OHL Draft Underway, Local Players To Watch
Quinton Byfield of the York-Simcoe Express was the first overall selection in this year’s OHL Draft – Photo by Tim Cornett/ OHL Images
Last year, Kent Bridge’s Grayson Ladd was the first local player off the the board, going 13th overall to the Kitchener Rangers in the first round of the OHL Draft. Ladd just completed his first OHL season with the Windsor Spitfires after a midseason draft.
In 2015, Grant Spence was the only player chosen, in the 8th round by the Oshawa Generals.
The 2014 OHL Draft saw Lucas Vanroboys, (Round 14, Hamilton Bulldogs) and Kier Cumming (Round 15, Sudbury Wolves) were picks.
The last significant draft for the Chatham-Kent Cyclones and Chatham-Kent products was the 2013 OHL Draft which saw Joseph Raaymakers of the London Knights, Brady Pataki of the Moncton Wildcats, Brendan Harrogate of the Oshawa Generals, and former OHLers Levi Tetrault and Nolan Gardiner, as well as pick Anthony Hurtubise selected.
This season, several prospects, including Craig Spence, Spencer Lecot, Brendan Mairs, Tate Bowden, Brett Brochu, Darby Lemieux, and Adrian Stubberfield are all prospects, as well as Joey Studnicka who has local ties.
Next year, Deni Goure is a top end prospect, who will garner much interest in the early rounds of the OHL Draft.
The OHL U18 Draft will take place later this week, with players including Evan Wells, Cameron Welch, Nolan DeKoning, and Bryar Dittmer considered prospects for the draft.