The Ontario Hockey League Priority Selection is a day that can change the face of a franchise for years to come, as unknown names become part of the local sports lexicon.
On Saturday, the Barrie Colts drafted Hunter Haight with the ninth-overall pick in the OHL draft. Today also happened to be Haight's 16th birthday.
The centre with the Elgin-Middlesex Chiefs had 32 goals and 26 assists for 58 points in 33 games this season with the 'AAA' team. Haight, who hails from Strathroy, also added 11 goals and 15 assists in 16 playoff games.
"I'm super excited and honoured to be selected by your organization," the right-handed centreman, who is listed at five-foot-nine and 145 pounds, said on the Colts' Instagram page this afternoon. "I can't wait to get started with the next chapter of my career."
Colts general manager Jason Ford also welcomed Haight to the organization.
“Hunter possesses a tremendous amount of speed, skill, and hockey smarts," Ford said in a release. "We are very excited about this selection, as Hunter was a key to the success of his Elgin-Middlesex team this season. He has game-breaking speed and a creative side to his game, plus leadership qualities and high character."
With their second pick in the draft, the Colts selected right-winger Cooper Matthews in the third round at 48th overall. The Belleville native is listed at just shy of five-foot-seven and weighs 142 pounds.
Matthews played last season with the Quinte Red Devils where he had 27 goals and 29 assists in 36 regular-season games, as well as three goals and eight helpers in eight playoff games.
Ford called Cooper "an explosive, offensively gifted winger."
"His speed and elite playmaking abilities make him a threat every time he is on the ice," he added.
In the third round, at 55th overall, Barrie chose left-winger Beau Jelsma. The native of Brownsville, a small town just outside Tillsonburg, played last season with the Brantford 99ers where he had 11 goals and 10 assists in 12 playoff games. He also racked up 39 penalty minutes. Jelsma is listed at five-foot-10 and 165 pounds.
“Beau is a smooth-skating, two-way forward," Ford said. "His strong hockey sense allows him to make everyone around him better."
The Colts looked way down south for their fourth-round selection at 69th overall, drafting right-handed defenceman Hunter Brzustewicz from the Oakland Jr. Grizzlies. The defender, who is five-foot-10 and 172 pounds and hails from Washington Township, Mich., lit up the league High Performance Hockey League with 15 goals and an eye-popping 96 assists in 66 games for 111 points. He was also a plus-85.
“Hunter is an elite offensive defenseman," Ford said. "His combination of skating, skill, and vision allow him to control the game."
Nine picks later, at 78th overall, the Colts chose left-handed defenceman Ryan Pryce from the Vaughan Kings. The big defender, who is listed at six-foot-one and 179 pounds, had four points (1G, 3A) in 14 playoff games. The Toronto native also had one goal and six assists in 32 regular-season games with Vaughan.
“Ryan is a big, strong, physical defender," said Ford. "His competitiveness helped him become one of his team's most reliable defenders."
The Colts' remaining picks included:
6th round, 109th overall — Left-winger Tai York from the Niagara North Stars.
7th round, 129th overall — Defenceman Cole Semeniuk from the Mississauga Reps
7th round, 130th overall — Goalie Nolan Chartrand from the Cambridge Hawks
8th round, 149th overall — Centre Roenick Jodoin from the Cornwall Colts
8th round, 155th overall — Defenceman Joseph Ianniello from the Vaughan Kings
9th round, 169th overall — Centre Zachary Wigle from the Oakville Rangers
10th round, 199th overall — Centre Cristobal Tola from the Hamilton Huskies
11th round, 209th overall — Forward Tyler Wishart from the Westchester Express
12th round, 229th overall — Left-winger Nathan Duplessis from the Niagara North Stars
13th round, 249th overall — Centre Jake Kovacs from the Soo Thunderbirds
14th round, 269th overall — Centre Cuan Doig from the Toronto Titans
For more on the OHL draft, click here.
