Strong showing at draft for locals
As predicted, The Peterborough Foley Bus Lines Minor Midget AAA Petes had a strong showing at the OHL Priority Selection.
Ten members of the 10thranked team in Ontario were selected.
Goalie Will Cranley was the first Minor Petes player selected in the second-round, 35th-overall by the Ottawa 67’s. Cranley was the third goalie selected in the draft.
“It’s unbelievable, everything is so surreal right now,” Cranley said. “Words can’t describe how I feel.”
Cranley’s aunt, Kendra Popp, lives in Ottawa.
“I actually said at the start of the year Ottawa was like my dream place because I have family there and I love the city of Ottawa. It’s a really nice place,” he said.
Cranley said it wouldn’t have been possible without his coaches, teammates and his parents Chad and Laura.
“It was a lot of work, the countless hours and early mornings. Work spent in the gym during the summer when everybody else is out having fun,” he said.
“My family has shown so much support. I couldn’t have done it without them and all the time and money they put into it. Goaltending is not the cheapest position.”
Nolan Burke was the first skater selected 79th-overall in the fourth round by the Sarnia Sting.
“It was very nerve-wracking,” said Burke.
“I didn’t know when I was going so I got kind of shaken. I didn’t know what was going on.
When I saw my name pop up I kind of freaked out and mom cried. It was very emotional,
I’m very excited. It’s an awesome organization,” he said. “One of my agent Mark Guy’s sons plays there and he sent me a congratulatory text. It’s good to know someone there.”
Kalvyn Watson was the 100th pick at the end of the fifth round to the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds. He was in the garage getting something when he heard his parents yelling in the house and knew he must have been selected.
“They were all screaming,” said Watson. “It was unbelievable. It’s such a great organization. It’s a surreal moment. It was pretty emotional for my family.”
Tyler Deline went two picks later to the Flint Firebirds. His pick came following a break after the fifth round.
“We weren’t paying attention and we didn’t know it was back on. When we saw my name it was pure excitement,” said Deline. “Flint is a great organization. They have a great facility, I’m excited to get started.”
Logan Maunder was next at 113 to the Erie Otters.
Luc Reeve, a Kingston resident attending Lakefield College School, was an eighth-round pick to the Petes at 143 and Noah Sedore, also a LCS student, went one pick later to Erie.
Reeve, who joined the Petes at the Memorial Centre, said it’s exciting to know he won’t have to move far.
“It’s amazing,” said Reeve. “I was at softball practice at school when I found out. I ran out of there and got changed. I had my phone beside me the entire time.”
Brett Robertson was taken in the 10th-round by the Mississauga Steelheads.
Goalie Will Craig was an 11thround pick by the Guelph Storm. Boyd Stahlbaum was a 15t-round selection of the Kingston Frontenacs.