Sault ties to the OHL draft

They played here. They played there. Regardless of where they performed during the 2023-2024 season, eleven players with 2008 birth dates from Sault Ste. Marie came away with a notable presence at the recently completed Ontario Hockey League priority selections draft.

In order of selection, here is a list of the 11 Sault and area products whose rights now belong to various OHL teams following the 2024 priority selections draft.

Luca Blonda. An offensively gifted defenseman, Blonda became the property of the Sudbury Wolves after being plucked in the first round. After playing all of his minor hockey at home, Blonda left Sault Ste. Marie for Pittsburgh last fall to play in the Jr. Penguins Under 16 AAA elite program.  With a late birth date — he will not turn 16 until November 25 of this year — Blonda has prime offensive skills from his defense position. He potted 15 goals, 30 assists, 45 points in 55 games for the Jr. Penguins this past season while leading all defensemen in scoring. He had the seventh most points on the Pittsburgh team. Besides being drafted into the OHL by Sudbury, Blonda has also garnered interest from some major Division 1, National Collegiate Athletic Association hockey programs.

Evan Headrick. Hailing from Garden River First Nation, character kid Headrick was taken by the Kitchener Rangers in the first round. The pint size forward has played the past two seasons with the Oakville Rangers AAA program. In 39 games — regular season and playoffs included — for Oakville in 2023-2024, Headrick produced 29 goals, 36 assists, 65 points. He is the younger brother of former OHL defenseman Owen Headrick.

Nik Rossetto. Rossetto became a gamble of a pick by the Brantford Bulldogs in the third round. With so much interest from major NCAA schools and indications that he might be headed that way, Rossetto dropped from being a projected first rounder to the third round. After playing all of his minor hockey at home, Rossetto left Sault Ste. Marie for Pittsburgh last fall to play in the Jr. Penguins Under 16 AAA elite program.  A small but skilled, speedy and smart forward, Rossetto sparked all Jr. Penguins in scoring during the 2023-2024 regular season with 47 goals, 27 assists, 74 points in 53 games. 

Cole Wreggitt. From the Soo Jr. Greyhounds of the Great North Under 18 Hockey League, Wreggitt joined former teammate Luca Blonda as the property of the Sudbury Wolves after being nabbed in the fourth round. A physical, stay at home performer who has offensive abilities, many saw Wreggitt as the best overall defenseman in the Great North this season. He was the first player from the Great North to be drafted. With good size at 6 foot 2, Wreggitt had three goals, 14 assists, 17 points in 41 games for the Jr. Greyhounds in 2023-2024, regular season and playoffs included.

James Elliott. James aka Jimmy is now the property of his hometown Soo Greyhounds. A small size forward, Elliott was taken by the Hounds in the seventh round. Elliott left home last fall to play for the Under 16 AAA Barrie Colts. Regular season, playoffs and OHL Cup included, the offensively skilled Elliott potted 31 goals, 33 assists, 64 points in 48 games for Barrie.

Brady Real. A real deal as a solid defenseman, Real became the property of the Niagara Ice Dogs after being picked in the eighth round from the Soo Jr. Greyhounds of the Great North Under 18 Hockey League. With good size at 6 foot 2 and a physical defender, Real totalled two goals, 12 assists, 14 points in 32 games for the Jr. Hounds in 2023-2024.

Aiden Atkinson. An overall good forward, Atkinson went to the Guelph Storm in the 11th round. He left home to play for the AAA Under 16 Halton Hurricanes this past season.

Carter Kucher. Described as a dependable defenseman, Kucher went to the Flint Firebirds in the 11th round. He played for the AAA Under 16 Toronto Titans this past season.

Cameron Ingram. A lanky goalie who hails from the Sault Ste. Marie area town of Echo Bay, Ingram was taken by the Windsor Spitfires in the 13th round. Before heading to Toronto last fall, Ingram played at the Under 14 and Under 15 AAA level in the Sault.

Liam Watson. North Bay Battalion picked this dandy little defenseman from the Soo Jr. Greyhounds of the Great North Under 18 Hockey League in the 13th round. While Watson is on the small size, he has a big offensive upside with a smooth skating style and exceptional puck handler.

Danny MacDonald. Sudbury Wolves snagged another Sault boy by taking a flyer on the talented forward from the Soo Jr. Greyhounds of the Great North Under 18 Hockey League in the 15th round. MacDonald was a top scorer for the Jr. Hounds all season– he had 16 goals, 17 assists, 33 points in 29 games — before being injured late in the 2023-2024 campaign, which is why he was still available in the last round of the draft.