Spirit of the U18 Jr. Hounds
Saginaw Spirit has now had a top two pick at both the 2021 and 2022 Ontario Hockey League under 18 supplemental draft. And both times the Spirit has taken a right winger from the Soo Jr. Greyhounds of the Great North Under 18 Hockey League.
A year ago, Saginaw zoned in on 5-foot-8, 160 pound Calem Mangone with the no. 2 overall pick. All Mangone did as a rookie skater with a November 4, 2004 birth date was connect for 13 goals, 21 assists, 34 points while playing in just 47 of Saginaw’s 68 regular season games.
This time around, the Spirit again looked to the Soo to take 6-foot-1, 190 pound forward Lincoln Moore from the U18 Jr. Greyhounds with the no. 1 overall pick. Moore, who has a September 25, 2005 birth date, led the Great North in scoring during the 2021-2022 regular season with 18 goals, 19 assists 37 points in 24 games. He then topped off a championship season for the Jr. Hounds with three goals, three assists, six points in five playoff matches.
Dave Drinkill, who is the wily, long-time general manager of the OHL Spirit, commented on once again taking a Jr. Greyhounds player with Saginaw’s first pick of the U18 draft.
“We are very pleased to select Lincoln with the first overall pick in the 2022 U18 draft. He is a player we have kept an eye on all season, and as a staff were very impressed by his progression. Moore has size, skill, and the ability to put the puck in the net. He has really worked on his game on and off the ice this season, to help put himself in this position,” Drinkill said of Moore, who took on a major off-ice conditioning program over the past year.
“This is the second year in a row we have taken a player in the U18 draft from the Soo after selecting Calem Mangone last season,” Drinkill added. “The (U18 Jr. Greyhounds) do a great job developing these young players getting them ready for our league. We look forward to seeing Lincoln in our development camp later this month in Saginaw.”
Jamie Henderson is the head coach of the U18 Jr. Hounds and he commented on the back to back selections of his players by Saginaw.
“It is never easy for a player to get bypassed at the (priority selections) draft,” Henderson relayed to Hockey News North. “Ultimately we try not to put too much stock in one day for these players and Mangone last season was a great example of a player who kicked a door down to get his chance in the OHL. As for Moore, he had a great season and has a lot of work ahead to kick his own door down but being selected first overall is a tremendous honour and proof of the work he has already done and for that we are proud and happy for Lincoln and his family.”