OHL In The System: Chicago Blackhawks
As the 2024 NHL Draft concludes and development camps kick off across the National Hockey League, we’re diving into the current and former OHL talent within each NHL Club’s prospect pool.
This 32-part series will spotlight 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!
Today’s edition features the prospect pool of the Chicago Blackhawks.
Marek Vanacker (LW) — Hamilton/Brantford Bulldogs (2022-24)
Selected: 2024 NHL Draft (27th overall)
OHL Career Stats: 123 Games Played | 40 Goals | 58 Assists | 98 Points
Age: 18
Marek Vanacker dealt with some injuries in the second half of the past season, but still managed to finish with 36 goals in his sophomore OHL campaign, getting the attention of the Chicago Blackhawks who selected him in the first round (27th overall) of the 2024 NHL Draft. The Delhi, Ont. native registered 82 points (36-46-82) in 68 regular season games and was an offensive threat off the rush, joining forces with fellow Blackhawks prospect Nick Lardis in Brantford. Originally selected 23rd overall by the Bulldogs in the 2022 OHL Priority Selection, Vanacker has tallied 98 points in 123 games played over two seasons. He’s expected to be sidelined for much of the opening half of the 2024-25 season after undergoing surgery last month.
Nick Lardis (LW) — Peterborough Petes (2021-23), Hamilton/Brantford Bulldogs (2022-24)
Selected: 2023 NHL Draft (67th Overall)
OHL Career Stats: 169 Games Played | 84 Goals | 68 Assists | 152 Points
Age: 19
Another Brantford Bulldog, Nick Lardis was selected by the Blackhawks in the third round of the 2023 NHL Draft and signed an entry-level contract with the club on April 3, 2024. Selected sixth overall by the Peterborough Petes in the 2021 OHL Priority Selection, Lardis was traded to Brantford midway through the 2022-23 season in a deal that saw the eventual champion Petes acquire veterans Avery Hayes and Gavin White. The Oakville, Ont. product dealt with some injuries last season, missing two months at the end of the season, only to return and put together a strong playoff showing with eight points (4-4–8) in six games.
Gavin Hayes (RW) — Flint Firebirds (2021-24), Soo Greyhounds (2023-24)
Selected: 2022 NHL Draft (66th Overall)
OHL Career Stats: 186 Games Played | 97 Goals | 109 Assists | 206 Points
Age: 20
Hailing from Westland, Mich., the Blackhawks selected Gavin Hayes in the third round of the 2022 NHL Draft before signing him to an entry-level contract with the club on April 3, 2023. Selected in the first round of the 2020 OHL Priority Selection by the Flint Firebirds, Hayes has spent three seasons in the OHL between the Firebirds and the Soo Greyhounds, tallying 206 points (97-109-206) over 186 regular season games played. Hayes helped lead the Firebirds to the Western Conference Finals in 2022. His 166 points and 79 goals are both the second-highest total in Flint Firebirds history. He was a World Junior gold medalist with the United States this past January. Hayes had the opportunity to play with younger brother Travis in Sault Ste. Marie, who was voted to the OHL’s first all-rookie team in 2023-24.
AJ Spellacy (C) — Windsor Spitfires (2022-24)
Selected: 2024 NHL Draft (72nd overall)
OHL Career Stats: 169 Games Played | 28 Goals | 27 Assists | 114 Points
Age: 18
Impressing the Blackhawks with his size and grit, AJ Spellacy heard his name called 72nd overall by Chicago at the 2024 NHL Draft. Windsor’s third round pick at the 2022 OHL Priority Selection, the 6-foot-3, 195lb. forward saw improvement in his sophomore campaign, tallying 38 points in 67 regular season contests. Formerly a sought-after football recruit prior to committing to the OHL, Spellacy hails from Westlake, Ohio, the birthplace of well-known Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Travis Kelce.
Paul Ludwinski (C) — Kingston Frontenacs (2021-24)
Selected: 2022 NHL Draft (39th Overall)
OHL Career Stats: 174 Games Played | 48 Goals | 98 Assists | 146 Points
Age: 20
Selected in the second round of the 2022 NHL Draft, Kingston Frontenacs captain Paul Ludwinski signed an entry-level contract with the Hawks on March 25, 2023. Totalling 69 points (23-46-69) over 60 games played with the Fronts this season, Ludwinski closed out his third year in the OHL, registering 146 points over 174 career games. The Pickering, Ont. native was chosen fifth overall by the Frontenacs in the 2020 OHL Priority Selection and has been widely recognized as one of the OHL’s best skaters and hardest workers. Ludwinski got into five games with the AHL affiliate Rockford IceHogs following Kingston’s elimination from the playoffs this past spring.
Ty Henry (D) — Erie Otters (2023-24)
Selected: 2022 NHL Draft (163rd overall)
OHL Career Stats: 57 Games Played | 0 Goals | 7 Assists | 7 Points
Age: 17
The Erie Otters sole draft pick at the 2024 NHL Draft, the Blackhawks selected Ty Henry in the sixth round (163rd overall). A 17-year-old Toronto, Ont. native, the 6-foot-4, 198lb. blueliner was selected by the Otters in the sixth round of the 2022 OHL Priority Selection. A good skater who plays an effective shutdown style, Henry registered seven assists in his rookie season with the team. His father, Andrew Henry was a defensive back in the Canadian Football League from 1996-2001, playing for Winnipeg, Saskatchewan, Toronto and Edmonton.
Ben Gaudreau (G) – Sarnia Sting (2019-23), Erie Otters (2023-24)
Signed (AHL): July 1, 2024
OHL Career Stats: 151 Games | 3.53 Goals-Against Average | .890 Save Percentage | 74-50-10-5 Record | 3 Shutouts
Age: 21
Originally selected by the Sarnia Sting with the seventh overall pick of the 2019 OHL Priority Selection, Ben Gaudreau spent four seasons in the OHL, splitting his career between the Sting and the Erie Otters. Appearing in 151 regular season games, the Corbeil, Ont. native played to a 74-50-10-5 record, along with three shutouts. Selected by the San Jose Sharks in the third round of the 2021 NHL Draft, Gaudreau went unsigned after guiding the Sting to their first Western Conference Championship Series appearance in franchise history in the spring of 2023. After a successful overage season with the Otters, Gaudreau signed a one-year AHL deal with the Rockford IceHogs just last week. Erie missed Gaudreau down the stretch in 2023-24 as he dealt with some injuries, though he did return to compete in the first round of the playoffs. Gaudreau has represented Team Canada at the U17, U18 and U20 levels. He backstopped Canada to U18 gold in 2021, going 5-0 in the tournament before winning gold with Canada’s World Junior Team in 2023.
Martin Misiak (C) – Erie Otters (2023-24)
Selected: 2023 NHL Draft (55th Overall)
OHL Career Stats: 60 Games Played | 23 Goals | 24 Assists | 47 Points
Age: 19
Martin Misiak has the unique distinction of being of being a top-two pick in back-to-back CHL Import Drafts, going second overall to Saginaw in 2022 before being taken by the Erie Otters with the top pick in 2023. The Blackhawks took Misiak in the second round of the 2023 NHL Draft after he emerged as a Clark Cup champion with the USHL’s Youngstown Phantoms. Misiak joined the Otters for the 2023-24 season as the 6-foot-2, 200lb. centreman tallied 47 points in 60 regular season games – showing off chemistry with fellow Slovak and Otters teammate Ondrej Molnar. He’d sign his entry-level deal with Chicago on May 28, 2024. Misiak has represented Slovakia at three IIHF World Junior Championships (2022, 2023 & 2024). In addition, he helped his country to a gold medal at the 2022 U18 World Championships Division 1 tournament.
Alex Pharand (RW) — Sudbury Wolves (2021-24)
Selected: 2023 NHL Draft (99th overall)
OHL Career Stats: 191 Games Played | 41 Goals | 42 Assists | 83 Points
Age: 19
A two-way winger who plays down the middle occasionally for the Sudbury Wolves, Alex Pharand was selected 99th overall by the Blackhawks in the 2023 Draft. A Sudbury native, Pharand recorded 30 points in 68 games this season. Selected by the Hamilton Bulldogs in the first round of the 2021 OHL Priority Selection, Pharand was part of a three-way trade in January 2022 that saw the eventual champion Bulldogs acquire Mason McTavish while the Peterborough Petes came away with former Wolf Chase Stillman, who went on to hoist the J. Ross Robertson Cup as well.
Ethan Del Mastro (D) — Mississauga Steelheads (2019-23), Sarnia Sting (2022-23)
Selected: 2021 NHL Draft (105th Overall)
OHL Career Stats: 177 Games Played | 14 Goals | 100 Assists | 114 Points
Age: 21
One of the best two-way defenders the OHL has seen in recent years, Ethan Del Mastro was selected by the Hawks in the fourth round of the 2021 NHL Draft, signing a professional contract with the club on April 22, 2022. The 6-foot-4 blueliner spent three seasons in the OHL between the Mississauga Steelheads and the Sarnia Sting, being voted to the league’s second all-star team in his final season. Del Mastro helped the Sting reach the Western Conference Finals in 2023, adding 10 assists in 16 playoff contests. The Freelton, Ont. native made his NHL debut on April 12, 2024. Along with participating in the AHL All-Star Game, Del Mastro spent the 2023-24 season with the AHL’s Rockford IceHogs, registering 37 points in 69 games. He’s also had success on the international stage, winning back-to-back gold medals with Team Canada at the 2022 and 2023 IIHF U20 World Juniors after claiming World U18 gold in 2021.
Ryan Gagnier (C) – Oshawa Generals (2018-23)
Signed: May 15, 2023 (AHL)
OHL Career Stats: 189 Games | 53 Goals | 60 Assists | 113 Points
Age: 21
Earning a reputation as an excellent defensive centreman during his OHL days, Ryan Gagnier spent three seasons with the Oshawa Generals after being selected in the third round of the 2018 OHL Priority Selection. Gagnier was voted the Eastern Conference’s hardest worker in the 2022-23 OHL Coaches Poll as well as the second-best defensive forward and penalty killer. Signing a one-year AHL contract with the Rockford IceHogs in 2023, the Tecumseh, Ont. native appeared in five games with the team this season, along with tallying 28 points in 53 games played with the ECHL affiliate Indy Fuel. Gagnier re-signed a one-year deal with the IceHogs on June 27, 2024.
DJ King (D) – Hamilton Bulldogs (2018-19), Saginaw Spirit (2019-20)
Signed: October 8, 2023 (AHL)
OHL Career Stats: 104 Games Played | 7 Goals | 17 Assists | 24 Points
Age: 23
Selected by the Hamilton Bulldogs in the second round of the 2016 OHL Priority Selection, DJ King played two seasons in the OHL between the Bulldogs and the Saginaw Spirit, registering 24 points in 104 games played. Hailing from Northport, NY, the 6-foot-3 blueliner and son of former NHL forward Derek King was on an AHL contract with the IceHogs last season but played exclusively in the ECHL with Indy. Through 57 games with the Fuel, King posted four goals and seven assists. King re-signed a one-year deal with the IceHogs on June 27, 2024.
Monday’s edition of In The System, features the Anaheim Ducks organization!
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