Declan Waddick Signs With OHL’s Niagara

Chatham-Kent’s next OHLer has arrived.

After being selected 39th overall by the Niagara IceDogs in this year’s OHL Draft, Declan Waddick has signed with the club for the upcoming season.

“Signing with an OHL team is obviously a dream come true, but with a team that I was really hoping to be getting selected to makes this experience so much better,” Waddick, who spent this season with the Waterloo Wolves U16 team, and also at Victus Hockey Academic.

“Being selected in the OHL draft is a really great accomplishment, but the feeling of signing and knowing I’m going to have a chance to prove myself at such a high level is so amazing.”

The Chatham-Kent Cyclones, UCC Lancers, and Sun County Panthers alumni will be spending the remainder of the offseason preparing to make an impact at training camp.

“My focus going into training camp is to work my hardest, and to try and prove myself as much as possible and to show my worth and value in selecting me.”

Highly touted, most scouts saw Waddick as a potential top 10 pick in the draft, so the IceDogs are likely already aware of the value they got, stealing Waddick late in the 2nd round.

Niagara’s staff has been been keeping in close contact with Waddick regarding all facets of life, from his off ice training, discussing when he can arrive in Niagara to skate, and how his schooling is progressing.

With high expectations, Waddick is ready to deliver both on and off the ice at the OHL level next season.

“They drafted me for a reason, they know the kind of player I am and I think they know what to expect and I am going to try to make it happen.”