Headrick would be an NHL steal
His name does not appear on any official rankings chart but I am of the notion that Lake Superior State University Lakers freshman Owen Headrick would be an absolute steal for any National Hockey League team willing to take a flyer on the 1997 birth-year defenseman at next month’s draft.
To be sure, Headrick has come a long way since being selected as a 14th-round afterthought by the Erie Otters at the 2013 Ontario Hockey League draft.
The now 6-foot, 205-pound defender spent the 2013-2014 season as the youngest player on the Soo Thunderbirds and was named Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League rookie-of-the-year.
Headrick would spend a second season with the Thunderbirds in 2014-2015 and after recovering from early-season surgery, was voted the most valuable player of the playoffs as the Soo won the NOJHL championship.
Along the way, Headrick accepted a full-ride, Division 1 scholarship to head across the International Bridge at the Soo to play at LSSU.
And not only did Headrick make the LSSU roster last fall as the the youngest player and only 1997 birth date in the entire Western Collegiate Hockey Association, he became an impact player for coach Damon Whitten’s Lakers.
Headrick played in 39 of the Lakers 41 games as a top four defensemen and first-line member of the LSSU power-play unit in 2015-2016. Playing against grown men — many of whom are four and five years older than him — Headrick finished sixth in scoring on the Lakers with 5 goals, 7 assists, 12 points.
More impressive about the 12 points is that Headrick figured in on just over 16 per cent of every goal that the offensively-challenged, freshman-laden Lakers managed. That’s right, in 41 games this past season, the Lakers managed only 74 goals — and Headrick was in on 12 of them, as a defenseman and the youngest player in the WCHA, no less.
Headrick made such an impression as a Laker freshman that Erie — which had drafted him three years earlier — tried to get him to leave school in January to join the Otters on their run to first place in the OHL. After considerable consideration, Headrick eventually turned down what was a very-attractive and lucrative offer from Erie to remain at LSSU.
Those who have watched Headrick closely and who know him well, marvel at his hockey smarts, skill and poise and believe that he has a good chance to eventually play at the NHL level.
A quiet, likeable kid who hails from Garden River First Nation, just outside the Soo, Headrick is also very mature for his age as the oldest of five children of Dave and Anne Headrick.
Right now, the official projection is that Headrick will not be selected at next month’s seven-round, NHL draft.
But if the right NHL scout has done his homework in thorough fashion, I am of the notion that his team will benefit from a steal-of-a-deal should they select Headrick.
PHOTO: Freshman defenseman Owen Headrick of the LSSU Lakers. (Photo by Ali Pearson.)
As long as it’s the Flyers that pick up, I’d be fine with that.
(But seriously, if anyone on the Lakers/will be playing for them soon get drafted, I would be pumped).
I believe he would be a great pick for someone in this years draft. I refuse to bet against Owen becoming a pro because he is always willing to put the work in to continue to get better. Whether drafted or not, he will succeed in hockey and in life because he is a quality person , great supportive family and a great teammate.
Owen will be a pro , don’t bet against him .
Very skilled offensive defenseman great asset to have on your team. Lssu needs him back this year.