OHL Draft: Kitchener adds 12 skaters on day two Saturday
Kitchener, Ont. – Following four selections on day one of the 2023 OHL Priority Selection, presented by Real Canadian Superstore, the Rangers added 12 more players on day two to finish off the 15-round process. In total, the Rangers selected 16 players, eight forwards, six defenceman and two goalies in this year’s draft.
The Blueshirts kicked off day two by selecting Andrew MacNiel in the fourth round, 70th overall. MacNiel, is a native of Cobourg, Ont. and played this past season with the Peterborough Petes U16 AAA minor hockey club in the Ontario Minor Hockey Association-Eastern Triple A OMHA–ETA. He recorded 10 points (6G, 4A) in 24 games for the Petes last season. MacNiel is a 6-foot-1, 167-pound right-shot defenceman.
With a second pick in the fourth round, the Rangers then selected Cameron Arquette, 71st overall. The 157-pound, 5-foot-7, right-shot centreman played last season for the Sun County Panthers U16 AAA minor hockey club in the Minor Hockey Alliance of Ontario (MHAO). Arquette recorded 30 goals for the Panthers in just 33 games played and added 22 assists to finish with 52 points. In nine playoff games, Arquette also recorded 12 points (4G, 8A).
The East Avenue Blue took their first goaltender in the draft in the sixth round, 111th overall. With the pick, the Rangers selected Oshawa native, Owen Edwards. The 6-foot-3, 167-pound goaltender played his for the Whitby Wildcats U16 AAA minor hockey club in the OMHA-ETA. In 16 games, Edwards posted a 1.42 GAA and recorded three shutouts. In two games at the OHL cup, he posted a .919 save percentage and a 2.04 GAA.
Cristian Giancola was Kitchener’s seventh-round selection, 131st overall. The left-shot centreman spent last season playing for the Halton Hurricanes U16 AAA minor hockey association along with Kitchener second-round selection, Tanner Lam. Giancola is a native of Milton, Ont. and is listed at 6-foot, 168-pounds. He recorded 35 points (13G, 22A) in 18 games for the Hurricanes last season. Giancola also averaged two PPG in seven playoff games for Halton with three goals and 11 assists.
Kitchener selected their first American-born skater with the 149th selection in the eighth round. Haeden Ellis is a 5-foot-7, 137-pound right-shot centreman who played his minor hockey with the Buffalo Jr. Sabres 15’s in the Tier 1 Elite Hockey League (T1EHL). The Buffalo native forward recorded 17 points (9G, 8A) in 16 games this past season. Haeden is the son of Welland, Ont. native and former NHL draft pick, Matt Ellis.
Ryan Jacobs was the second goaltender taken off the board for Kitchener 171st overall in the ninth round. The Newmarket native weighed in at 6-foot-3, 163-pounds. Jacobs played for the Markham Waxers U16 minor hockey club in the OMHA-ETA. He suited up in 20 regular season games for Markham with a 3.57 GAA and four playoff games with a 2.92 GAA.
The East Avenue Blue then selected left-shot defenceman Drew McLannen from the Whitby Wildcats U16 AAA minor hockey club in the OMHA-ETA in the 10th round, 191st overall. The 5-foot-11, 155-pound Bowmanville native recorded 31 points (6G, 25A) in 36 games this past season.
Kitchener announced the selection of West Mifflin, Penn. native John Mooney in the 11th round, 211th overall. The five-foot-five, 134-pound right-shot centreman played his minor hockey for the Pittsburgh Penguins Elite 16U AAA club in the NorthEast Pack Hockey League (NEPACK). The shifty forward amassed 51 points (19G 32A) in 36 games in the U16 AAA division and 21 points (8G, 13A) in the NEPACK conference.
Tyler Meireles was selected 231st overall in the 12th round of the priority selection draft. The Orleans, Ont. native is a 5-foot-8, 166-pound left-shot defenceman who played his minor hockey for the Navan Grads U18 in the Hockey Eastern Ontario (HEO) Midget hockey league. In 41 games for the Grads, Meireles recorded 31 points (5G, 26A) in 41 games from the blueline.
Niles Benson is the second player Kitchener took from from the Buffalo Jr. Sabres 15’s organization, joining eighth round pick, Haeden Ellis. Benson was taken in the 13th round, 251st overall. The 6-foot, 176-pound centreman is a native of Ellicottville, New York. In 16 games for the Jr. Sabres, Benson tallied 21 points (11G, 10A).
Kaden Schneider was selected 271st overall in the 14th round. Schneider is a native of Western Canada and lives in Calgary, Alberta. The 6-foot-2, 173-pound left-shot defenceman played for the Northern Alberta Extreme u17 Prep AAA squad last season. Schneider collected 18 points (5G, 13A) in 38 games.
To complete the 2023 OHL Priority Selection Draft, the Kitchener Rangers selected Matthew Grimes out of the Mount St. Charles Academy 15’s program. Grimes is a 5-foot-10, 159-pound left-shot defenceman who is a native of Locust Valley, N.Y. In 51 games for Mount St. Charles, Grimes put up 46 points (11G, 35A) in 51 games and 10 points (2G, 8A) in the NEPACK 15U AAA.
For all the latest information on the Rangers at the 2023 OHL Draft, stay tuned KitchenerRangers.com.
For inquiries, contact:
Dominic Hennig
Senior Director, Broadcasting, Communications & Hockey Operations
Kitchener Rangers Hockey Club
519-497-9342
[email protected]
