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OHL Erie Otters

Erie Otters 2023 OHL Under 18 Priority Selection Draft Primer

April 24, 2023 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Erie Otters News Release


Erie, Pennsylvania - Draft season continues for the Erie Otters to close out the month of April, as the team will participate in the Ontario Hockey League's seventh Under 18 Priority Selection Draft on Wednesday, April 26.

The final OHL-specific Draft of the year, the Under 18 Priority Selection arrives following last weekend's highly-anticipated OHL Priority Selection Draft, which saw the Otters select 16 new prospects aged 15 to 17 over 15 rounds, including first overall pick Matthew Schaefer. The U18 Draft started in 2017 as a way to give teams the opportunity to select any draft-eligible player under the age of 18 - giving overlooked players a second-chance at catching scouts' eyes.

While the U18 Draft doesn't share the same pomp, circumstance, or acclaim that the standard Priority Selection Draft receives - as team's select players overlooked initially in the Draft process - it is the perfect time to find diamond-in-the-rough and under the radar prospects. In the 2022-23 season, two players selected during U18 Drafts hit the ice for the Otters: forward Bruce McDonald (#41 overall, 2022) and goaltender Marshall Nicholls (#28 overall, 2020).

In the 2023 version of the draft, the Otters are eligible to select three players from the three rounds, with a 'Linear Draft' being executed - ensuring Erie and all OHL member teams the same draft order in each round. Unlike the Priority Selection, there are no compensatory or traded picks. The 2023 U18 Priority Selection picks are as follows for Erie:

Round 1, #1 pick

Erie will pick first overall due to winning the Lottery Process on March 29 for the Priority Selection.

Round 2, #21 pick

Round 3, #41 pick

Erie has selected 18 players all-time in the Under 18 Priority Selection, with four U18 Draft players* making the regular season roster for the team all-time.

Year RD OV Team Player Name Pos Height Weight DOB Last Team Source

2022 1 2 Erie

Vlad Visan G 6.02 225 10/02/2005 Burlington Eagles U18 AAA SCTA

2019 1 3 Erie Connor Olson LD 6.01 169 03/28/2002 Elgin-Middlesex Chiefs MAAA MHAO

2018 1 4 Erie Daniel D'Amato RW 5.11.25 146 04/08/2001 Vaughan Kings MAAA GTHL

2020 1 8 Erie Ethan Broderick RD 5.07.75 157 07/07/2003 Guelph Gryphons MAAA SCTA

2021 1 16 Erie Anthony Piccininno LW 5.07 144 04/01/2004 Don Mills Flyers U18 AAA GTHL

2017 1 20 Erie Matthew Giannini RW 5.07.5 144 08/25/2000 Hamilton Jr. Bulldogs Midget AAA SCTA

2022 2 22 Erie Zachary Benayon LW 6.00 172 1/25/2005 Toronto Red Wings U18 AAA GTHL

2019 1 23 Erie Bryce Walcarius G 6.01 150 03/01/2002 Elgin-Middlesex Chiefs MAAA MHAO

2018 2 24 Erie Darius Vitug RW 5.08.5 174 04/01/2002 Toronto Jr. Canadiens MAAA GTHL

2021 2 25 Erie MacGregor Armstrong LD 6.03 185 02/04/2003 Niagara North Stars U18 AAA SCTA

2020 2 28 Erie Marshall Nicholls G 5.10.5 155 06/18/2003 Waterloo Wolves MAAA MHAO

2017 2 40 Erie Anthony Carraretto LW 5.08.5 147 10/05/2000 Toronto Nationals Midget AAA GTHL

2022 3 41 Erie Bruce McDonald C 6.00 172 12/18/2004 Renfrew Wolves U18 AAA HEO Midget

2019 3 43 Erie Zachary Power RW 5.06.25 132 08/20/2002 Rockland Nationals MAAA HEO Midget

2020 3 47 Erie Blake Yetman RW 5.09.25 128 10/02/2002 Whitby Wildcats MAAA ETA

2017 3 60 Erie William Anderson G 6.01 186 04/01/2000 Kemptville 73s Midget AAA OEMHL

2017 4 80 Erie Jayden Vaughan LW 5.10 152 06/01/2000 Toronto Jr. Canadiens Midget AAA GTHL

2017 5 96 Erie Evan Miller C 5.06.75 127 03/07/2000 Niagara North Stars Midget AAA SCTA

Daniel D'Amato (2018 Round 1, #4): 2018-22 with Erie

The first-ever U18 draftee to appear in a game for the Otters, 'Captain Dan' D'Amato left an impressionable mark and high-bar for future picks from either Draft to follow

D'Amato would play in 189 games across his three OHL seasons, becoming the first and only U18 pick in league history to score 100+ career points

In the 189 games, D'Amato would grab 110 points (46G+64A), including an incredible point-per-game 63 points (24G+39A) in his final season's 63 games

D'Amato would serve as Otters captain during his final OHL season, marking him the first U18 Otter to accomplish such a feat

The Maple, ON native also appeared in five professional hockey (AHL) games during his last OHL season, posting three points (1G+2A).

Captain Dan will always sit as the gold-standard for U18 players, setting many benchmarks in his three seasons.

Ryan Thompson (2019 Round 1, #8 by North Bay): 2021-22 with Erie

While not an Otters U18 pick, Defenseman Ryan Thompson became an Otter by way of a trade ahead of the 2021-22 season - marking him as one of the more experienced blueliners on the team

In his 50 games with Erie during 2021-22, Thompson scored seven points (2G+5A) - including his first-career goal and game-winning goal all at once

Thompson was traded from Erie to Soo ahead of the 2022-23 season for picks

Marshall Nicholls (2020 Round 2, #28): 2021-2022 with Erie

Goaltender Marshall Nicholls had the distinct honor of being the lone U18 goaltender selected by Erie to appear in at least a game

The Waterloo, ON native would appear in 15 games with the Otters in 2021-22 for a 4.42 GAA, .849 SV%, and a 2-9-0-1 record. In 2022, Nicholls would appear in six games with a 3.48 GAA, .869 S%, and 1-3-0-1 record.

Nicholls would finish out the 2022 season in the QMJHL with the Chicoutimi Saguenéens.

Bruce McDonald (2022 Round 3, #41): 2022-23 with Erie

Forward Bruce McDonald is the latest U18 player drafted by Erie to appear in a game, spending the entirety of the 2022-23 season with the team

The latest player selected by Erie to crack the roster, McDonald would play in 67/68 games for the Otters - scoring 18 points (7G+11A) with one game-winning goal.

A gritty, grinding, depth centerman for Erie during the season, McDonald was a true late gem for the team in the U18 Draft.

* Ryan Thompson played the 2021-22 season for Erie after being selected #8 overall in the 2019 U18 Priority Selection by North Bay.

As the Otters look forward to the first full season under head coach Stan Butler, players selected in the 2023 OHL U18 Priority Selection will have the chance to make their mark and earn their spot in Training Camp.

All three rounds of the 2023 OHL U18 Priority Selection Draft will take place starting at 7:00 P.M. on Wednesday, April 26. While there will be no live draft show, fans can keep up with the results in real-time on OntarioHockeyLeague.com.

2023 OHL Under 18 Priority Selection Order of Selection:

Erie Otters

Niagara IceDogs

Soo Greyhounds

Kingston Frontenacs

Oshawa Generals

Mississauga Steelheads

Brantford Bulldogs

Sudbury Wolves

Kitchener Rangers

Owen Sound Attack

Peterborough Petes

Guelph Storm

Flint Firebirds

Saginaw Spirit

Sarnia Sting

London Knights

Barrie Colts

Windsor Spitfires

North Bay Battalion

Ottawa 67's

Player Eligibility

North American players under 18-years-old born between 2005 and 2007 are eligible for selection in the three rounds of the 2023 OHL Under 18 Priority Selection.

Selected Players in the OHL

OHL Member Teams were permitted to register a maximum of four 16-year-old players selected in the OHL Priority Selection Draft. Those 16 year old players that are allowed to be signed are the first two 16-year-old players selected and a maximum of two additional 16-year-old wild carded players in any round of the OHL Priority Selection.

All other 16-year-old players selected are eligible to be called up as an "affiliated player" or "floating affiliate player" for a maximum of 10 games or for any OHL regular season or playoff games when such player's team has been eliminated from competition for that season.

Check out the Erie Otters Statistics



Ontario Hockey League Stories from April 24, 2023


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