OHL In The System: Carolina Hurricanes
The latest instalment of OHL In The System takes a closer look at the Carolina Hurricanes.
This 32-part series spotlights OHL players who are either signed to an NHL or AHL contract or are recently drafted, and are 25 years old or younger with 50 or fewer NHL games played.
Join us for OHL In The System!
Ryan Suzuki (C) – Barrie Colts (2017-20), Saginaw Spirit (2019-20)
Signed: May 29, 2024
OHL Career Stats: 173 Games Played | 57 Goals | 120 Assists | 177 Points
Age: 23
Selected 28th overall by Carolina in the 2019 NHL Draft, Ryan Suzuki signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Hurricanes on September 18, 2019. The London, Ont. native re-signed a one-year two-way contract on May 29, 2024. The 23-year-old forward has spent the past four seasons in the AHL between the Chicago Wolves and Springfield Thunderbirds, tallying 86 points in 161 games played. He won a Calder Cup as AHL champion with the Wolves in the 2021-22 season. Chosen first overall by the Barrie Colts in the 2017 OHL Priority Selection, Suzuki played three seasons in the OHL between the Colts and the Saginaw Spirit, registering 177 points in 173 regular season contests, along with four points in 12 post-season matchups. In his rookie season, Suzuki was named to the OHL’s Second All-Rookie Team, and won a silver medal with Team Canada at the U17 World Hockey Challenge. The 23-year-old continued to find success at the international level, winning a gold medal with Team Canada at the 2019 Hlinka Gretzky Cup and another silver at the 2021 IIHF World Junior Championships.
Jakub Vondras (G) – Sudbury Wolves (2023-24)
Selected: 171st overall, 2022 NHL Draft
OHL Career Stats: 37 Games Played | 3.79 GAA | 0.861 SV% | 20-10-2-1 Record | 1 Shutout
Age: 20
Chosen by the Sudbury Wolves at the 2023 CHL Import Draft, Jakub Vondras played to a 20-10-2-1 record including a shutout during the 2023-24 regular season, along with a 3.79 goals-against average and 0.861 save percentage. In playoff action, the Plzen, Czechia native played to a 3-2-1 record including a shutout, along with a 3.62 goals-against average and 0.873 save percentage. The 20-year-old netminder was selected by the Carolina Hurricanes in the sixth round of the 2022 NHL Draft. Vondras backstopped Team Czechia to a bronze medal at the 2024 IIHF World Junior Championships.
Bryce Montgomery (D) – London Knights (2019-23)
Selected: 170th overall, 2021 NHL Draft
OHL Career Stats: 84 Games Played | 2 Goals | 6 Assists | 8 Points
Age: 21
Selected by the Carolina Hurricanes in the sixth round of the 2021 NHL Draft, Bryce Montgomery spent the 2023-24 season with the South Carolina Stingrays of the ECHL, tallying 12 points in 42 contests. Signed as a free-agent by the London Knights in 2019, the 21-year-old blueliner from Bowie, MD. played three seasons in the OHL, recording eight points in 84 regular season games played, along with an assist in seven post-season contests.
Tune in tomorrow as we check in on the Vancouver Canucks!
