are also possibilities to become OHL draft picks. They are forward Eli Chapman and defenseman Mateo Muto.

KENNEDY BLOODLINES

Craig Kennedy, the father of the aforementioned Colin Kennedy, went on to personify consistency and captaincy after the Windsor Spitfires took him in the second round, 28th overall, of the 1999 OHL priority selections draft. A balanced, hard working right winger, Kennedy played five full seasons in Windsor, totalling 113 goals along the way, playoffs included.

Known for his smarts and leadership qualities, Kennedy quietly rose to become an assistant captain and then captain for the Spitfires before playing at the University of Western Ontario and later returning home to Sault Ste. Marie to become a school teacher.

Then there is Colin’s grand father on his mother’s side, who is none other than the renowned Craig Hartsburg. Hartsburg’s association with hockey has been both lengthy and noteworthy.

As a player, Hartsburg had a world class career as an all-star defenseman with both the Soo Greyhounds of the OHL and the erstwhile Minnesota North Stars of the National Hockey League. Hartsburg also holds the distinction of being both a first round OHL pick (third overall) to the Greyhounds in 1975 and a first round NHL pick (sixth overall) to Minnesota in 1979.

As for as leadership qualities, Hartsburg was the captain of the Greyhounds for two of his three OHL seasons and was captain of the North Stars for seven of his 10 NHL seasons before a series of knee injuries ended his spectacular playing career and led him on a high level coaching path that would span more than 25 years with stops in the OHL and the NHL.

Then there is young Kennedy’s paternal grand father who was no slouch in his hockey playing days as a fearsome, formidable left winger who used his hands to score and scrap with the best of them. He is George Kennedy, a hulking hombre who menacingly patrolled the port side with the old Thessalon Flyers of the International Jr. B Hockey League during the mid to late 1970s as one tough customer.