Four Current And Past Cyclones Selected In OHL Draft

Saturday was a big day for a group of local hockey players, headlined by Brett Brochu of Tilbury and Craig Spence of Chatham, who were the first local players selected in the 2018 OHL Draft.

Brochu, a netminder, went in the 6th round, 114th overall to the London Knights. Brochu was no sure thing heading into the draft, mostly due to his size, but he shot up the rankings with a strong playoff performance against Cambridge.

Spence, a defender, was a 7th round pick, 128th overall by the Mississauga Steelheads.

The pair played this season for the Chatham-Kent Cyclones Minor Midget ‘AAA’ team.

A pair of former Cyclones, Johnny Ulicny who played for the Sun County Panthers, and Brendan Mairs, who played for the London Jr. Knights, were drafted by the Windsor Spitfires (250th overall) and London Knights (134th overall) respectively in the draft as well. Ulicny spent the past four seasons playing in Chatham before returning to Sun County this season, while Mairs played his youth hockey in Chatham.

As well, Joey Studnicka, who trains in Chatham, and whose grandparents still live in Chatham-Kent, was selected by the Peterborough Petes 263rd overall.

The most notable omission from the draft was Chatham-Kent Cyclones captain Spencer Lecot. Lecot, a defender, spent time with the Chatham Maroons this season, and was rated by many scouts to go between rounds 7-10. As well, Tate Bowden, who was a late round rated player, was drawing some interest from scouts.