Niagara Opens Day Two with Three Key Selections
Published on June 13, 2026 under Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Niagara IceDogs News Release
KINGSTON, Ont. - The Niagara IceDogs got off to a strong start on the second day of the OHL Priority Selection, drafting forwards Finn Merrill and Nathan Hewitt with back-to-back picks at 32nd and 33rd overall, respectively.
Merrill spent the 2025-26 season with the Hill Academy U16 AAA program, recording an impressive 89 points in 59 games. IceDogs Director of Player Personnel Sean LaFortune says Merrill is "a guy who checks all the boxes for us."
"He plays with skill, but also plays heavy and plays hard," added LaFortune.
Hewitt, a local product, spent the 2025-26 season with the Niagara North Stars U16 AAA, where he recorded 43 points in 34 games. LaFortune described Hewitt as a highly intelligent and competitive two-way centreman who generated significant offence on a team that generally lacked it.
The IceDogs continued to add talent in the third round, selecting goaltender Aidan Cullen 42nd overall. Cullen spent the 2025-26 season with Shattuck-St. Mary's 15U AAA, posting a stellar 1.82 goals-against average, .923 save percentage, and seven shutouts.
LaFortune describes Cullen as a big, mobile goaltender who is "among the best goaltenders in his age group."
The Niagara IceDogs are excited to welcome Finn, Nathan, and Aidan to the organization and look forward to supporting their development in the years ahead.
Ontario Hockey League Stories from June 13, 2026
- Next Wave of Attack Selected at 2026 OHL Priority Selection - Owen Sound Attack
- Spirit Draft 14 Total Players at 2026 OHL Priority Selection - Saginaw Spirit
- Windsor Spitfires Complete 2026 OHL Priority Selection - Windsor Spitfires
- Rangers Make 13 Selections on Day 2 of the 2026 OHL Priority Draft - Kitchener Rangers
- OHL Completes 2026 Priority Selection Presented by Real Canadian Superstore - OHL
- Storm Select Joshua Pagani 288th Overall in the 2026 OHL Priority Selection - Guelph Storm
- Petes Complete 2026 OHL Priority Selection - Peterborough Petes
- 67's Select Forward Kaleb Peplinskie with the 299th Overall Pick in the OHL Draft - Ottawa 67's
- Firebirds Draft 15 Players in 2026 OHL Priority Selection - Flint Firebirds
- Generals Wrap up 2026 OHL Priority Selection Draft - Oshawa Generals
- 67's Select Goaltender Connor Reed with the 279th Overall Pick in the OHL Draft - Ottawa 67's
- Erie Otters Select 13 Players in 2026 OHL Priority Selection - Erie Otters
- Storm Select Landon Giradri 268th Overall in the 2026 OHL Priority Selection - Guelph Storm
- Steelheads wrap up the draft adding fourteen more players on day two - Brampton Steelheads
- 67's Select Forward Isaac Charbonneau with the 259th Overall Pick in the OHL Draft - Ottawa 67's
- 67's Select Forward Cameron Sheppard with the 219th Overall Pick in the OHL Draft - Ottawa 67's
- Storm Select Jaxson Menary 208th Overall in the 2026 OHL Priority Selection - Guelph Storm
- Storm Select Jacob Tysick 228th Overall in the 2026 OHL Priority Selection - Guelph Storm
- Storm Select James Ware 248th Overall in the 2026 OHL Priority Selection - Guelph Storm
- 67's Select Forward Jack Lee with the 199th Overall Pick in the OHL Draft - Ottawa 67's
- Storm Select Chace Minard 168th Overall in the 2026 OHL Priority Selection - Guelph Storm
- Storm Select Colton Van Geffen 188th Overall in the 2026 OHL Priority Selection - Guelph Storm
- 67's Select Defenceman Ethan Mears with the 179th Overall Pick in the OHL Draft - Ottawa 67's
- 67's Select Goaltender Marcus Smolcic with the 159th Overall Pick in the OHL Draft - Ottawa 67's
- Storm Select Alexander Moore 148th Overall in the 2026 OHL Priority Selection - Guelph Storm
- 67's Select Forward Jake Readings with the 139th Overall Pick in the OHL Draft - Ottawa 67's
- Niagara Opens Day Two with Three Key Selections - Niagara IceDogs
- 67's Select Defenceman Ethan Zivanovich with the 116th Overall Pick in the OHL Draft - Ottawa 67's
- Storm Select Ayden Dark 114th Overall in the 2026 OHL Priority Selection - Guelph Storm
- 67's Select Forward Ben Slavick with the 99th Overall Pick in the OHL Draft - Ottawa 67's
- Storm Select Joseph Fenwick 82nd Overall in the 2026 OHL Priority Selection - Guelph Storm
- Storm Select Kellen Paetsch 68th Overall in the 2026 OHL Priority Selection - Guelph Storm
- 67's Select Forward Brayden Grima with the 55th Overall Pick in the OHL Draft - Ottawa 67's
- Erie Otters Select Defenseman Jake Prunty and Goaltender Tanner Gibson in Rounds 2 and 3 of 2026 OHL Priority Selection - Erie Otters
- Sudbury Wolves Select Kash Kwajah in First Round of OHL Draft - Sudbury Wolves
- 67's Select Defenceman Brayden Jaravata with the 36th Overall Pick in the OHL Draft - Ottawa 67's
- Storm Select Finley Butler 29th Overall in the 2026 OHL Priority Selection - Guelph Storm
- 67's Select Forward Henri Packalen with 26th Overall Pick in OHL Draft - Ottawa 67's
- Windsor Spitfires Select Lauchlan Whelan with 16th Overall Pick in 2026 OHL Priority Selection - Windsor Spitfires
- Colts Select Lucas Matheson 17th Overall in 2026 Priority Selection - Barrie Colts
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
