OHL introduces under-18 draft
There is good news for the many AAA midget players who have been bypassed at the annual under-16, Ontario Hockey League priority selections draft.
And the good news is that the OHL has officially confirmed the introduction of an annual under-18 priority selections draft for un-drafted AAA midget players from Ontario.
The first-ever under-18 OHL draft will be held on Wednesday, April 12 at 7:00 p.m. with picks to be posted on-line in real time via ontariohockeyleague.com.
OHL commissioner David Branch provided his take on the advent of the long-awaited, under-18 draft.
“Midget hockey in Ontario features hundreds of talented players who continue to develop their game,” said Branch. “Working with our minor hockey partners, the under-18 draft will serve to assist in the continued growth of midget hockey and provide further opportunities for players at different stages of their overall hockey development.”
The concept of the under-18 OHL draft was finalized with full support from Hockey Canada’s three Ontario branches — Ontario Hockey Federation, Hockey Eastern Ontario and Hockey Northwestern Ontario.
The under-18 draft will be held in addition to the OHL’s current under-16 process, which will take place this year on Saturday, April 8 and is primarily geared towards 2001 birth-year players.
Eligibility for the 2017 OHL under-18 draft includes all players born in either 1999 or 2000 who are not currently on an OHL team’s protected list and who are carded on an Ontario-based AAA midget hockey team that plays within the OHF, HEO, or HNO.
The under-18 draft will be capped at four rounds with all OHL teams required to draft four players.
Meanwhile, the new under-18 draft stands to open up new OHL opportunities for several 1999 and 2000 birth-year players with the Soo Greyhounds of the Great North Midget Hockey League. The Great North loop operates under the umbrella of the Northern Ontario Hockey Association, which is a member of the aforementioned OHF.
Carded members of the Greyhound midgets with 1999 or 2000 birth dates who have been bypassed at previous under-16 OHL drafts who are eligible for the 2017 under-18 process include goalies Garrett Boyonoski, Ryan Cook and Drew Gregory, defensemen Bradon Caruso, Nolan Ford, Josh Rouleau, Kelly Quevillon and Steven Bellini and forwards Noah Boman, Caleb Wood, Owen Shier, Parker Morgan, Tyler Sayers, Nik Gervasi, Tyler Nott and Jesse Soltys.