CLASS OF ’21 NOTEBOOK
(by Erik Konwinski)
Erie, Pennsylvania – With the 2022 Ontario Hockey League Priority Selection Draft approaching in three days, preparations begin to welcome in the ‘Class of ’22’ for the Erie Otters. As it stands currently, Erie will select 15 players among the 15 Rounds of the Priority Selection, with each having aspirations to make the cut for Opening Night – and beyond. These 15 will represent a new Draft Class, and the future of the Otters.
As the team prepares to welcome 15 new prospective players to the organization, a new chapter begins, and turns what were the ‘new kids’ from the Class of ’21 into players with a prospect season under their belt.
Before the new Class commences in the Flagship City, it’s time to review the 16 players who Erie drafted in the 2021 Priority Selection, and their progress since hearing their names called.
Carey Terrance – 1st Round, #10 Overall (F)
The #10 overall pick in the 2021 OHL Priority Selection, Carey Terrance was touted as “possibly the best-skating forward in [the 2021] Draft” as a two-way Forward.
Shortly after Draft Day, Terrance was named by USA Hockey as a player for the Under-17 Five Nations Tournament in Visp, Switzerland – scoring five points (3G+2A) in three games. Early in his first season, he was also named by Hockey Canada to the 2021 U17 Capital City Challenge to Team Canada White – winning a Bronze Medal.
The rookie OHL campaign for the son of Akwesasne, New York saw him earn an everyday spot in the lineup through 62 games played in 2021-22, utilizing his long reach and tenacious play to notch 10 goals and 24 points while primarily slotting in as a center.
Terrance saw regular power play time during the season and recorded 1 goal and 2 assists on the man advantage. Three of Terrance’s 10 goals were game-winners for the team.
In the last half of the season, Terrance started to truly showcase the star-caliber of player that he can be – giving General Manager Dave Brown’s team and fans a lot to be excited about for his Sophomore season.
“Carey had a really strong second half, where he started to really exhibit some of the skills that we knew that he could.” said Brown, “We saw the Carey Terrance that has that explosive speed…use his physical traits…and shoot the puck. We’re excited to see what he brings us moving forward.”
Taeo Artichuk – 2nd Round, #21 Overall (F)
Taeo Artichuk was drafted with the 21st Overall Pick in the 2021 OHL Priority Selection Draft with the first of six draft picks Erie had acquired through trades.
Artichuk scored 3 goals and 10 points in 59 games with the squad in 2021-22.
The product of Ajax, Ontario, spent much of his rookie season with Erie playing in a defensive Forward role with other first-year OHLers.
Playing plenty of time alongside big-bodied Forwards like Brendan Hoffmann, physicality became more of a game-factor for Artichuk in 2021-22. With a full season under the belt, expect the 21st overall pick to become a productive scorer in the new season.
Nathan Sauder – 3rd Round #54 Overall (D)
Nathan Sauder was selected by Erie with the 54th Overall Pick in the 2021 OHL Priority Selection Draft, which initially belonged to the Niagara IceDogs. Sauder was Erie’s first Defenseman off the board.
The shut-down defenseman played in 48 games for the Otters in his first OHL season and developed into a regular on the blueline by the end of the campaign. Sauder provided defensive responsibility and showcased a smart stick, blocking many passing and shooting lanes.
The Mississauga, Ontario, native found the back of the net twice, and finished the season with 5 points (2G+3A), while impressively finishing first in +/- for rookies who played more than 20 games with a minus-5.
Evident growth was a major part of Sauder’s first season from start-to-finish, and the Sophomore should be an everyday blueliner in 2022-23.
George Alboim – 4th Round, #70 Overall (D)
George Alboim skated in 16 games for the Erie Otters in the 2021-22 season and recorded 1 point with an assist. The defenseman from Uxbridge, Ontario, finished his season with a +/- of plus-2, making him one of three skaters on the team to finish the season above zero.
Abloim split time initially between the NOJHL and OHL, but with injuries affecting the Otter defense, the rookie defenseman was called up and stayed up with Erie the entire season.
When getting opportunities to be in the lineup, Alboim made the most of his 6’2” frame and was hard for opposition forwards to play against.
With a full OHL season of games and practice, Alboim should continue to be a regular on the blue line for Erie in 2022-23.
Braxton Ross – 6th Round, #103 Overall (F)
Braxton Ross was selected with the 103rd Overall Pick in the 2021 OHL Priority Selection Draft, a pick Erie received from the London Knights.
Ross most recently suited up for the CCHL’s Ottawa Jr. Senators during the 2021-22 season. The Kanata, Ontario native played in 28 regular season games for the Jr. Senators and scored three goals and three assists, before scoring a goal in the team’s six playoff games.
Chase Pirtle – 7th Round, #128 Overall (F)
Chase Pirtle was chosen by the Otters with the 128th Overall Pick in the 2021 OHL Priority Selection Draft, which Erie received from the Mississauga Steelheads.
The 6’2”, right-handed shooter from Far Hills, New Jersey, played in 56 games for the New Jersey Rockets 16U AAA in 2021-22 and scored 81 points (26G+55A).
Ryan Harvey – 7th Round, #129 Overall (D)
Ryan Harvey played in 16 regular season games and eight playoff games for the Ajax/Pickering Raiders U18 AAA of the ETAHL.
The product of Stouffville, Ontario, notched six points in the regular season (2G+4A), and recorded six assists in his eight post-season games.
John Franceschetti – 8th Round, #143 Overall (F)
John ‘JJ’ Franceschetti was selected by Erie with the 129th Overall Pick in the 2021 OHL Priority Selection Draft, initially belonging to the London Knights.
The Toronto native played for Ridley College of the Canadian Prep School Hockey Alliance for the 2021-22 season. Franceschetti skated in 15 games for his club and scored 5 goals and 4 assists for 9 points.
Dylan Edwards – 8th Round, #150 Overall (F)
Erie’s second pick of the Eighth Round, Dylan Edwards was the youngest player to make his debut with the Otters in the 2021-22 season – and the highest picked draftee to appear in the Erie lineup from the Class of 2021.
Edwards was called upon to play in seven games for the Otters when they were battling through injuries. Showcasing his speed and tenacity, Edwards was recognizable and ready to be called upon when needed. The Toronto native will only continue to get opportunities to show what he can do in the future.
Seamus Lockhart – 9th Round, #169 Overall (D)
Hailing from Kanata, Ontario Seamus Lockhart spent dual time in his 2021-22 season with the Kemptville 73’s of the Hockey Eastern Ontario U18 AAA league, and the Richmond Royals of the EOJHL. The defenseman recorded an assist in one game played with Richmond and played in 27 of Kemptville’s 32 games, earning seven goals and 13 points (7G+6A). Lockhart also laced up the skates for two playoff games for the 73’s and contributed an assist on the scoresheet.
The Erie Otters community may recognize the name Seamus Lockhart, as he notably had a Sandwich of the Month at Molly Brannigan’s Irish Pub named after him by his older brother, Connor, during the 2021-22 season – “The Famous Seamus.”
Aiden Hopewell – 11th Round, #209 Overall (G)
Hopewell was the first goaltender chosen by Erie during the 2021 OHL Priority Selection Draft and will hope to become another American goalie who can leave his mark between the pipes at the Erie Insurance Arena.
Born in Ashburn, Virginia the 6’2” netminder played for Kent (High) School during the 2021-22 season, and boasted a .923 SV% and 2.10 GAA through 17 games for the Lions.
Andrew McIsaac – 12th Round, #230 Overall (F)
Andrew McIsaac played in 25 games for the Ajax/Pickering Raiders U18 AAA of the ETAHL during the 2021-22 season.
McIsaac, the teammate of fellow 2021 OHL Entry Draft Selection of the Erie Otters, Ryan Harvey, scored at over a point-per-game pace during his first true season after the COVID-19 pandemic. McIsaac scored 13 goals and added 14 helpers for 27 points in 25 games played for the Pickering, Ontario, native.
Teegan Middleton – 13th Round, #249 Overall (D)
Teegan Middleton logged lots of ice-time for the Listowel Cyclones of the GOJHL during the 2021-22 season.
The defensive-minded blueliner from Clinton, Ontario, played in 41 regular season games and four playoff games for the Cyclones. Using his frame wisely, Middleton recorded five assists during his season and only collected 18 PIMs.
Jack Erickson – 13th Round, #252 Overall (D)
Jack Erickson was selected with the 252nd Overall Pick in the 2021 OHL Priority Selection Draft, a pick that was acquired from the Sarnia Sting.
The Whitby, Ontario native was the third player selected by the Erie Otters in the 2021 OHL Priority Selection Draft that played for the Ajax/Pickering Raiders U18 AAA of the ETAHL in the 2021-22 season. Erickson put up 12 assists in 26 regular season games for the Raiders before adding an assist in eight playoff games.
Braeden Shaikh – 14th Round, #270 Overall (G)
Braeden Shaikh was the second goaltender chosen by Erie in the 2021 OHL Priority Selection Draft.
Playing three games in the Midwest Prep Hockey League for Ridley College, Shaikh had a 2-1 record with a 1.19 GAA and .940 SV%. The Mississauga, Ontario, native also appeared in eight games for Ridley’s CPSHA team in the 2021-22 season.
Jordan Latham – 15th Round, #289 Overall (F)
Jordan Latham was the final pick in the 2021 OHL Priority Selection Draft by the Erie Otters, coming in at 289th Overall. A left-handed Forward, Latham measured in at 5’9, 161 lbs.
The Toronto native was part of 12 tournament games for the Toronto Nationals U17 AAA, scoring four points (0G+4A).
With five of the 16 players drafted in the 2021 Priority Selection appearing in at least a handful of games during the Otters’ 2021-22 season, the fellow 11 draftees hope to continue their development and crack the Erie roster.
Expectations in year two for players like Terrance and Sauder to be everyday contributors will play a major factor in the team’s success – especially with a new, young class of Otters inbound.
While the Otters were one of the OHL’s youngest teams last season, a big wave of experience will help set the foundation for whatever the Class of ’22 brings to the Flagship City.
Erie currently has 15 picks in the 2022 Priority Selection Draft, with two on day one (1st Round 2nd Overall, 2nd Round [SOO]), and 13 on day two (4th [NIAG conditional], 5th, 6th, 7th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th, three in 13th [FLNT, NIAG], 14th, 15th). Draft Picks are subject to change leading up to the day of the Draft.
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].
###
