Prospects set for U16 OHL Gold Cup
Wednesday May 6, 2015
Top prospects from the 2015 OHL Priority Selection hit the ice in Kitchener this week, competing against one another in the OHL Gold Cup that features eight teams assembled from across the province participating in a 20-game tournament.
Though 127 of the 162 players (78%) competing in the tournament were claimed in the 2015 OHL Priority Selection last month, the OHL Gold Cup offers an excellent evaluation opportunity for Hockey Canada scouts on the look out for prospective talent to attend the Under-17 National Camp.
Over 30 players from the 2014 OHL Gold Cup were invited to the first Hockey Canada Under-17 National Camp, with 23 players from the event cracking the Team Canada White, Red and Black rosters last December.
Ryan Jankowski, Hockey Canada’s head scout for the men’s Program of Excellence, will lead player selection for both the summer camp and three national Under-17 teams, with assistance from regional scouts – Carl Bouchard (Quebec, Atlantic Canada), Wade Klippenstein (Western Canada), Darrell Woodley and Barclay Branch (Ontario).
“Whether it’s a draft year or not, hockey players are constantly being evaluated,” said OHL Director of Recruitment Adam Dennis. “This is a great opportunity for players to have the experience of coming together with a group of guys to try and be successful in a short period of time just as you would at any Under-17 tournament or international competition. This is very good preparation for that.”
The London Knights lead the way with 10 priority selection prospects suiting up in the tournament followed closely by the Guelph Storm, Peterborough Petes and Sudbury Wolves with nine each.
A total of 19 first round selections will compete, including first overall pick David Levin (Sudbury Wolves), second round pick Gabe Vilardi (Windsor Spitfires) and third overall pick Ryan McLeod (Flint Firebirds).
Team GTHL Blue, Team GTHL Red and Team ALLIANCE lead the way with four first round selections on each of their squads.
Several standouts from past OHL Gold Cup tournaments have gone on to enjoy solid OHL careers.
Draft eligible Ottawa 67’s captain Travis Konecny powered Team ALLIANCE to a third place finish in 2013, scoring the overtime winner in the final game to finish the tournament with five goals, two assists and seven points in five games. The first overall pick in the 2013 OHL Priority Selection just wrapped up his sophomore season in the OHL, scoring 29 goals 39 assists and 68 points in 60 contests. Konecny was joined on Team ALLIANCE by Kingston Frontenacs power forward and Canadian World Junior gold medalist Lawson Crouse as well as defenceman Mitchell Vande Sompel of the Oshawa Generals how is currently competing in the Rogers OHL Championship Series.
2014 OHL Gold Cup top scorer William Bitten enjoyed a successful rookie season with the Plymouth Whalers after turning heads in Kitchener last spring. The seventh overall pick in the 2014 OHL Priority Selection, Bitten scored six goals, five assists and 11 points in five games for Team HEO. He posted 15 goals and 16 assists for 31 points in 63 games as a rookie in the OHL this past season.
Another OHL rookie, Erie Otters forward Kyle Maksimovich enjoyed a successful 2014 OHL Gold Cup, finishing the tournament with four goals, three assists and seven points in five games. The Toronto Marlboros Minor Midget graduate provided Team GTHL Blue with a timely overtime winner in the tournament as he helped lead his team to a second place finish. Maksimovich is currently skating with the Otters in the Rogers OHL Championship Series.
Konecny, Crouse, Vande Sompel, Bitten and Maksimovich are just a few names to come through the OHL Gold Cup tournament that have gone on to forge out solid beginnings to their respective hockey careers. The next crop of up and coming talent hits the ice Thursday morning at the Activa Sportsplex in Kitchener when the puck drops at 9:00am.
COMPLETE SCHEDULE: ohlgoldcup.com
FULL ROSTERS: ALLIANCE, GTHL BLUE, GTHL RED, HEO, HNO, NOHA, OMHA WHITE, OMHA BLACK.
Tickets for the 2015 OHL Gold Cup are now available!
For more information, please visit www.ohlgoldcup.com or follow on Twitter at www.twitter.com/OHLGoldCup.
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