OHL Prospect Pipeline: Mar. 12, 2024

The latest edition of OHL Prospect Pipeline takes a look at high achievers across the province previously drafted by OHL clubs. Several prospects were named to GOJHL All-Star and All-Rookie Teams this past week, in addition to Ottawa 67’s goaltending prospect being named the CCHL’s Rookie of the Year.

 

CCHL

Jaeden Nelson (G, Ottawa 67’s) / Navan Grads – 67’s goaltending prospect Jaeden Nelson is the CCHL Rookie of the Year, playing to a 24-8-2 record with a 2.56 goals-against average and .922 save percentage in 37 games for the Navan Grads. The Ottawa native was selected by the Barber Poles in the fourth round of the 2023 OHL Priority Selection after he backstopped the Toronto Marlboros to a GTHL championship. Nelson made his OHL debut with the 67’s on Jan. 1st in Kingston and started his first game on Feb. 2nd at Sarnia, making 21 saves in a 4-3 shootout loss.

 

GOJHL

Liam Beamish (F, Sarnia Sting) / Fort Erie Meteors – Sting prospect Liam Beamish was a big part of Fort Erie’s success, being voted to the Golden Horseshoe Conference All-Rookie Team after producing 56 points (27-29–56) in 46 games. The Beamsville, Ont. native was Sarnia’s eighth round pick in 2023.

Cohen Bidgood (London Knights) / St. Marys Lincolns – Knights draftee Cohen Bidgood was named to the Western Conference All-Rookie Team, putting up 45 points (18-27–45) in 52 games between the St. Marys Lincolns and Chatham Maroons. Bidgood won an OMHA Championship with his hometown Peterborough AAA Petes last year before being selected by London in the seventh round of the OHL Priority Selection.

Charlie Burns (G, Erie Otters) / Fort Erie Meteors – Charlie Burns has been up and down between the OHL and GOJHL in 2023-24, excelling for the Fort Erie Meteors with a 21-5-2-0 record, 2.46 goals-against average and .914 save percentage in 28 games. The 18-year-old from Sault Ste. Marie was voted to the Golden Horseshoe Conference All-Star Team for his efforts. He has split OHL duty between Erie and Niagara, last appearing for the Otters on Feb. 14th. Burns was Niagara’s ninth round pick in 2022, and was dealt to Erie on Jan. 9th.

Michael Denney (F, Sarnia Sting) / Stratford Warriors – Sting draft pick Michael Denney led the Stratford Warriors with 33 goals, contributing to a total of 51 points (33-18–51) over 47 games. The Kewsick, Ont. native was voted to the Midwestern Conference All-Rookie Team. He was Sarnia’s 12th round pick in 2022 from the York-Simcoe Express U16 program.

Owen Edwards (G, Kitchener Rangers) / Elmira Sugar Kings – Rangers goaltending prospect Owen Edwards has been named to the Midwestern Conference All-Rookie Team, going 17-5-0-0 with a 3.13 goals-against average and .878 save percentage for the Elmira Sugar Kings. A graduate of the Whitby Wildcats U16 program, Edwards, from Oshawa, Ont., was selected by Kitchener in the sixth round of the 2023 OHL Priority Selection.

Reid Forster (D, Peterborough Petes) / Ayr Centennials – Peterborough Petes defence prospect Reid Forster is part of the Midwestern Conference All-Rookie Team, producing 33 points (11-22–33) over 48 games to lead Ayr Centennials defenders in scoring. The Cambridge, Ont. native spent the 2022-23 season with the Kitchener Jr. Rangers U18 program. He was selected by Peterborough in the 10th round of the 2022 OHL Priority Selection.

Brendan Gerber (F, London Knights) / Elmira Sugar Kings – Knights prospect Brendan Gerber recorded 53 points (27-26–53) over 48 games for the Elmira Sugar Kings to be named to the Midwestern Conference All-Rookie Team. The New Hamburg, Ont. native was selected by London in the sixth round of the 2023 OHL Priority Selection, and made his Knights debut on Jan. 3rd vs. Erie.

Carson Harmer (F, Saginaw Spirit) / Stratford Warriors – Saginaw Spirit draft pick Carson Harmer is part of the Midwestern Conference All-Rookie Team, and is additionally the GOJHL’s Rookie of the Month for March. Harmer, from St. Marys, Ont., led GOJHL rookies in scoring with 65 points (28-37–65) over 46 games for the Stratford Warriors. Saginaw’s third round pick in the 2023 OHL Priority Selection appeared in four preseason games for the Spirit.

Hayden Jeffery (G, Niagara IceDogs) / St. Catharines Falcons – IceDogs goaltending prospect Hayden Jeffery had the opportunity to develop in St. Catharines with the Falcons, leading the GOJHL in wins with 24. The Grimsby, Ont. native was named to the Golden Horseshoe Conference All-Rookie Team, also registering a 2.49 goals-against average, .925 save percentage and three shutouts over 36 games. Jeffery was Niagara’s second round pick in the 2023 OHL U18 Priority Selection from the Niagara North Stars U18 program.

Noah Jenken (D, London Knights) / Strathroy Rockets – Knights blue line prospect Noah Jenken is part of the Western Conference All-Rookie Team, recording 39 points (8-31–39) over 45 games for the Strathroy Rockets. The 6-foot-3, 180Ib. defender from Ilderton, Ont. was London’s fourth round pick in the 2023 OHL Priority Selection. Jenken has played in seven games for the Knights this season, making his OHL debut on Dec. 14th at Windsor.

Matthew Koprowski (G, Owen Sound Attack) / Komoka Kings – Attack goaltending prospect Matthew Koprowski is part of the Western Conference All-Rookie Team, posting a .903 save percentage and 3.71 goals-against average while going 6-22-0-0 for a young Komoka Kings squad. A graduate of the Elgin-Middlesex Canucks U16 program, Koprowski, who is from Komoka, was selected by the Attack in the fourth round of the 2023 OHL Priority Selection. The 6-foot-3 netminder made his OHL debut on Jan. 25th at Barrie and made his first OHL start earlier this month on Mar. 2nd vs. Saginaw.

Briir Long (F, Brantford Bulldogs) / St. Thomas Stars – Brantford Bulldogs prospect Briir Long is part of both the Western Conference All-Star Team and All-Rookie Team following an outstanding season with the St. Thomas Stars. The Astorville, Ont. native finished fifth in GOJHL scoring with 64 points (34-30–64) over 48 games after being Brantford’s 10th round pick in the 2023 OHL Priority Selection. Long, who spent 2022-23 with the Mississauga Senators of the GTHL, made his OHL debut with Brantford on Jan. 20th vs. Windsor.

Adrian Manzo (D, Windsor Spitfires) / LaSalle Vipers – Windsor Spitfires defence prospect Adrian Manzo is part of the Western Conference All-Rookie Team, recording 29 points (8-21–29) over 38 games for the LaSalle Vipers. The Woodbridge, Ont. native was Windsor’s fifth round pick in the 2023 OHL Priority Selection from the Vaughan Kings U16 program. Manzo has played in five games with Windsor this season, scoring his first career OHL goal on Nov. 16th vs. Owen Sound.

Ben Radley (D, Brantford Bulldogs) / Hamilton Kilty B’s – Bulldogs prospect Ben Radley has been named to the Golden Horseshoe Conference All-Rookie Team, producing 19 points (4-15–19) in 41 games for the Hamilton Kilty B’s. The Peterborough, Ont. product won an OMHA Championship with the AAA Petes in 2022-23 prior to being selected by Brantford in the third round of the OHL Priority Selection. Radley has played in four games with the Bulldogs this season, posting his first career assist on Feb. 11th against Peterborough.

Noah Read (F, London Knights) / St. Catharines Falcons – Knights draft pick Noah Read has been named to the Golden Horseshoe All-Rookie Team, collecting 38 points (12-26–38) over 48 games for the St. Catharines Falcons. A 10th round pick by the Knights last spring, Read is a graduate of the Southern Tier Admirals U16 program.

Matthew Souliere (F, Ottawa 67’s) / Strathroy Rockets – 67’s draftee Matthew Souliere put up 54 points (27-27–54) over 48 games to be named to the Western Conference All-Rookie Team. The London, Ont. native spent his 2022-23 season with the Elgin-Middlesex Canucks U18 program after being a 12th round pick by Ottawa in 2022.