Erie Otters 2024 OHL Under 18 Priority Selection Draft Primer
Erie, Pennsylvania – Draft season continues for the Erie Otters to close out the month of April, as the team will participate in the Ontario Hockey League’s eighth Under 18 Priority Selection Draft on Wednesday, April 17.
The final OHL-specific Draft of the year, the Under 18 Priority Selection arrives following last weekend’s OHL Priority Selection Draft, which saw the Otters select 12 new prospects over 15 rounds, including first round pick Tyler Challenger. The U18 Draft started in 2017 as a way to give teams the opportunity to select any draft-eligible player under the age of 18 – giving overlooked players a second-chance at catching scouts’ eyes. The Under-18 Priority Selection Process is capped at two rounds with each OHL Member Team required to select two players. Should a Member Team select a goalie with one of their two selections, the Club has the option to select another player (skater only). There will be an additional round added to the Under-18 Priority Selection to facilitate the drafting of the additional skater utilizing the same selection order and process.
While the U18 Draft doesn’t share the same pomp, circumstance, or acclaim that the standard Priority Selection Draft receives – as team’s select players overlooked initially in the Draft process – it is the perfect time to find diamond-in-the-rough, late developing, or under the radar prospects. In the 2023-24 season, five players selected during U18 Drafts dressed for the Otters: forwards Brett Hammond (#1 overall, 2023), Bruce McDonald (#41 overall, 2022) and goaltenders Boe Piroski (#20 overall [NIAG], 2021), Ethan Fraser (#36 overall [FLNT], 2020), and Marshall Nicholls (#28 overall, 2020).
In the 2024 version of the draft, the Otters are eligible to select three players from the three rounds, with a ‘Linear Draft’ being executed – ensuring Erie and all OHL member teams the same draft order in each round. Unlike the Priority Selection, there are no compensatory or traded picks. The 2024 U18 Priority Selection picks are as follows for Erie:
- Round 1, #10 pick
- Round 2, #30 pick
- Round 3, #50 pick*
- As stated above, Erie will only be eligible to utilize this pick if they select a goaltender with either of their first two picks.
Erie has selected 21 players all-time in the Under 18 Priority Selection, with seven U18 Draft players* making the regular season roster for the team all-time.
Year | RD | OV | Team | Player Name | Pos | Height | Weight | DOB | Last Team | Source |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2023 | 1 | 1 | Erie | Brett Hammond | RW | 6.02 | 188 | 09/08/2006 | Nepean Raiders U18 AAA | HEO AAA |
2022 | 1 | 2 | Erie | Vlad Visan | G | 6.02 | 225 | 10/02/2005 | Burlington Eagles U18 AAA | SCTA |
2019 | 1 | 3 | Erie | Connor Olson | LD | 6.01 | 169 | 03/28/2002 | Elgin-Middlesex Chiefs MAAA | MHAO |
2018 | 1 | 4 | Erie | Daniel D’Amato | RW | 5.11.25 | 146 | 04/08/2001 | Vaughan Kings MAAA | GTHL |
2020 | 1 | 8 | Erie | Ethan Broderick | RD | 5.07.75 | 157 | 07/07/2003 | Guelph Gryphons MAAA | SCTA |
2021 | 1 | 16 | Erie | Anthony Piccininno | LW | 5.07 | 144 | 04/01/2004 | Don Mills Flyers U18 AAA | GTHL |
2017 | 1 | 20 | Erie | Matthew Giannini | RW | 5.07.5 | 144 | 08/25/2000 | Hamilton Jr. Bulldogs Midget AAA | SCTA |
2022 | 2 | 22 | Erie | Zachary Benayon | LW | 6.00 | 172 | 1/25/2005 | Toronto Red Wings U18 AAA | GTHL |
2023 | 2 | 22 | Erie | Maverick Fletcher | G | 6.01 | 172 | 11/17/2006 | Soo Jr. Greyhounds U18 AAA | GNU |
2019 | 1 | 23 | Erie | Bryce Walcarius | G | 6.01 | 150 | 03/01/2002 | Elgin-Middlesex Chiefs MAAA | MHAO |
2018 | 2 | 24 | Erie | Darius Vitug | RW | 5.08.5 | 174 | 04/01/2002 | Toronto Jr. Canadiens MAAA | GTHL |
2021 | 2 | 25 | Erie | MacGregor Armstrong | LD | 6.03 | 185 | 02/04/2003 | Niagara North Stars U18 AAA | SCTA |
2020 | 2 | 28 | Erie | Marshall Nicholls | G | 5.10.5 | 155 | 06/18/2003 | Waterloo Wolves MAAA | MHAO |
2017 | 2 | 40 | Erie | Anthony Carraretto | LW | 5.08.5 | 147 | 10/05/2000 | Toronto Nationals Midget AAA | GTHL |
2022 | 3 | 41 | Erie | Bruce McDonald | C | 6.00 | 172 | 12/18/2004 | Renfrew Wolves U18 AAA | HEO Midget |
2023 | 3 | 42 | Erie | Michael Dion | LD | 6.00 | 157 | 05/30/2006 | North York Rangers U18 AAA | OJHL |
2019 | 3 | 43 | Erie | Zachary Power | RW | 5.06.25 | 132 | 08/20/2002 | Rockland Nationals MAAA | HEO Midget |
2020 | 3 | 47 | Erie | Blake Yetman | RW | 5.09.25 | 128 | 10/02/2002 | Whitby Wildcats MAAA | ETA |
2017 | 3 | 60 | Erie | William Anderson | G | 6.01 | 186 | 04/01/2000 | Kemptville 73s Midget AAA | OEMHL |
2017 | 4 | 80 | Erie | Jayden Vaughan | LW | 5.10 | 152 | 06/01/2000 | Toronto Jr. Canadiens Midget AAA | GTHL |
2017 | 5 | 96 | Erie | Evan Miller | C | 5.06.75 | 127 | 03/07/2000 | Niagara North Stars Midget AAA | SCTA |
- Daniel D’Amato (2018 Round 1, #4): 2018-22 with Erie
- The first-ever U18 draftee to appear in a game for the Otters, ‘Captain Dan’ D’Amato left an impressionable mark and high-bar for future picks from either Draft to follow
- D’Amato would play in 189 games across his three OHL seasons, becoming the first and only U18 pick in league history to score 100+ career points
- In the 189 games, D’Amato would grab 110 points (46G+64A), including an incredible point-per-game 63 points (24G+39A) in his final season’s 63 games
- D’Amato would serve as Otters captain during his final OHL season, marking him the first U18 Otter to accomplish such a feat
- The Maple, ON native also appeared in five professional hockey (AHL) games during his last OHL season, posting three points (1G+2A).
- Captain Dan will always sit as the gold-standard for U18 players, setting many benchmarks in his three seasons.
- Ryan Thompson (2019 Round 1, #8 by North Bay): 2021-22 with Erie
- While not an Otters U18 pick, Defenseman Ryan Thompson became an Otter by way of a trade ahead of the 2021-22 season – marking him as one of the more experienced blueliners on the team
- In his 50 games with Erie during 2021-22, Thompson scored seven points (2G+5A) – including his first-career goal and game-winning goal all at once
- Thompson was traded from Erie to Soo ahead of the 2022-23 season for picks
- Marshall Nicholls (2020 Round 2, #28): 2021-2022, 2024 (EBUG) with Erie
- Goaltender Marshall Nicholls had the distinct honor of being the lone U18 goaltender selected by Erie to appear in at least a game
- The Waterloo, ON native would appear in 15 games with the Otters in 2021-22 for a 4.42 GAA, .849 SV%, and a 2-9-0-1 record. In 2022, Nicholls would appear in six games with a 3.48 GAA, .869 S%, and 1-3-0-1 record.
- Nicholls would finish out the 2022 season in the QMJHL with the Chicoutimi Saguenéens.
- During Erie’s injury-plagued goaltender room in the 2024 portion of the 2023-24 season, Nicholls was re-called on an emergency backup basis for a road game in Guelph
- Bruce McDonald (2022 Round 3, #41): 2022-24 with Erie
- Since being selected in the third round in the 2022 U18 Draft, Bruce McDonald has become a vital piece of Erie’s depth-focused forward core – playing in 132 career OHL games thus far for the Erie Otters
- In 2022-23, McDonald played 67/68 games for the Otters, recording 18 points (7G+11A) including a game-winning goal
- In 2023-24, McDonald would nearly double his offensive production in two less games. Playing 65/68 games for Erie, McDonald would find 35 points (18G+17A) including his first career power play and shorthanded goals alongside two game-winners
- McDonald would also be the first U18 drafted Erie Otters player to play with the team in the playoffs, recording an assist in six games played.
- McDonald’s success as a depth forward for the Otters is a testament to the late-developing gems that can be found in the U18 prospect pool
- Since being selected in the third round in the 2022 U18 Draft, Bruce McDonald has become a vital piece of Erie’s depth-focused forward core – playing in 132 career OHL games thus far for the Erie Otters
- Brett Hammond (2023 Round 1, #1): 2023-24 with Erie
- The first-ever U18 draftee taken with the top pick by Erie, Brett Hammond would grow into a bottom-six forward for the Otters during his rookie OHL season
- Playing in 58 games for Erie, the Ottawa native would record six points (2G+4A) and play an additional three games in the post-season.
- The first-ever U18 draftee taken with the top pick by Erie, Brett Hammond would grow into a bottom-six forward for the Otters during his rookie OHL season
- Boe Piroski (2021 Round 1, #20 by Niagara): 2024 with Erie
- An emergency backup goaltender for Erie’s game in Saginaw on February 10, Boe Piroski would be called up from the Provincial Junior Hockey League for his second-career OHL game.
- Piroski would stop 25/30 in the loss against the Memorial Cup hosts.
- An emergency backup goaltender for Erie’s game in Saginaw on February 10, Boe Piroski would be called up from the Provincial Junior Hockey League for his second-career OHL game.
- Ethan Fraser (2020 Round 2, #36 by Flint): 2024 with Erie
- The goaltending story of the season in the final weeks of the OHL regular season, Ethan Fraser became something of a legend for Otters fans. Making his OHL debut as a 21-year-old, Fraser would play in 12 games – 10 regular season and two playoff – helping Erie secure not only stability in net, but a top-five seed in the Western Conference
- Fraser would debut on February 17 at home against the Oshawa Generals stopping 40/41. From there, the Belleville, ON native would appear in 10 total regular season games with a 6-1-1-2 record behind a 2.96 GAA and .904 SV%.
- Fraser would become the first Otters’ goaltender to win a playoff game in seven years after a 1-1 record in round one against the Kitchener Rangers. In a high-scoring series, Fraser would have a 4.52 GAA and .850 SV% – eventually seeing his OHL career come to an end as Ben Gaudreau returned from injury.
- The goaltending story of the season in the final weeks of the OHL regular season, Ethan Fraser became something of a legend for Otters fans. Making his OHL debut as a 21-year-old, Fraser would play in 12 games – 10 regular season and two playoff – helping Erie secure not only stability in net, but a top-five seed in the Western Conference
* Ryan Thompson, Boe Piroski, and Ethan Fraser all played for the Erie Otters as U18 picks, but were selected by different teams than Erie.
As the Otters will return to Erie in the Fall under the tutelage of head coach Stan Butler, players selected in the 2024 OHL U18 Priority Selection will have the chance to make their mark and earn their spot in Training Camp. After making the playoffs in the 2023-24 season, Erie will now seek to be a competitor toward the top of the OHL Western Conference.
All three rounds of the 2024 OHL U18 Priority Selection Draft will take place starting at 7:00 P.M. on Wednesday, April 17. While there will be no live draft show, fans can keep up with the results in real-time on OntarioHockeyLeague.com.
2024 OHL U18 Priority Selection First Round Order of Selection:
- Windsor Spitfires
- Sarnia Sting
- Peterborough Petes
- Niagara IceDogs
- Barrie Colts
- Flint Firebirds
- Owen Sound Attack
- Kingston Frontenacs
- Guelph Storm
- Erie Otters
- Ottawa 67’s
- Sudbury Wolves
- Mississauga Steelheads
- Brantford Bulldogs
- Kitchener Rangers
- North Bay Battalion
- Oshawa Generals
- Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds
- Saginaw Spirit
- London Knights
Erie’s 2024 Draft Coverage is presented by Voodoo Brewing Company.
About Voodoo Brewing Company
Voodoo Brewing Company is more than a brewery; it is a celebration of the art of brewing, a journey of taste, and a gathering place where good vibes resonate. Voodoo Brewing Company is a pioneer in the craft brewing industry known for its innovation and community engagement. Learn more at Voodoobrewery.com and follow @voodoobrewery on social media.
Keep up with all the Otters picks and results on OttersHockey.com or across the Otters’ social media. For all results of the 2024 U18 Priority Selection, please head to OntarioHockeyLeague.com.
Player Eligibility
North American players under 18-years-old born between 2006 and 2008 are eligible for selection in the three rounds of the 2024 OHL Under 18 Priority Selection.
Selected Players in the OHL
OHL Member Teams were permitted to register a maximum of four 16-year-old players selected in the OHL Priority Selection Draft. 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.
Stay Informed:
Keep up-to-date with the latest Erie Otters news by visiting OttersHockey.com, or follow along on social media with the Otters Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.
About the Erie Otters:
The Erie Otters are an Ontario Hockey League (OHL) team based in Erie, Pennsylvania. Founded in 1996, the Otters have a rich history of excellence both on and off the ice. The team is committed to creating memorable experiences for its fans and contributing to the growth and well-being of the Erie community.
For further information on the Erie Otters and for media inquiries, please contact Shawn Bednard at [email protected].
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