ERIE OTTERS 2022 OHL PRIORITY SELECTION DRAFT PRIMER

Erie, Pennsylvania – A major weekend lies ahead for the Erie Otters, as the team participates in its 27^th all-time Ontario Hockey League Priority Selection Draft. For the first time since 2013, and just the third time all-time, the Otters will have the Second Overall pick in the 2022 Priority Selection Draft after finishing ‘runner-up’ in the inaugural* Priority Selection Lottery for the #1 overall pick.

Erie finished 17^th in the Ontario Hockey League at the conclusion of the regular season, missing the post-season by just a lone point. While Erie would’ve finished a standard season securing the 4^th Overall Pick, the Priority Selection Lottery allowed the Otters a 25 percent chance to receive the first, second, third, or fourth overall pick in the 2022 Priority Selection Draft. With the two draft spot ‘jump, the organization has the 2^nd Overall Pick for just the third time in team history (first since 2013). The last time Erie held the #2 pick, they selected future CHL & OHL Top Scorer Awards winner, and all-time leading-scorer Dylan Strome.

General Manager Dave Brown expressed his excitement to move to a top-two pick for the first time since 2013, ahead of a very talented draft class.

“We’re excited to be able to draft a really good player that will add to the players we’ve already had in our historic success.” said Brown, “We’re super excited to have this honor.”

The 2022 OHL Priority Selection Draft officially kicks off on Friday, April 29 at 7 P.M., but will begin sooner than that for the team. With Saginaw ‘winning’ the First Overall pick, the Spirit announced they’ll unveil their selected player at 11 A.M. on Thursday, April 28; Erie will know by lunchtime on Thursday if ‘their player’ is available for the taking.

In this edition of the Draft, the Otters are currently eligible to select 15 players from the 15 rounds (excl. Rounds 3, 8), with a ‘Linear Draft’ being executed, ensuring Erie and all OHL member teams the same draft order in all 15 rounds (barring any traded picks). In the previous two Priority Selection Drafts, Erie has selected 30 total players; 10 of which made the roster during the 2021-22 season. The picks (subject to change by week’s end) are as follows for Erie:

1. Round 1, #2 pick
   • Acquired via Priority Selection Lottery on Wednesday, April 20
2. Round 2
   1. #38 pick (SOO)
      1. Acquired from Sault Ste. Marie in January 2018 in exchange for Taylor Raddysh, Jordan Sambrook
      2. Erie traded its 2022 2nd Round, 8^th Round pick to Niagara in January 2020 for Kyen Sopa
         1. Erie had initially traded its 2022 2nd Round pick to Oshawa in January 2017 in exchange for Anthony Cirelli, but retained it when trade conditions were met
   2. #41 pick (NB)
      1. Acquired from Peterborough in April 2022 in exchange for the Otters’ 2nd Round pick in 2025, and a Conditional 3rd Round pick in 2024
3. No Picks in Round 3
   • Erie traded its 2022 3rd Round pick to Barrie in January 2017 in exchange for Cameron Lizotte
4. No Picks in Round 4
   • Erie traded its 2022 4^th Round pick to Windsor in January 2019 in exchange for Mathew MacDougall
5. Round 5, #85 pick
6. Round 6
   1. #109 pick (PBO)
      1. Acquired from Peterborough in October 2021 in exchange for Emmett Sproule
      2. Erie traded its 2022 6^th Round pick to London in May 2021 in exchange for London’s 6^th Round pick in the 2021 Priority Selection
   2. #114 pick (OS)
      1. Acquired from London in April 2022 in exchange for the Otters’ 5th Round pick in 2024.
7. Round 7, #125 pick
8. No Picks in Round 8
   • Erie traded its 2022 2^nd Round, 8^th Round pick to Niagara in January 2020 for Kyen Sopa
9. Round 9, #165 pick
10. Round 10, #185 pick
11. Round 11, #205 pick
12. Round 12, #225 pick
13. Round 13
    1. #245 pick: 
    2. #247 pick (NIAG): Acquired from Niagara in January 2020 in Kyen Sopa trade
    3. #260 pick (FLNT): Acquired from Flint in January 2022 in exchange for Alex Bradshaw
14. Round 14, #265 pick
15. Round 15, #285 pick

Erie currently has 16 picks in the 2022 Priority Selection Draft, with three on day one (1^st Round 2^nd Overall, two in 2^nd Round [NB, SOO]), and 13 on day two (5^th, two in 6^th [OS], 7^th, 9^th, 10^th, 11^th, 12^th, three in 13^th [NIAG, FLNT], 14^th, 15^th). Draft Picks, outside of 1^st Round picks, are subject to change leading up to the day of the Draft.

The 2022 OHL Draft Class has been touted as a high-impact prospect class, with the following being the Top Five Prospects per the HockeyProspect.com 2022 OHL Draft Guide:

1. Michael Misa (Mississauga Senators, GTHL)
   • A 5’11, 160 lbs. Center/Left Winger
   • Misa, 15, is the sixth player all-time to be granted Exceptional Player Status by the Ontario Hockey Federation – joining John Tavares, Aaron Ekblad, Connor McDavid, Sean Day, and Shane Wright.
2. Michael Hage (Toronto Jr. Canadiens, GTHL)
   • A 6’0, 175 lbs. Center
   • “A complete offensive player…excellent skater that can change gears in open ice…one of the most talented centers in this age group…very hard to contain.” – OHL Central Scouting
   • OHL player comparison: Pano Fimis (NIAG)
3. Malcolm Spence (Mississauga Senators, GTHL)
   • A 6’1, 170 lbs. Left Winger
   • “One of the most dangerous / top players players in his age group…great combination of speed, skill, size, and hockey sense.” – OHL Central Scouting
   • OHL player comparison: Quentin Musty (SBY)
4. Sam Dickinson (Toronto Marlboros, GTHL)
   • A 6’2, 170 lbs. Defenseman
   • “An elite and complete defenseman that has the ability to control a game…powerful skater…very good puck skills…one of the best most reliable and toughest to play against.” – OHL Central Scouting
   • OHL player comparison: Ethan Del Mastro (MISS)
5. Porter Martone (Toronto Jr. Canadians, GTHL)
   • 6’3, 180 lbs. Right Winger
   • “Plays a heavy game, and is the type of player you win with…a high-end prospect that will make an impact at the next level.” – OHL Central Scouting
   • OHL player comparison: Mason McTavish (HAM)

Erie has been very particular on the style and skillset of player drafted in the last few years, building a team focused on speed and work ethic above all else. With 12 new players on the roster during the 2021-22 season – especially from the 2020 & 2021 Priority Selections – a glimpse of the future of Erie was able to be seen by fans.

2022 OHL Priority Selection Rounds Erie can draft from, alongside Round-draftees on the Otters roster in 2021-22:

• 1^st Round Selections
  • 2021: Carey Terrance (#10)
    • 24 points (10G+14A) in 64 games (3 GWG)
    • 11^th in team-scoring
    • Named to 2021 U.S. Under-17 Men’s Select Team for Five Nations Tournament
    • Named to Team Canada White for Hockey Canada’s U17 2021 Capital City Challenge
  • 2020: Spencer Sova (#8)
    • 28 points (9G+19A) in 64 games (1 GWG)
    • 10^th in team-scoring
    • #39 North American Skating Prospect – 2022 NHL Central Scouting Midterm Rankings
    • Named to Canada’s National Men’s Under-18 Team for 2022 IIHF U18 World Championship
  • 2019: Connor Lockhart (#3)
    • 48 points (23G+25A) in 64 games(4 GWG)
    • 4^th in team-scoring (86^th, OHL)
    • Drafted by Vancouver Canucks in Round 6, 178 in 2021 NHL Entry Draft
    • Named to Team Canada for 2019 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge
  • 2018: Jamie Drysdale (#4) – NHL, Anaheim
    • Drafted 6^th Overall to Anaheim in 2020 NHL Entry Draft
    • Over 100 NHL games played
• 2^nd Round Selections
  • 2021: Taeo Artichuk (#21)
    • 10 points (3G+7A) in 59 games
  • 2020: Lucas Ross (#40)
    • Eight points (3G+5A) in 58 games (1 GWG)
  • 2019: Colby Saganiuk (#37)
    • 37 points (14G+23A) in 58 games
    • 8^th in team-scoring
• 4^th Round Selections:
  • 2021: George Alboim (#70)
    • Assist, +2 in 16 games
  • 2019: Brett Bressette (#65)
    • 48 points (21G+27A) in 66 games (1 GWG)
    • 5^th in team-scoring (87^th, OHL)
• 5^th Round Selections:
  • 2019: Christian Kyrou (#84)
    • 60 points (18G+42A) in 68 games (4 GWG)
    • 3^rd in team-scoring (3^rd among all OHL Defenseman; 48^th, OHL)
    • #179 North American Skating Prospect – 2022 NHL Central Scouting Midterm Rankings
    • 2022 OHL Coaches Poll named Kyrou Western Conference Most Underrated Player, Most Improved Player (#3), and Best Offensive Defenseman (#2).
• 6^th Round Selections:
  • 2020: Kaleb Smith (#106)
    • Six points (1G+5A) in 58 games
  • 2018: Elias Cohen (#120)
    • 61 points (24G+37A) in 61 games (2 GWG)
    • 2nd in team-scoring (46^th, OHL)
• 7^th Round Selections:
  • 2020: Cameron Lowe (#128)
    • Six points (4G+2A) in 47 games
  • 2018: Cameron Morton (#124)
    • Named Alternate Captain in Preseason
    • 21 points (3G+18A) in 65 games
    • 2022 OHL Coaches Poll named Morton one of the hardest checking players in the Western Conference
• 11^th Round Selections:
  • 2019: Owain Johnston (#206)
    • 13 points (3G+10A) in 64 games
• 12^th Round Selections:
  • 2018: Aidan Campbell (#224)
    • 3.29 GAA, .873 SV% in five games
    • Missed most of 2021-22 season due to injury, but rehabilitated ahead of schedule and won his season debut

With an experienced, but still youth-lead, Otters team taking the ice in 2022-23, players selected in the 2022 OHL Priority Selection will have the chance to make their mark and earn their spot in Training Camp.

The 2022 OHL Priority Selection Draft will be free-to-watch on OHL Live on CHL TV  all weekend long, with the Pre-Show beginning at 6:30 P.M. on Friday, April 29 and Draft Rounds 1-3 starting at 7:00 P.M., and on Saturday, April 30 with Draft Rounds 4-15 starting at 9:00 A.M.

---

*The Ontario Hockey League held a Draft Lottery for the Draft Order of the 2021 Priority Selection Draft; this Lottery was the first to decide who among the four last-place teams would get the #1 overall pick.

2022 OHL Priority Selection First Round Order of Selection:

1. Saginaw Spirit
2. Erie Otters
3. Sudbury Wolves
4. Niagara IceDogs
5. Sarnia Sting
6. Peterborough Petes
7. Ottawa 67’s
8. Oshawa Generals
9. Kitchener Rangers
10. Barrie Colts
11. Owen Sound Attack
12. Guelph Storm
13. Mississauga Steelheads
14. Oshawa Generals*
15. London Knights
16. Soo Greyhounds
17. Kingston Frontenacs
18. Flint Firebirds
19. Saginaw Spirit*
20. North Bay Battalion
21. Ottawa 67’s*
22. Windsor Spitfires
23. Hamilton Bulldogs

* – compensatory pick

Player Eligibility
North American players born in 2006 and non-overage players that were not registered with an Ontario based U16 AAA team from protected OHL territories are eligible for selection in the 15 rounds of the 2022 OHL Priority Selection.

Selected Players in the OHL
OHL Member Teams are permitted to register a maximum of four 16-year-old players selected in the OHL Priority Selection. Those 16 year old players that are allowed to be signed are the first two 16-year-old players selected and a maximum of two additional 16-year-old wild carded players in any round of the OHL Priority Selection.

All other 16-year-old players selected are eligible to be called up as an “affiliated player” or “floating affiliate player” for a maximum of 10 games or for any OHL regular season or playoff games when such player’s team has been eliminated from competition for that season.

---

Keep up with all the Otters picks and results on OttersHockey.com or across the Otters’ social media. For all results of the 2022 Priority Selection, please head to OntarioHockeyLeague.com. 

For the latest Otters news, visit OttersHockey.com, or follow the team on Facebook (Facebook.com/erieottershockey), Twitter (@ErieOtters), and Instagram (@ErieOtters). 

For further information on the Erie Otters and for media inquiries, please contact Shawn Bednard at [email protected]. 

###