Spitfires Announce Ethan Belchetz as First Overall Pick in 2024 OHL Priority Selection presented by Real Canadian Superstore

Toronto, Ont. – The Ontario Hockey League in association with the Windsor Spitfires Hockey Club today announced that 16-year-old forward Ethan Belchetz of the OHL Cup champion Oakville Rangers will be the first overall pick in the 2024 OHL Priority Selection presented by Real Canadian Superstore.

The announcement was made at a news conference held at the WFCU Centre, introducing Belchetz and his family to the organization and local media.

“The Windsor Spitfires organization is outstanding,” said Belchetz of the big occasion. “They’ve treated my family and I with the utmost respect and I’m really looking forward to wearing the jersey and playing for the great fans at the WFCU Centre.”

Belchetz becomes the first Spitfires player to win the Jack Ferguson Award, an honour first bestowed upon the player chosen with the First Overall Pick of the OHL Priority Selection in 1981.

“It’s a very prestigious award and so many of the players that have come before me have gone on to accomplish a tremendous amount in their careers,” added Belchetz. “It provides a lot of motivation to work hard every day towards achieving that kind of success.”

Belchetz is just the second player to ever be chosen first overall by the Spitfires, who took forward Jim Fox of the North Bay Trappers with the first selection back in 1976. Fox would go on to do big things as a member of the Ottawa 67’s, eventually playing over 500 games in the NHL with the Los Angeles Kings.

“Ethan is a physical presence with a great combination of skill and hockey IQ,” said Spitfires General Manager Bill Bowler. “He is a character kid with leadership qualities and will have an immediate impact in our league.

“It’s a great opportunity in this position for our franchise,” continued Bowler. “It’s an honour and privilege to be making this selection on behalf of the Windsor Spitfires and the Ontario Hockey League.”

A 6-foot-5, 234Ib. left-wing from Oakville, Ont., Belchetz was a driving force behind the OHL Cup champion Oakville Rangers, being named MVP of the annual showcase after collecting 11 points (5-6—11) over seven games. He was also recognized as OMHA West U16 AAA Player of the Year after leading the entire OMHA with 46 goals and 84 points in just 34 games, guiding his team to a 31-1 regular season record. He’d go on to add 16 points (9-7—16) in eight playoff games.

Belchetz is the 2024 recipient of the Jack Ferguson Award presented annually to the player selected first overall in the OHL Priority Selection. The “Fergie” recognizes the dedication and contributions made by Jack Ferguson during his 25-year association with the OHL, first as a scout with the Ottawa 67’s and followed by his appointment as head of the OHL’s Central Scouting Bureau in 1981 as its Director of Central Scouting.

“Ethan is a big power forward, at times it seems like he is a man playing amongst boys,” said Darrell Woodley, Director of OHL Central Scouting. “He is an intimidating force whenever he is on the ice.  He is very competitive, takes the body every chance he gets and likes the physical side of the game which is rare these days.  He is a good skater that has a powerful stride and is hard to contain when he gets moving.  He has a good skill-set and does a good job of protecting the puck down low, which makes him almost impossible to handle.  He has a good shot that he has used to score many goals from within 15 feet of the net.  He is a player that understands his strengths and uses them to his full advantage.  Ethan’s game has improved immensely since the beginning of the season and he has a very high ceiling.”

Join Ethan Belchetz as he hears his name called to kick-off the first round of the 2024 OHL Priority Selection Draft Show presented by Real Canadian Superstore beginning at 7:00pm on Friday night. The OHL Priority Selection will once again be held over the course of two days, with Rounds 1-3 taking place on Friday. The proceedings continue on Saturday, April 13 starting at 9:00am with Rounds 4-15. The Priority Selection Show will be produced by YourTV and streamed for free in its entirety on OHL Live. Fans can also watch complete coverage on community stations and across the province on OHL Action Pak ch. 466 (East) and 677 (West).

WATCH: 2024 OHL Priority Selection Prospect Profile – Ethan Belchetz

Winners of the Jack Ferguson Award Include:
1981 Dan Quinn, Belleville Bulls
1982 Kirk Muller, Guelph Platers
1983 Trevor Stienburg, Guelph Platers
1984 Dave Moylan, Sudbury Wolves
1985 Bryan Fogarty, Kingston Canadians
1986 Troy Mallette, Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds
1987 John Uniac, Sudbury Wolves
1988 Drake Berehowsky, Kingston Raiders
1989 Eric Lindros, Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds
1990 Pat Peake, Detroit Ambassadors
1991 Todd Harvey, Detroit Ambassadors
1992 Jeff O’Neill, Guelph Storm
1993 Alyn McCauley, Ottawa 67’s
1994 Jeff Brown, Sarnia Sting
1995 Daniel Tkaczuk, Barrie Colts
1996 Rico Fata, London Knights
1997 Charlie Stephens, Toronto St. Michael’s Majors
1998 Jay Harrison, Brampton Battalion
1999 Jason Spezza, Mississauga IceDogs
2000 Patrick Jarrett, Mississauga IceDogs
2001 Patrick O’Sullivan, Mississauga IceDogs
2002 Robbie Schremp, Mississauga IceDogs
2003 Patrick McNeill, Saginaw Spirit
2004 John Hughes, Belleville Bulls
2005 John Tavares, Oshawa Generals
2006 Steven Stamkos, Sarnia Sting
2007 Ryan O’Reilly, Erie Otters
2008 John McFarland, Sudbury Wolves
2009 Daniel Catenacci, Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds
2010 Alex Galchenyuk, Sarnia Sting
2011 Aaron Ekblad, Barrie Colts
2012 Connor McDavid, Erie Otters
2013 Travis Konecny, Ottawa 67’s
2014 Jakob Chychrun, Sarnia Sting
2015 David Levin, Sudbury Wolves
2016 Ryan Merkley, Guelph Storm
2017 Ryan Suzuki, Barrie Colts
2018 Quinton Byfield, Sudbury Wolves
2019 Shane Wright, Kingston Frontenacs
2020 Ty Nelson, North Bay Battalion
2021 Quentin Musty, Sudbury Wolves
2022 Michael Misa, Saginaw Spirit
2023 Matthew Schaefer, Erie Otters
2024 Ethan Belchetz, Windsor Spitfires