Mannino top Knights’ pick
This is definitely not a good time for London Knights general manager Mark Hunter to brag about the hat trick he scored against goaltender Mike Liut during their NHL days.
rEspecially after London took Tom Mannino, a Leamington Flyers forward and Farmington Hills, Mich., native, with its first pick (10th overall) in yesterday’s OHL draft.
rLiut is family adviser for Mannino, a big 16-year-old who is currently hedging between playing for the Knights and remaining eligible for U.S. college hockey.
r“I’m very honoured to be drafted by London. The Hunters are a great hockey family but I don’t know what I’m going to do yet,” he said from Toronto, where he is playing in a prospects tournament.
r“I’m going to take the next few weeks to decide which route I want to go.”
rMannino was the rookie of the year and top first-year scorer in the Western Junior B league last season. The soft-handed winger scored 14 goals and added 34 assists in 46 games for the Flyers.
r“He’s undecided right now, but we believe we can talk him into coming here,” Mark Hunter said.
r“Our first task is to try to get him here for a visit to see the arena, meet (head coach) Dale (Hunter), talk to our education consultant and see what we have to offer.”
rDale Hunter played with Liut in Washington during 1989-92.
rStrathroy Rockets defenceman Patrick McNeill, from Strathroy, was selected first overall by the Saginaw Spirit.
rDresden’s Mike Roelofsen went 12th overall to Belleville, and Mannino’s teammate Elgin Reid of Leamington went 19th overall to Ottawa.
rChatham’s Wes Cunningham went 23rd overall to Owen Sound, Stratford midget defenceman Tyson Aitcheson was 27th to Ottawa and McNeill teammate David Jarram went 28th to the Soo.
rGambling on a first-round pick is new territory for the Hunters. Their past three first rounders — Rick Nash, Corey Perry, David Bolland — all indicated early they were interested in London and the OHL.
r“With the American kids, you have to sell ’em. They do have a lot of options,” Mark Hunter said.
r“I think it was a positive sign (Mannino) played in Leamington this year. He showed a willingness to go to the next level to improve.”
rMannino’s uncertain status was offset by London’s second-round pick, Josh Beaulieu, a Sun County Panthers forward who sounded like he couldn’t wait to make the drive from Comber.
r“I say, ‘Go Knights.’ I’m very excited that it is London,” said the six-foot, 180-pound Beaulieu (no relation to Knights assistant coach Jacques Beaulieu).
rThe Knights also picked Adam Perry, Knights forward Corey’s brother, in the 12th round from Peterborough.
rKNIGHTS’ PICKS
rTom Mannino, first round, 10th overall: RW, 6-foot-1, 210 pounds, Leamington Flyers Jr. B
rJosh Beaulieu, second round, 31st overall: C, 6-foot, 180 pounds, Sun County AAA Minor Midget
rBobby Bolt, third round, 50th overall: LW, 6-foot-3, 198 pounds, Thunder Bay Kings minor midget
rKyle McInenly, fourth round, 70th overall: LD, 6-foot-2, 198 pounds, Nepean minor midget
rScott Restoule, fourth round, 71st overall: C, five-foot-11, 190-pounds, Sudbury Jr. A
rJordan Foreman, seventh round, 130th overall: C, 5-foot-8, 161 pounds, Cambridge Hawks
rChris Wood, eighth round, 150th overall: C, 5-foot-9, 150 pounds, Whitby Wildcats
rDaniel Locilento, ninth round, 170th overall: RW, 5-foot-11, 175 pounds, York Simcoe Express
rAdam Perry, 12th round, 230th overall: C, 5-foot-6, 164 pounds, Peterborough Petes
rNathan Morris, 13th round, 250th overall: LD, 6-foot-1, 200 pounds, Vaughan Kings
rRyan Crane, G, 5-foot-11, 145 pounds, Thunder Bay Kings (14th round, 270th overall)
rBrian Gonsalves, 15th round, 283rd overall: LW, 6-foot-4, 185 pounds, Mississauga Rebels
rMike Steadman, 15th round, 290th overall: LW, 5-foot-7, 150 pounds, Lambton Jr. Sting
