NEWS RELEASE
ONTARIO HOCKEY LEAGUE
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The Ontario Hockey League will see 17 of its players compete in the 2020 Kubota CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game in Hamilton on January 16. Here’s a closer look at the OHL’s top draft eligible talent that will be competing in the 25th annual showcase:
Ryan O’Rourke (Soo Greyhounds)
Soo Greyhounds captain Ryan O’Rourke’s 23 games this season have made a commendable impact as the product of Pickering, Ont. has put up 18 points (6-12-18) on the backend. The 17-year-old defender finished out his rookie season with 22 points through 62 games, earned the title of Hounds Rookie of the Year, and was named to the OHL’s Second All-Star Rookie Team. He won a silver medal with Canada at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup last summer, and averaged a point a game at the 2018 World Under 17 Hockey Challenge. O’Rourke was drafted 20th overall by the Greyhounds at the 2018 OHL Priority Selection and was a ‘B’ rated skater on NHL Central Scouting’s latest ‘Players to Watch’ list. O’Rourke will be reunited with former Minor Midget teammate Cole Perfetti at the Kubota CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game.
Jaromir Pytlik (Soo Greyhounds)
Soo Greyhounds forward Jaromir Pytlik is enjoying a taste of centre this season after starting his OHL career on the wing. The Czech talent has 32 points (14-18–32) through 31 games this season and sits second to Cole MacKay in Greyhounds team scoring. At 6-foot-2, 192Ibs., Pytlik uses his size well and has translated his skills into just over a point-per-game this season. He is preparing to represent the Czech Republic at the 2020 World Juniors in Ostrava and Trinec.
Tyson Foerster (Barrie Colts)
Tyson Foerster has come on strong in his second OHL season, leading the Barrie Colts with 39 points (18-21–39) over 28 games. The former Barrie Jr. Colts Minor Midget product was a third round pick of Barrie in the 2018 OHL Priority Selection and has continued to trend in a positive direction after recording 23 points (10-13–23) as a rookie. The 6-foot-1, 193Ib. centreman has also seen time on the wing under head coach Warren Rychel with the Colts this season.
Jack Thompson (Sudbury Wolves)
In his second year with the Sudbury Wolves, former second round pick Jack Thompson’s stock continues to rise with his 20 points (9-11-20) through 33 games. The 17-year-old right shot blueliner played 52 games with the Wolves last season and totaled 16 points (6-10-16), before picking up a goal and four assists for five points in eight games in the postseason. Thompson, a product of Courtice, Ont., was chosen 30th overall by the Wolves in the 2018 OHL Priority Selection. He represented Canada at the 2018 World Under 17 Hockey Challenge, sporting the Team Red jersey.
Quinton Byfield (Sudbury Wolves)
Quinton Byfield’s sophomore surge has kept him atop the OHL scoring race, where he currently sits third with 57 points (22-35-57) through just 30 games. In his rookie term, Byfield registered a third-highest 61 points (29-32-61) through 64 games played among all OHL rookies. He also averaged a point a game through eight matchups in the postseason with the Wolves. While his offensive numbers speak volumes, the 17-year-old continues to turn heads defensively as well, currently sitting at plus-17 and rounding out last season as a plus-12. Byfield put up two goals and an assist through five games at the World U17 Hockey Challenge as a member of Canada Black, received acclaim as last year’s CHL and OHL Rookie of the Year, and was named to the All-Rookie First Team. He also helped Canada to a silver medal finish at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup last summer with five points (3-2-5) in five games. The 6-foot-5 centreman is projected to be a top-five NHL pick, having received an “A” rating from NHL Central Scouting alongside eight other OHL skaters. Byfield will suit up for Team Canada at the World Junior Championships next week as one of two 17-year-old skaters.
Brandon Coe (North Bay Battalion)
A former third overall OHL Priority Selection choice, 6-foot-4, 190Ib. North Bay Battalion winger Brandon Coe will compete at the Kubota CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game. The late 2002-born Ajax, Ont. native sits second in Battalion scoring with 25 points (9-16–25) over 29 games, following up a 37-point(17-20–37) sophomore campaign in 2018-19. Coe won silver with Team Canada Red at the 2017 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge, registering four points (1-3–4) in five games.
Nico Daws (Guelph Storm)
Having spent his first two years as the defending OHL champion Guelph Storm’s backup netminder, Nico Daws has made quite a name for himself in his third season minding nets with the squad. The 18-year-old currently rests atop the OHL goaltender list with a .939 save percentage and 2.06 goals-against-average through 20 games. Daws, a seventh round draft pick for the Storm in the 2016 OHL Priority Selection, turned heads at Canada’s National Junior Team Selection Camp in Oakville, Ont. and is one of three goaltenders in the Czech Republic wearing the maple leaf this holiday season.
Jamie Drysdale (Erie Otters)
With 31 points (6-25-31) through 29 games, Jamie Drysdale is building off the rookie season that saw him set an Erie Otters franchise record for points by a rookie defenceman. The 17-year-old blueliner sits third in Erie scoring and is well on pace to blow past his rookie season total of 40 points in 63 games. Drysdale’s international accolades include a silver medal at the 2019 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, where he wore the ‘C’ for Canada and registered five assists in five games. The Toronto native was one of nine OHLers to receive an “A” rating by NHL Central Scouting on its November ‘Players to Watch’ list, and joins 10 OHL players representing Canada at the World Juniors later this month.
Donovan Sebrango (Kitchener Rangers)
Skillful second-year defender Donovan Sebrango has put up two goals and 13 assists for 15 points through the 24 games he’s suited up for with the Kitchener Rangers this season. The 17-year-old’s rookie campaign included 26 points (7-19-26) in 62 games. Sebrango put up one assist with Team Canada at the 2019 Hlinka Gretzky Cup and also represented his country at the 2018 World Under 17 Hockey Challenge, where he registered two assists. At the conclusion of the 2018-2019 season, the Kingston, Ont. native was named the recipient of the Rangers’ Michael Pappert Award for Rookie of the Year, and also received the club’s Bob ‘Snowy’ Schlieman Award for Best Offensive Defenceman.
Will Cuylle (Windsor Spitfires)
Second-year Spit Will Cuylle got off to a slow start with just one goal through his first 13 games of the season, but has come on of late, helping Windsor hover around the top of the West Division. The former third overall OHL Priority Selection choice has 20 points (9-11–20) through 28 games this season, seeing a little bit of time down the middle for Trevor Letowski’s club. Cuylle comes off a 41-point (26-15-41) showing in a 63-game rookie season that placed him seventh among OHL freshmen. The Toronto native also joined Canada’s top U18 talent at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup, where he helped his team to a silver medal with two goals and one assist through five games. Cuylle’s was listed as an ‘A’ rated skater on NHL Central Scouting’s November ‘Players to Watch’ list.
Jean-Luc Foudy (Windsor Spitfires)
One of the quickest and shiftiest forwards in the OHL this season, Jean-Luc Foudy is doing wonders with Windsor in his second OHL spin. The 6-foot, 176Ib. centre has 26 points (11-15-26) in 28 games so far, a total he shares with fourth-year Spit Cole Purboo. The 17-year-old Scarborough, Ont. product completed his rookie year third in Spits scoring and fifth among all OHL rookies, boasting a 49-point tally through a 63-game season. He posted a four-point (2-2-4) performance with Canada at the 2019 Hlinka Gretzky Cup and before that, tallied four points (1-3-4) for Canada Black at the 2017 Under-17 Hockey Challenge. Foudy, younger brother of London Knights winger and Columbus Blue Jackets prospect Liam Foudy, also maintains an “A” rating from NHL Central Scouting ahead of the upcoming 2020 NHL Draft in Montreal.
Cole Perfetti (Saginaw Spirit)
Last year’s leading scorer among OHL rookies, Cole Perfetti has shown an ability to put up both goals and assists after he set a new Saginaw Spirit franchise record with 37 markers as a 16-year-old. The 5-foot-10 winger has 49 points (18-31–49) through his first 31 games this season, leading the defending West Division champion Spirit in scoring. Perfetti put himself on the international map last summer when he guided Canada to a silver medal at the 2019 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, recording 12 points (8-4–12) over five contests. The Whitby, Ont. native was the fifth overall pick of the 2018 OHL Priority Selection.
Jacob Perreault (Sarnia Sting)
Jacob Perrault continues to impress atop the Sarnia Sting scoring race with 41 points (19-22-41) through the first 24 games of his sophomore season. His first OHL term saw him finish fourth in rookie scoring with an accomplished 55 points (30-25-55) in a 63-game season inlcuding 30 goals, the most by a Sting rookie since Alex Galchenyuk in 2010-11. His high numbers have earned him an “A” rating in NHL Central Scouting’s latest “Players to Watch” list. The 17-year-old Montreal native represented Canada Red at the 2017 Under-17 Hockey Challenge where he registered two goals in six games. He’s the son of long-time NHL forward Yanic Perreault.
Jack Quinn (Ottawa 67’s)
Jack Quinn is having a beast of a third season with the high-flying Ottawa 67’s. He’s played an integral role in their offensive success through his first 29 games in which he’s amassed 33 points (18-15-33). Quinn is among nine OHLers boasting an “A” rating from NHL Central Scouting ahead of the 2020 NHL Draft in June. The 18-year-old product of Cobden, Ont. was picked up by the 67’s in the second round of the 2017 OHL Priority Selection. He has points in eight of his last nine OHL contests as of Dec. 19th and has produced 10 different multi-point outings in 2019-20.
Marco Rossi (Ottawa 67’s)
He’s one of the more electrifying players in the OHL this season. Marco Rossi sits fifth in OHL scoring, leading the OHL with 2.33 points-per-game in producing 56 points (18-38–56) over 24 contests. The 18-year-old Feldkirch, Austria native posted an exceptional 65 points (29-36-35) in his rookie season of 53 games played, placing him second in the 2018-2019 rookie scoring race behind Saginaw’s Cole Perfetti.. He played an integral role in Ottawa’s run to the OHL Championship Series last spring with six goals and 16 assists through 17 playoff games. One of nine OHL players given an ‘A’ rating by NHL Central Scouting in November, Rossi is the son of former long-time Austrian pro hockey player Michael Rossi.
Antonio Stranges (London Knights)
The slick and shifty Antonio Stranges will suit up at the Kubota CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game. The London Knights forward has produced 14 goals and 11 assists through 29 games played so far this season. Stranges’ 34 points in his 66-game rookie year earned him the honour of Knights Rookie of the Year in the 2018-2019 season. The 17-year-old also received an “A” rating from NHL Central Scouting ahead of June’s NHL Draft. One little known fact about Stranges is that he has a twin sister.
Oliver Suni (Oshawa Generals)
Finnish product Oliver Suni joined the Oshawa Generals as the 44th overall pick of the 2019 CHL Import Draft and hasn’t disappointed, putting up 23 points (8-15–23) through his first 27 games. Suni has managed to play alongside Oshawa’s best players this season and is currently third in OHL rookie scoring behind Kingston’s Shane Wright and Peterborough’s Mason McTavish. The 17-year-old Suni represented Finland at the 2019 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, where he registered three assists in three games.
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