Sting to Select Jakob Chychrun First Overall
The Sarnia Sting announced today that the hockey club will select Jakob Chychrun of the Toronto Jr. Canadiens with the first overall pick in the 2014 OHL Priority Selection, presented by State Farm®. The announcement was made this morning during a Press Conference held at the RBC Centre’s – Hive Bar & Grill.
“It’s truly an honour and a thrill to be chosen by the Sarnia Sting” stated first overall pick, Jakob Chychrun. “I’d like to thank the Sting for their confidence in choosing me with the 1st pick in the OHL draft. I realize this is just the first step in my junior hockey career, but I’m excited to meet my future teammates and getting started in the fall.”
The 16 year-old, Boca Raton, Florida native led all Greater Toronto Hockey League (GTHL) defensemen in goals (16), assists (27) and points (43) through 29 games played this season, ultimately leading his team to a league Championship. Earlier this year Chychrun was named to team Ontario’s U17 program as an underage skater; the first non-exceptional status player ever to do so. He recorded 4 points in 5 games in the tournament.
Head Scout & Director of Player Personnel, Nick Sinclair expresses his thoughts on the team’s first overall selection. “Jakob is a special kind of player that doesn’t come around too often. He is a prototypical modern age defenceman that can do it all. He is a rare combination of size, speed, and strength, but his greatest asset as a player is his hockey sense. He has shown that he can make plays that other players don’t often even see. His on ice awareness and anticipation are tools that take his game to another level. Jakob is an ultimate competitor and has the ability to adapt to any type of game situation. He can play a high tempo offensive style, a physical game, or a defensive shut down role. Off the ice, he is a young man with tremendous drive, leadership, character, and maturity. This young man will be a great ambassador and role model for the community and city of Sarnia. We are extremely thrilled about the future of the Sarnia Sting Hockey Club in being able to inject a cornerstone, like Jakob, into our line-up. “
Darrell Woodley, Director of Central Scouting for the OHL maintains that Chychrun, “does absolutely everything on the ice, he runs the power play, kills penalties, matches up against every teams best players, he does it all.”
Chychrun will officially be selected as the top pick of the 2014 OHL Priority Selection tomorrow morning at 9:00 a.m. when the draft gets underway.
The Sting hold 16 total picks in the 15-round event, including one in the 2nd round and two in the 3rd round. Follow draft coverage at www.ontariohockeyleague.com or via live updates on Twitter (@StingHockey).
