It starts tonight
The annual National Hockey League draft begins tonight in Philadelphia and several Ontario Hockey League players with ties to Sault Ste. Marie are expected to be selected over the course of the two-day event.
Brendan Perlini, who grew up in Sault Ste. Marie and played some of his minor hockey in the Soo, is ranked as the eighth-best skater by NHL Central Scouting.
A 1996 birth-year left winger, the 6-foot-3, 200 pound Perlini has played the past two seasons with the Niagara IceDogs. He had 34 goals, 37 assists, 71 points in 58 regular-season games with Niagara in 2013-2014.
Forward Jared McCann of Soo Greyhounds is ranked after Perlini in the 10th overall spot.
Another forward, Rob Fabbri of the Guelph Storm, is ranked 21st. Fabbri has ties to the Soo through his parents and grandparents.
Other Greyhounds who figure to be selected are forward Michael Bunting, defenceman Kyle Jenkins and goalie Brandon Halverson.
Soo native Michael Amadio, a forward with the North Bay Ballalion, is ranked 68th.