Erie Otters 2025 OHL Under 18 Priority Selection Draft Primer

Erie Otters 2025 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 ninth Under 18 Priority Selection Draft on Wednesday, April 16. Erie’s 2025 OHL Drafts are presented by Voodoo Brewing Company – Erie Pub.

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 15 new prospects over 15 rounds, including first round pick Jake Murray (F, #12 overall). 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 2024-25 season, three players selected during U18 Drafts dressed for the Otters: forwards Oliver Phillips (#10 overall, 2024), Jack Clarke (#47 overall, 2024, and Brett Hammond (#1 overall, 2023).

In the 2025 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 2025 U18 Priority Selection picks are as follows for Erie:

1. Round 1, #11 pick
2. Round 2, #31 pick
3. Round 3, #51 pick*
   1. 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 24 players all-time in the Under 18 Priority Selection, with nine 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
2024	1	10	Erie	Oliver Phillips	LW	6.06	207	11/29/2007	Ottawa Jr. 67’s U18 AAA
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
2024	2	30	Erie	Jonathan Frattaroli	G	5.10.5	151	05/31/2007	Mississauga Senators U18 AAA
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
2024	3	47	Erie	Jack Clarke	C	6.01	185	06/05/2007	Waterloo Wolves U18 AAA
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
  • Selected in the third round in the 2022 U18 Draft, Bruce McDonald had become a vital piece of Erie’s depth-focused forward core – playing in 132 career OHL games 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 was a testament to the late-developing gems that can be found in the U18 prospect pool
  • Going into his overage season in 2024-25, McDonald was traded from Erie to Owen Sound for picks
• Brett Hammond (2023 Round 1, #1): 2023-25 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.
  • In his second season in Erie, Hammond would skate in 64 games and record 11 points (5G+6A), while also playing serious minutes in the Otters post-season run
• 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.
• Ethan Fraser (2020 Round 2, #36 by Flint): 2024 with Erie
  • The goaltending story of the season in the final weeks of the 2023-24 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.
• Oliver Phillips (2024 Round 1, #10): 2024-25 with Erie
  • Playing an important role in the Otters bottom-six, Oliver Phillips would skate in 47 regular season games during his first season in the OHL, including the season and home openers. The Ottawa native would record five points (1G+4A), and score his first-career OHL goal as the game-winning goal of the season finale against London at home on March 23.
• Jack Clarke (2024 Round 3, #47): 2024 with Erie
  • Jack Clarke played in 19 games for the Erie Otters, making his OHL debut in the 2024 home opener.

* Ryan Thompson, Boe Piroski, and Ethan Fraser all played for the Erie Otters as U18 picks, but were selected by different teams than Erie.

Players selected in the 2025 OHL U18 Priority Selection will have the chance to make their mark and earn their spot in Training Camp. After winning their first playoff series since 2017 in the 2024-25 post-season, Erie will now seek to be a competitor toward the top of the OHL Western Conference.

All three rounds of the 2025 OHL U18 Priority Selection Draft will take place starting at 5:30 P.M. on Wednesday, April 16. While there will be no live draft show, fans can keep up with the results in real-time on OntarioHockeyLeague.com.

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2025 OHL Priority Selection First Round Order of Selection:

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

Keep up with all the Otters picks and results on OttersHockey.com or across the Otters’ social media. For all results of the 2025 Priority Selection, please head to OntarioHockeyLeague.com. 

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.

OHL U18 Player Eligibility
North American players under 18-years-old born between 2007 and 2009 are eligible for selection in the three rounds of the 2025 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. 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. 

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] or Trevor Kubeja at [email protected].

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.

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