Six prospects commit to Otters
Erie, Pennsylvania – With Training Camps around the Ontario Hockey League coming to a close, and Pre-Season games preparing to get underway, the Erie Otters announce the signings of six players to the 2021-22 roster.
The six players – listed in chronological birthyear order by last name – who will be seeing their first OHL action on Saturday against the Saginaw Spirit, are:
- Owain Johnston (’03)
- Kaleb Smith (’03)
- George Alboim (’05)
- Taeo Artichuk (’05)
- Dylan Edwards (’05)
- Nathan Sauder (’05)
Owain Johnston is “called-up” to the OHL after spending his last season (’19-20) between the Ontario Junior Hockey League’s North York Rangers (10 games) and the Greater Toronto Hockey League’s North York Rangers U18 AAA (33 games). In those 43 games, the 6’0”, 172 lbs. right-handed defenseman from Toronto accounted for 11 points (3G+8A). Johnston was the 11th Round Pick of the Otters in the 2019 Ontario Hockey League Priority Selection.
Kaleb Smith, the Otters’ Sixth Round Pick of the 2020 OHL Priority Selection, appeared in 21 games in 2020-21. In the most recent season, Smith spent time near his hometown of Arcade (NY) with the Buffalo Jr. Sabres 18U AAA and played a stint in the United States Hockey League with the Omaha Lancers. The 6’1”, 174 lbs. right-shot forward found his way to eight points (6G+2A) during the season.
The 70th overall pick of the 2021 OHL Priority Selection, George Alboim, comes to the Otters as their lone-selection of the fourth round. Alboim spent the 2019-20 season with the Central Ontario Wolves of the Eastern AAA Hockey League U16, where he accumulated 23 points (10G+13A) in 39 games. The right-handed defenseman measures in at 6’2”, 174 lbs. and hails from Uxbridge (ONT).
Taken 21st overall in the 2021 OHL Priority Selection, Taeo Artichuk (pr: tAY-oh) was a point-plus-per-game forward over the 2019-20 season. Playing for the Markham Majors of the GTHL U15 AAA, Artichuk put up 42 points (29G+13A) in 31 games. A right-handed forward from Ajax (ONT), Artichuk hits the ice at 5’10”, 161 lbs., and is noted for his playmaking abilities.
Dylan Edwards, the eighth round pick of the Otters in the 2021 OHL Priority Selection, comes from the Toronto Titans of the GTHL U16. Noted as ‘one of the hardest-working players in the Draft’, Edwards measures in at 5’7”, 150 lbs. as a forward.
54th overall in the 2021 OHL Priority Selection, Nathan Sauder was the first defenseman taken by the Otters. A 6’1”, 190 lbs. righty from Mississauga (ONT), Sauder was drafted from his hometown after playing for the Mississauga Rebels in the 2019-20 season. During the ’19 season, Sauder put up 10 points (4G+6A) in 49 games. Sauder is regarded for his ability to mix his physical play with his speed.
The Erie Otters are excited to officially welcome these six young men to the team ahead of the start of Pre-season games.
Otters fans will get their first look at the newest rostered members of the team on Saturday, September 4 at 2 P.M. as the team hosts the Saginaw Spirit in their Pre-season Opener. The home-portion of the Pre-season closes for the Otters on Thursday, September 16 and Saturday, September 18. Attendance is free to all fans courtesy of UPMC Health Plan.
Regular Season action kicks off for the Otters on October 9 in Flint (MI) against the Firebirds, before returning home on October 23 to welcome fans for the 25th Season of Otters Hockey, taking on Saginaw.
For more information, visit ottershockey.com.
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