OHL completes 2019 Priority Selection presented by Real Canadian Superstore

 

Toronto, ON – The Ontario Hockey League today conducted the 2019 OHL Priority Selection presented by Real Canadian Superstore for North American players born in 2003.

A total of 303 players were selected in the 15-round process from 94 different teams across Ontario and parts of the United States.  The selected players included 174 forwards, 105 defencemen, and 24 goaltenders.  While 298 of the players chosen were 2003-born athletes, also eligible for selection were non-overage players not carded with an Ontario based Midget AAA team from protected OHL territories.  Four players born in 2002 were chosen under this criteria. First overall pick Shane Wright, who was granted exceptional status by the OHF in partnership with Hockey Canada, was the lone 2004-born player chosen.

“Congratulations to all 303 players chosen in the 2019 OHL Priority Selection and for the hard work and dedication that brought you to this point,” said Darrell Woodley, Director of OHL Central Scouting.  “This is an exciting day for everyone involved starting with the players and extending out to their families, friends, coaches and teammates that helped provide support along the way. The work continues from here as another new challenge lies ahead. It doesn’t matter what round you were picked in, it’s what you do on the ice that really counts.  This motivation also applies to players not selected today who can still find opportunities for success in hockey with the right attitude and work ethic.  Best of luck to all players in your continued efforts on the ice and in the classroom.”

 

 

The Greater Toronto Hockey League led the way with 81 players selected from 11 different organizations. The OHL Cup champion Don Mills Flyers led the GTHL and the entire draft with 14 players selected including four in the first round. The GTHL Finalist Toronto Marlboros trailed close behind with 13 selections, the OHL Cup Finalist Toronto Red Wings produced 12 and the Mississauga Rebels and Toronto Nationals each wrapped things up with 11. The OMHA featured 74 different players selected from across 21 different organizations led by the North Central Predators and Whitby Wildcats who each developed seven. The Guelph Gryphons and York-Simcoe Express both had six players drafted while the OMHA silver medalist Halton Hurricanes featured five. The ALLIANCE produced 40 different players drafted from 11 different teams led by the London Jr. Knights with eight. The ALLIANCE champion Brantford 99ers had six players drafted while the Kitchener Jr. Rangers and Waterloo Wolves each had five. The HEO developed 24 OHL selections from 11 different Midget AAA teams led by the league champion Pembroke Lumber Kings with six. The NOHA produced 14 draft selections from three different teams, paced by the Sudbury Minor Midget Wolves who featured nine. A pair of Thunder Bay Kings players were chosen, representing Hockey Northwestern Ontario. An additional two players were chosen from other Canadian non-AAA programs while the remaining 66 players were chosen from 34 different American-based clubs. The Detroit Compuware 16U program led American organizations with nine players chosen while the Detroit Honeybaked 16U program trailed close behind with six.

The fourth round, 74th overall pick of the 2019 OHL Priority Selection was dedicated to the memory of former Don Mills Flyers goaltender Roy Pejcinovski who tragically lost his life last March.

This season marked the 19th straight year the Priority Selection was conducted by way of the internet, and twelfth straight year with a live draft show of the first three rounds.

WATCH: 2019 OHL Priority Selection Sights and Sounds