Soo midgets get 2nd OHL crack
Some develop later than others. And some players from the Soo Greyhounds of the Great North Midget Hockey League are among a stream of undrafted prospects from around the province who are eligible for the first-ever, under-18, Ontario Hockey League draft.
Which equates as a second chance for the number of AAA midget players from Sault Ste. Marie who were previously bypassed at the annual under-16, OHL draft.
As reported earlier, the OHL earlier this week confirmed the introduction of an annual under-18 priority selections draft for undrafted 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.
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.
The under-18 draft will be capped at four rounds with all OHL teams required to draft four players.
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.
PHOTO: Bradon Caruso of the Soo Greyhounds midgets is an undrafted, 2000 birth-year defenseman. (Photo by Ali Pearson.)
“…Better late than never…” as the Old saying goes!
Hopefully Mike Olivarrio will draft 1 of them Soo boys for the O.H.L. Team in Flint. We can count on Jimmy Mancuso to take 1 for Guelph like he has done for Sicoli, Makonen and Stevenson. !!!!!!!!!!
This will give major midget programs more responsibility to develop players, as opposed to solely being concerned with winning and losing. It will become even more important to have coaches that value skill development over anything. Whether any more players make it to the O or not, players deserve the the best chance and coaching otherwise they will seek those opportunities in junior hockey.
— Kevin Cain, JDM Sports
Well stated, Kevin Cain. Very well stated, as a matter of fact.
Bowman should be a draft pick. Probly Wood and Caruso and may be Ford .
Well I like the Soltys kid. That works his a$$ off.
This is a good step to reconize the many all the many players who develep at a late stage than some of the “STAR’S”.
The O is the place to go the first choice of most of the majority of the Players that wish to play OHL Junior Hockey/.
Jimmy Mancuso and Mike Oliveirio are two clowns period. They are a joke. IN MY OPINION.