2020 OHL Priority Selection Draft Day Takeaways

 

The 2020 OHL Priority Selection presented by Real Canadian Superstore saw 300 prospects chosen by 20 OHL member teams. Within the selections are some intriguing facts, figures and connections that we’ll take a closer look at below.

QUICK HITS:

Top two picks come from same team for third straight year: The Toronto Jr. Canadiens produced the first two picks of the 2020 OHL Priority Selection as defenceman Ty Nelson (1st overall, North Bay) and forward Pano Fimis (2nd overall, Niagara) accounted for two of their three first round selections. The duo follows in the footsteps of Don Mills Flyers pair Shane Wright (1st overall, Kingston) and Brennan Othmann (2nd overall, Flint) in 2019 as well as York-Simcoe Express teammates Quinton Byfield (1st overall, Sudbury) and Evan Vierling (2nd overall, Flint) in 2018.

Sarnia a familiar landing spot for Namestnikov: Hailing from an hour-and-a-half across the border in Wolverine Lake, Mich., originally by way of Russia, third overall pick Max Namestnikov won’t have to wander too far from home to suit up for the Sarnia Sting in the fall. The talented 16-year-old is familiar with the OHL after older brother Vladislav Namestnikov won an OHL championship with the London Knights in 2012 after being a first round pick of the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2011. Namestnikov’s uncle Ivan Novoseltsev played a pair of seasons in Sarnia from 1997-99.

Ludwinski keeps Marlboros first round streak alive: With the Kingston Frontenacs selecting forward Paul Ludwinski fifth overall, the Toronto Marlboros have now produced a first round pick in the OHL Priority Selection for twelve consecutive years. The Windsor Spitfires scooped up Marlboros forward Wyatt Johnston sixth overall in 2019.

Hounds draw from familiar source at 4th overall: The Soo Greyhounds went back to a place that gave them one of their best players in recent franchise history. After taking Jared McCann from the London Jr. Knights with the fourth overall pick back in 2012, the Hounds went back to the Jr. Knights to select ALLIANCE Minor Midget Player of the Year Bryce McConnell-Barker in the same spot. McCann went on to be a first round pick in the 2014 NHL Draft and has played 310 career contests between Vancouver, Florida and Pittsburgh. McConnell-Barker looks to follow in his footsteps.

Kanata produces two first rounders for second straight year: The Kanata Lasers U18 program has churned out a pair of first round selections for the second straight year. Defenceman Jorian Donovan (6th overall, Hamilton) and centreman Ben Bujold (19th overall, London) both saw their names up on the board. Donovan joined fellow HEO prospect Jonathan Melee (21st overall) heading to the Bulldogs. The Knights drew from Kanata in the first round for a second straight year after taking Lasers forward Stuart Rolofs with the 20th overall pick in 2019.

Rangers seeing double with addition of LeBlanc twins: Last year the North Bay Battalion took brothers Paul and Alex Christopoulos, and this year the Kitchener Rangers have gotten in on the twin-taking strategy. Kitchener selected the Southern Tier Admirals duo of Andrew (17th overall) and Jacob (42nd overall) LeBlanc. Kitchener has gone the Southern Tier route in the first round of past Priority Selections, taking Matt Schmalz 17th overall in 2012 and Mike Davies 13th overall in 2013.

Firebirds, Spirit search for talent in their home state: The Flint Firebirds and Saginaw Spirit both stayed close to home for several selections on Saturday. The Firebirds took three members of the Detroit Compuware U15 program including first round pick Gavin Hayes (17th overall). The Spirit stocked up with three members of the powerhouse Detroit Honeybaked U15 club led by goaltender Andrew Oke (89th overall).

Happy Birthday for Haight: Barrie Colts first round pick Hunter Haight (9th overall) had a birthday to remember. The Strathroy, Ont. native turned 16 on Saturday and was the second ALLIANCE player chosen. Haight was one of an organizational record nine Elgin-Middlesex Chiefs players selected in the proceedings, joined by other top picks Brady Stonehouse (26th overall, Ottawa), Zander Veccia (43rd overall, Mississauga) and Owen Van Steensel (63rd overall, North Bay).

Attack look eastward for talent once again: The Owen Sound Attack have covered the Eastern Ontario map fairly extensively in the past few OHL Priority Selections, going there once again with the selection of HEO Player of the Year Cedrick Guindon at 10th overall. The Bears picked up second round pick Kaleb Lawrence from the Cornwall-based Ontario Hockey Academy last year and found their first two picks in the Ottawa region with the selections of Nolan Seed and Josh Barnes in the first and second rounds of the 2018 OHL Priority Selection.

Quinte Red Devils churn out talent: The OMHA champion Quinte Red Devils had a league-leading 10 players chosen on Saturday, including eight players in the opening four rounds – a new organizational record. Forwards Owen Beck (29th overall, Mississauga) and Dalyn Wakely (3oth overall, North Bay) were first off the board before Cooper Matthews (48th overall, Barrie) and Aaron Brown (52nd overall, Flint) were third round selections.

Big day for Oshawa Generals Minor Midgets: The OMHA finalist Oshawa Generals Minor Midgets had a big showing with seven players selected, this after not having a player out of the Oshawa program chosen in the Priority Selection since 2016. Carson Christy (38th overall, Mississauga) was their first player off the board. The Kingston Frontenacs scooped up three Generals players including Nathan Poole (54th overall), Gage Heyes (85th overall) and William Moore (205th overall).

Li’s hard work pays off: One of the few members of the 2019 OHL Cup champion Don Mills Flyers who didn’t hear his name called in last year’s Priority Selection, Stevie Li got back to work with the OJHL’s Aurora Tigers and was picked up by the Niagara IceDogs in Saturday’s ninth round.

 

FAMILY CONNECTIONS:

• Sarnia Sting first round (3rd overall) selection Max Namestnikov will follow the path into the OHL of older brother Vladislav Namestnikov (2010-12) who won an OHL championship with the London Knights in 2012 and was a first round pick of the Tampa Bay Lightning. Namestnikov is the son of former NHL defenceman Evgeny Namestnikov and the nephew of former Sting winger Ivan Novoseltsev (1997-99).
• Hamilton Bulldogs first round (6th overall) selection Jorian Donovan is the son of Ottawa 67’s graduate and former long-time NHL forward Shean Donovan (1991-95). Donovan was the head coach of his son’s Kanata Lasers U18 squad that featured another first round selection in London Knights pick Ben Bujold.
• Flint Firebirds first round (16th overall) selection Gavin Hayes is the younger brother of Hamilton Bulldogs winger Avery Hayes. Two years Gavin’s senior, Avery was selected by Hamilton in the sixth round of the 2018 OHL Priority Selection. Hailing from Westland, Mich., Gavin will play close to home with the Firebirds next season.
• The London Knights selected Kanata Lasers U18 winger Colton Smith with the second round (25th overall) choice. Smith is the son of Ottawa Senators head coach and former OHL Coach of the Year D.J. Smith who hoisted the Memorial Cup with the Oshawa Generals in 2015. Smith is also an OHL graduate, having patrolled the blue line with the Windsor Spitfires from 1993-97.
• The Mississauga Steelheads selected Elgin-Middlesex Chiefs forward Zander Veccia with their third round (42nd overall) pick. He’s the son of former OHL champion Rob Veccia who played three OHL seasons between the Windsor Spitfires and Soo Greyhounds from 1982-85.
• The Soo Greyhounds selected hometown product Connor Toms of the Soo Jr. Greyhounds with the third round (44th overall) pick. This year’s NOHA Minor Midget Player of the Year, Toms is the son of former Hounds forward Jeff Toms who won an OHL championship and Memorial Cup title with the Greyhounds during his OHL tenure from 1991-94. He also got into 236 career NHL contests.
• The London Knights looked to Nova Scotia for their third round (46th overall) pick, selecting Landon Sim from the Weeks Major Midgets. Sim is the son of former Knights nemesis Jon Sim who played four seasons with the Sarnia Sting from 1994-98, putting up three consecutive seasons with over 90 points. Sim won a 1999 Stanley Cup title with the Dallas Stars and played in 469 career NHL contests.
• The Ottawa 67’s selected Toronto Jr. Canadiens defenceman Thomas Sirman with their third round (60th overall) pick. Sirman’s older brother William Sirman briefly wore the barber poles during the 2018-19 season after a full season with the Windsor Spitfires in 2017-18. It’s a rewarding finish to a challenging year for Sirman, who lost his father Graham in November. Graham Sirman was a valued member of the hockey community who served as the general manager of the U SPORTS all-star team that competed against Canadian World Junior hopefuls in both 2017 and 2018.
• The London Knights picked up Brody Crane from the Buffalo Jr. Sabres with their fourth round (62nd overall) pick. He’s the son of former Knight Derrick Crane who played in the OHL between London, Ottawa and Windsor from 1990-93.
• The Kitchener Rangers nabbed Cutter Gauthier of the Detroit Compuware U16 program with their fourth round (65th overall) selection. Gauthier is the son of former Kingston Frontenacs netminder Sean Gauthier who played in the Limestone City from 1988-91 before being drafted by the Winnipeg Jets. Cutter was born in Sweden during Sean’s pro career in the Swedish Elite League.
• One Struthers is graduating while another is one step closer. The Niagara IceDogs picked Ryan Struthers from the Oakville Rangers with their fifth round (82nd overall) pick. Ryan’s older brother Matthew Struthers just completed a five-year OHL career between Owen Sound and North Bay that included 298 games and 217 points (91-126–217).
• The Flint Firebirds made Vaughan Kings defenceman Luca D’Amato their fifth round (86th overall) pick. D’Amato is the younger brother of Erie Otters forward Daniel D’Amato who just completed his second season in the league after being the fourth overall pick of the 2018 OHL Under-18 Priority Selection.
• The London Knights added another familiar name, selecting Soo Jr. Greyhounds defenceman Mason Chitaroni with their fifth round (99th overall) pick. He’s the son of former Sudbury Wolves captain Terry Chitaroni who played four seasons with the Wolves from 1988-92 before a minor league career with the St. John’s Maple Leafs. Chitaroni was also a scout for the Wolves for a number of seasons after hanging up the skates.
• The Niagara IceDogs added winger Zaccharya Wisdom of the Mississauga Senators with their sixth round (102nd overall) choice. He’s the younger brother of draft eligible Kingston Frontenacs sophomore Zayde Wisdom who comes off a 29-goal season as a 17-year-old.
• The Hamilton Bulldogs nabbed Toronto Marlboros rearguard Luke Devlin with their seventh round (126th overall) pick. He’s the son of Toronto Raptors play-by-play voice Matt Devlin.
• The Niagara IceDogs selected Detroit Victory Honda U15 forward Ilia Chmelevski with their 11th round (202nd overall) pick. He’s the younger brother of former OHL Scholastic Player of the Year turned San Jose Sharks farmhand Sasha Chmelevski. Sasha helped guide the Ottawa 67’s to the OHL Championship Series last spring and graduated having racked up 213 points (102-111–213) over 216 regular season games between Ottawa and Sarnia.
• The London Knights picked Florida Alliance 16U defender Ayden Dubinsky with their 11th round (219th overall) pick. He’s the son of former NHL forward Steve Dubinsky who played in 375 career contests between Chicago, Calgary, Nashville and St. Louis.
• The Mississauga Steelheads selected Toronto Nationals defenceman Drew Durzi with their 13th round (247th overall) pick. He’s the younger brother of 2019 OHL champion Sean Durzi who played four seasons between Owen Sound and Guelph from 2015-19. Sean was a later round pick himself, going in the 12th round to Owen Sound back in the 2014 OHL Priority Selection. He’s now playing in the Los Angeles Kings’ minor league system.
• The Sarnia Sting selected Dallas Stars Elite U15 forward Keegan McArthur with their 14th overall (263rd overall) pick. He’s the son of Sarnia native and former Niagara Falls Thunder, Newmarket Royals and Sting forward Dustin McArthur who played in the OHL from 1992-95.
• The Mississauga Steelheads added Vaughan Kings defenceman Gregory Harley with their 14th round (267th overall) pick. He’s the younger brother of Steelheads standout blueliner Thomas Harley who was a first round pick of the Dallas Stars last summer. Thomas, who also came out of the Vaughan Kings program, had 57 points (18-39–57) in 59 games from the blue line this season.
• The Sudbury Wolves selected Don Mills Flyers centreman Julian Bianconi with their 14th round (271st overall) pick. He’s the younger brother of Guelph Storm defender Michael Bianconi who recorded 13 points (1-12–13) in 54 games this season. Michael was an OHL Cup champion with the 2018 Toronto Jr. Canadiens before being selected by the Flint Firebirds in the third round of the OHL Priority Selection.
• The Guelph Storm selected Elgin-Middlesex Chiefs defender Brock Beer with their 15th round (292nd overall) pick. He’s the son of former long-time OHL referee Brad Beer who worked 21 OHL seasons and eight straight OHL championships between 1999-2007. While Brad continues as an OHL officiating manager, Brock’s older brother Blake is currently an OHL linesman.

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