Trolley, Bates join OHL draft ranks
Riley Bates had a tough year injury-wise in his minor midget season but it ended on a positive note when he was drafted by his hometown Peterborough Petes on Saturday.
Bates was one of two Foley Bus Lines minor midget AAA Petes chosen in the 2017 OHL Priority Selection. Curtis Trolley, whose family has billeted Petes players for years, was drafted by the Erie Otters in the 12th round. Bates was taken in the 15th round after missing much of the season with a broken ankle and fibula.
By missing most of the second half of the season and returning only for the final two playoff games, Bates really didn’t know what to expect on draft day. He kept flipping back and forth on his computer between the online draft and the Netflix show Suits.
“I was hoping to see my name and my teammates, too,” said Bates. “I wasn’t there for most of the season but I was hoping some of my teammates got the call.”
He saw Trolley’s name come up and he sent him a congratulatory text. Then, just six picks from the end of the draft, his name popped up.
“I was very excited,” Bates said. “It’s a big honour and a privilege to be drafted by your hometown. I’m lucky because I’ll get to work with them at different points in the year and stay in close contact.”
Trolley wasn’t glued to a screen because he was playing in a lacrosse tournament in Toronto for the midget Lakers. Between games he pulled out his phone and scrolled through the list and just as he came to the 12th round his name popped up beside Erie.
“I was so excited, it was definitely a great feeling to get picked up by Erie,” said Trolley. “It’s such a great organization. I loved it. I was being as hopeful as I could.”
Trolley said his family is friends with the Wainmans whose son Josh plays for Erie.
“I’ve known him for a long time so it’s pretty exciting that I’ll go down there and know people,” he said.
Trolley, a five-foot-10, 148pound centre, had nine goals and 17 points in 32 games this season. Bates is a five-foot-11, 172-pound right defenceman who had a goal and six points in 20 games. He broke his leg playing high school hockey for the St. Peter’s Saints. He returned for the final two AAA playoff games and joined the Saints for the OFSAA tournament.
“I got back half a month earlier than expected. I did well through rehab and therapy,” said Bates. “It was hard to come to the rink and watch the boys compete every night knowing I really couldn’t do anything about it.”
Petes’ GM Mike Oke and his staff saw enough to be impressed.
“Riley faced a bit of adversity this year with his injury,” said Oke. “He missed a lot of the year but persevered. When we did see him he displayed some skills and abilities. He was the captain of the team. He’s got good leadership qualities and his coaches had a lot of respect for him.”