No Sure Things In This Year’s OHL Draft
Zach Lindley, who backed up the Chatham Maroons on occasion this year, is one of several local prospects for the 2015 OHL Draft – Photo by Helen Heath
For the last two seasons, Chatham-Kent has been well represented at the OHL Draft. Last season, Joseph Raaymakers, Brady Pataki, and Levi Tetrault, who are all currently in the OHL, along with Brendan Harrogate, Anthony Hurtubise, and Nolan Gardiner, were all selected in the OHL Draft. Brock Philips, another Chatham-Kent native, who is also currently in the OHL, was another former Chatham product selected.
In 2013, it was Travis Konecny, Brendan Johnston, Trent Fox, James McEwan, and Kody Gagnon who have all since joined the OHL, as well as Drew Marlatt, and Mike Zottl who were selected.
2015’s class however, is more reminiscent to 2012, when only Muirkirk’s Steven Beenackers heard his named called late in the OHL draft.
Kier Cumming, the Cyclones’ captain was off draft radars early in the season battling a variety of injuries, but got some attention late in the year playing with the Junior B Chatham Maroons in a handful of games.
Cyclone forwards Carter Wright and Tyler D’Alessandro were the team’s lone representatives at the Alliance’s All-Star weekend, with both showing offensive upside.
Other names that would be considered late round prospects include Kadin Ritchie, Tyler Hotham, Brady Hogg, Drew Vandehogen, and Zach Lindley.
Lucas Vanroboys is another area prospect, playing prep hockey in Connecticut, but is considered more of an NCAA prospect due to his skill, speed, and size.
With the OHL Draft scheduled for April 11, none of the current Cyclones are ranked higher than a possible late round pick, and there is a legitimate chance the Cyclones could be left off the draft board in 2015.
The Cyclones went 7-36-8 in 2014-2015.
The 2016 crop of Chatham-Kent Cyclones looks to be a repeat of the 1999 age group, with no sure fire prospects. Defenseman Colton Shoemaker represented the squad at the Alliance Bantam All-Star game. The 2000s have several prospects with upside, but are followed by a much stronger 2002 age group.