Draft lottery creates some buzz around the OHL
Gaining third pick in league’s selection process gives Petes chance to grab top young prospect
On Wednesday night, junior hockey fans throughout the Ontario Hockey League were attentively tuned in to the draft lottery.
Specifically, the Niagara IceDogs, Windsor Spitfires, Sarnia Sting and Peterborough Petes were in the running to acquire the first selection overall for the upcoming 2024 OHL Priority Selection.
These four non-playoff teams entered the weighted lottery system hoping to get the chance to make the first selection of the draft. We now know that Windsor won the lottery and will pick first. Peterborough will select third.
Throughout the playing season, OHL general managers and their scouting staffs scour hockey arenas identifying players they believe have the ability to play in the league. Scouts attend league and playoff games as well as tournaments, and begin the process of rating draft eligible players.
This week, the scouting staffs for all 20 OHL hockey clubs have been in Toronto at the Scotiabank Pond, watching the 20 best U16 teams battle for the OHL Cup. The final will be played Saturday at the Mattamy Athletic Centre, formerly Maple Leaf Gardens.
For Peterborough Petes GM Mike Oke and the seven scouts he employs, this will be the final chance they have to evaluate players prior to the OHL Priority Selection that will be conducted online.
Rounds 1-3 takes place Friday, April 12, at 7 p.m., followed by Rounds 4-15 the next day. The process can be followed online at ontariohockeyleague.com and will be streaming live on OHL Live.
Like the central scouting staff, Petes scouts assign prospective players a rating ranging from AA (top rating) to A, B or C. Mike Oke and his scouting staff communicate often throughout the season.
During what Oke refers to as the “evaluation phase,” his scouting staff regularly communicate using Zoom, which has become a costeffective way to do business. The Petes also hold some in-person meetings.
By draft day, Oke and his staff have compiled a ranked list of about 120 to 150 players and are ready to go. At their draft headquarters, you will find Oke, his coaching staff, team scouts, perhaps a board member and the Petes media personnel. Throughout the draft, the entire organization is focused and prepared.
In the past 10 years, the Petes have selected nine forwards and two defencemen in the first round. Nick Ritchie has the distinction of being the highest draft pick ever by the OHL club. Ritchie was selected second overall in 2011. Barrie took Aaron Ekblad with the No. a1 pick.
The Petes have only once selected a goaltender in the first round. In 1998, Aaron Molnar was taken by Peterborough with the seventh selection overall. Two spots earlier, Peterborough minor hockey grad Dan Growden was selected by the Windsor Spitfires.
With the decision to move veteran players at this year’s trade deadline, the Petes acquired an excellent group of young talent. Among those trades, three first-round picks from 2023 came to Peterborough. All were forwards. Nico Addy, Aiden Young and Caden Taylor are now wearing a maroon and white jersey.
Given the direction Peterborough took last January, this year’s OHL Priority Selection will be particularly important. GM Mike Oke has one first-round pick, one secondround selection, and two picks in the fifth round. The Petes have no selections in rounds three and four.
In past drafts, Peterborough has acquired some exceptional talent. Will the Petes select another Mason McTavish or perhaps a defender like Chris Pronger? This writer, season-ticket holders and fans of the Peterborough Petes will be anxiously following the results of this year’s draft.
Go Petes, go!