OHL 20 in 20 Futures Watch: Ottawa 67’s

The Ottawa 67’s managed to win an Eastern Conference title and still make seven picks inside the top 100 of the 2019 OHL Priority Selection.

The 67’s lead the OHL with five prospects currently attending Canada’s Under-17 Summer Development Camp in Calgary, with first round (21st overall) pick Jack Matier among that number.

Selected from the Soo Thunderbirds Minor Midgets, Matier stands 6-foot-3 and 163Ibs. The son of former Soo Greyhounds defenceman Mark Matier, Jack recorded 22 points (10-12–22) over 21 regular season games and represented Team NOHA at the OHL Cup Powered by Under Armour.

The 67’s owned a pair of picks in both the second and third rounds, bringing in Toronto Marlboros winger Jack Beck with the 31st overall pick. Beck utilized his speed and smarts to be a scoring threat throughout the season for the Marlies, finishing with 74 points (33-41–74) over 73 games. He added 10 points (3-7–10) in five games at the OHL Cup.

The Barber Poles picked Whitby Wildcats winger and OMHA ETA Player of the Year Brenden Sirizzotti with the 32nd overall selection. The 5-foot-10, 170Ib. winger led the ETA with 93 points (32-61–93) over just 36 regular season games and added 13 points (8-5–13) over seven playoff contests.

Ottawa grabbed Sirizzotti’s Wildcats teammate Thomas Johnston with the third round (52nd overall) pick. The two long-time Whitby talents will re-join forces as Johnston put up 70 points (21-49–70) over 36 games during the season followed by 12 (1-11–12) in the playoffs.

The 67’s added another defenceman in the third round as Pittsburgh Penguins Elite rearguard Teddy Sawyer was chosen with the 62nd overall pick. The late 2003-born Sawyer registered 17 points (3-14–17) in 20 games of U15 action and also played a year up, spending 31 games with the Penguins Elite U16.

Ottawa went local in the fourth round, taking 6-foot-1 defender Ranvir Gill from the Ottawa Jr. Senators. They proceeded to take their first goaltender with the selection of Windsor Jr. Spitfires netminder Max Donoso in the fifth round (98th overall). Chicago Mission U15 winger Davis Burnside went five picks later at 103rd overall.

Other mid-round picks included sixth round (123rd overall) blue line addition Eric Bonsteel from the Mississauga Senators, American winger Tyler Boucher in the seventh round (143rd overall) and Niagara North Stars winger Parker Hendsbee in the eighth round (152nd overall).

Matier, Beck, Sirizzotti, Johnston and Sawyer have all committed to the 67’s for the 2019-20 season.

Over 20 days in July ontariohockeyleague.com will take a look at the future of all 20 OHL clubs.  See more from the OHL 20 in 20 series.