skip navigation
Players

OHL Priority Selection Preview

By Ontario Minor Hockey Association, 04/05/17, 1:15PM EDT

Share

Players to Watch from the OMHA heading into Saturday's draft

The Ontario Minor Hockey Association is proud to continue its rich tradition of developing homegrown talent for selection in the Ontario Hockey League Priority Selection draft on April 8, 2017.
 
Players from across the Minor Midget age group are eligible to be chosen in the OHL Draft. Last year, five players from the OMHA were selected in the first round of the OHL Draft and 86 were taken overall.
 
The OHL consists of 20 teams located across Ontario, Pennsylvania and Michigan. They are a member of the Canadian Hockey League and one of the main suppliers of players to the NHL.

Make sure to be following the OMHA on Twitter and Instagram on Saturday morning for live draft updates and recaps.

We wish the best of luck to all of our players!

Players to Watch

Michael Andrews - Quinte Red Devils (F)

Andrews is a five-tool player - he possess an abundance of skill, smarts, compete level, physicality, and consistency. He finished second in OMHA scoring, averaging close to two points per game, and all the while racking up one-PIM per game with his tenacious style.

His consistency peaks the interest level of OHL teams. With elite athletes at this age, it is sometimes easy to lose focus on the fact they are still teenagers. Young men trying to find their middle-point all the while leaving scouts wondering what is the true player they are watching. Andrews was a huge contributor at every checkpoint for his team including the bronze medal clinching goal at the OMHA Championships.

Cole Brady - Ajax-Pickering Raiders (G)

Brady is the best available OMHA goaltender in the draft. Tall, has excellent technically ability and good fluidity. Smart in the net, his combination of size and ability points to a lot of upside for this Pickering native.

Similar to his teammate Connor McMichael, his effectiveness increased as the year went on and his stellar play in the playoffs helped his team make it to the OMHA Minor Midget AAA Championship weekend. In addition, his excellent play continued at the OHL Cup where he went 2-0, with a sparkling 1.50 GAA.

Mitchell Brewer - Halton Hurricanes (D)

Brewer plays a solid and steady two-way game. He keeps puck-moving decisions simple and effectively makes quick decisions under pressure to get pucks up the ice with pace to his forwards springing the offensive attack.

He displays good feet in transition situations while maintaining good gap control and using an active stick to direct opponents towards the wall. Brewer has a good physical game and a strong work ethic.

Kurtis Evans - Central Ontario Wolves (F)

Evans has as much pro-upside as any player in the OMHA this season. Big and strong, he gets around the ice really well for his size. His skill set is excellent and he understands the game well. Provides an honest effort each time he is on the ice.

Hayden Fowler - Kingston Jr. Frontenacs (F)

Fowler, a natural goal scorer, generates a lot of offence and his motor is always running. A shooter, he has an excellent shot and will let it go anywhere close and in scoring areas. He plays the game with a lot of edge is not an easy player to play against. Fowler is a special and unique talent that will be a sought after commodity for OHL teams.

Matthew Gordon - Guelph Jr. Gryphons (F)

There is a lot to like about Gordon’s game. He has a lot of ability that includes a great shot. A sniper, he finished tied for seventh in SCTA goal scoring. Smart, creative, mentally engaged, he generates offence and is a player that has lots of upside.

Brayden Guy - Brampton 45's (F)

The captain of the 45's, Guy is a good-sized winger that plays a 200-foot game. He is one of the smartest players in the OMHA and his shot is already better than most OHL players. He is a good teammate, has great character, and makes his teammates better – all important ingredients that go into being a successful captain.

Guy put together an excellent season for his club and took his game to another level at the OMHA Minor Midget AAA Championship weekend. He tied for the most points with seven (five goals and two assists) as his team captured silver in the event.

Andrew Horsley - Brampton 45's (F)

Horsley tied for the SCTA lead in goals and finished second in points. A power-forward with the prototypical power-forward body, Horsley does a good job marrying an excellent skill set with good skating and a sound physical game. He has a presence on the ice and is dangerous every time he has the puck in the offensive zone.

Colton Kammerer - Whitby Wildcats (D)

Kammerer was arguably the best defenceman in the OMHA this season. Leading all defencemen in scoring, he has an outstanding all-around game. His skill set and skating ability allows him to not only shutdown the opposition but also adds to an excellent transition game.

If this isn’t enough, he is pound-for-pound the hardest d-man to play against in the ETA; his physical game is sublime.

Check out Kammerer and his teammates in Home Ice.

Ian Martin - Ajax-Pickering Raiders (F)

Martin has an abundance of skill and hockey sense. What sets Martin apart from the vast majority of his peer group is his deft ability to score goals. He has a knack for finding quiet ice.

Martin had some bad luck in the second half of the season as an injury robbed him of about 15 games. However, he finished strong, leading his team in scoring and a good showing at the OHL Cup.

Connor McMichael - Ajax-Pickering Raiders (F)

McMichael was one of the most talented players in the OMHA this season. Equipped with a full-arsenal of tools including elite-level skill, excellent hockey sense, good skating ability and a first-rate compete level – he is an absolute treat to watch and a threat to the opposition every time he is on the ice. He has the rare ability to be able to change the complexion of a game with a big play anytime he is on the ice.

McMichael was lights-out in the second half of the season – in his team’s final 24 games; he had 32 goals and 46 points.

Blake Murray - Whitby Wildcats (F)

Murray was an unstoppable force this season. He is a great combination of skating, high-end skill, and the ability to score goals. Prepare to hear his name called early on April 8th and will most likely be a contributor on his team in the OHL next season.

Daniel Panetta - Quinte Red Devils (F)

Panetta is a good example of where the game is going. Not overly big, he's an excellent skater, competes hard and is vastly skilled.

Panetta elevated his game in the second half of the season and was one of the main reasons his team flourished during the playoffs and medaled at the OMHA Minor Midget AAA Championship where he finished tied for third in scoring.

Lucas Peric - Halton Hurricanes (D)

One of the best skating defenceman available in the 2017 OHL Draft, Peric has a good transition game as well as excellent puck skills hockey sense. He constantly keeps his head up and on a swivel surveying options around him.

Peric, who is also an elite-level soccer player, lead the SCTA in defencemen scoring.

Emmet Pierce - Quinte Red Devils (F)

The big man was an offensive leader on an excellent Quinte team, finishing fourth in OMHA scoring. Arguably the most intriguing prospect in the ETA this season, Pierce is a rare combination of size, skill and smarts. His vision of the ice and hands are unparalleled.

It is important to remember, big players at this age take longer to develop and reach their peak. As they get older and stronger, their motor-skills catch up to their big bodies. Due to the attributes Pierce possesses and with this in mind there is no doubt he will be a sought after commodity for OHL teams.

Mitchell Russell - Barrie Jr. Colts (F)

Russell is one of those players that jumps out very quickly. He has many tools – skates well, an excellent skill set and compete level. Above all else, like all outstanding players, he wants to make a difference every time he is on the ice. It is not an exaggeration to call Russell the hardest working player available not only in the OMHA but in the entire draft.

Russell, who played on a good Barrie team, was as valuable to his team as any player in the OMHA was. One of the most impressive stats of any draft eligible player – Russell who finished second in the ETA in goals with 35 and scored nearly a quarter of his team’s goals this season.

Emmett Sproule - Grey-Bruce Highlanders (F)

Sproule was arguably the best playoff performer in the OMHA. Blessed with a plethora of hockey sense and ability, his team played all their way to the OMHA Minor Midget AAA Championship weekend where he finished tied for second in scoring with six points. He is only going to get better as he continues to grow.

Ryan Stepien - Hamilton Jr. Bulldogs (F)

Stephien plays a strong 200-foot physical game, hard on the forecheck as well as competing down low in the defensive zone, helping his defenders create counter chances off turnovers and loose pucks. He has excellent puck skills. The puck seems to follow him at times in the offensive zone and Stepien always seems to be in scoring position. He has an excellent shot and finished tied for first in goal scoring in the SCTA.

Cameron Supryka - Quinte Red Devils (D)

Supryka is a wonderful skater, his edge work is a thing of beauty and he makes it look effortless. In addition to his skating ability, his cupboard is filled with a number of other important attributes – vastly skilled, understands the game well, and plays a tight d-game. Opponents had a tough time with his transition game and tight-gap all-year-long. Supryka was the catalyst on the backend of an excellent Quinte Red Devils team.

you may also like

Players
Players
Championships
Home Ice
Players
Players
Players
Home Ice
Players
Players
Players
Home Ice
Rankings
Players
Admin
Home Ice
Rankings
Rankings
Home Ice
Players