OHL Erie Otters

Otters Get Ready for 2012 NHL Entry Draft

Published on June 21, 2012 under Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Erie Otters News Release


Several Erie Otters could hear their names called at the 2012 NHL Entry Draft being held at Consol Energy Center in Pittsburgh. The seven-round draft begins Friday at 7:00 p.m. with the first round, and the remainder of the draft will commence at 10:00 a.m. Saturday.

Six Otters placed in NHL Central Scouting's Final Rankings, which were released in April. Leading the way was forward Dane Fox, who improved two spots from the midterm rankings to 46th in the final rankings. In 62 games with the Otters and Knights this season, Fox scored 23 goals and dished out 31 assists for 54 points.

Right wing Connor Brown is ranked 110th among North American skaters. He completed an excellent first year in the Ontario Hockey League, capped off by an appearance on the league's first All-Rookie team. Brown was second among OHL rookies with 53 points in the regular season and was the only player to suit up in all 68 of Erie's games.

Adam Pelech is ten spots behind Brown at 120th. The 6-2, 210-pound defenseman won a bronze medal with Team Canada in the Czech Republic and will represent his country again in the Canada-Russia Challenge in August. Pelech collected 20 points in 44 games with the Otters this season and is ranked 49th by TSN in their final rankings.

Troy Donnay is slotted in the 122nd spot by NHL Central Scouting. The 6-foot-7 defenseman came to Erie with Fox in a trade from the Knights in January and played in 50 games this season.

Center Luke Cairns appeared in the rankings at 189th after going unranked in the midterm evaluations. The second-year Otter exploded offensively in the second half of the season, as he had a stretch of 20 points in 21 games. Cairns finished the season with 13 goals and 20 assists in 63 games with the Otters.

Liam Maaskant rounded out the Otters ranked players at 195th. The 6-3, 205-pound defenseman tallied four goals and four assists while playing in 67 games for the Otters this season.

Other first-time eligible players for the draft include forwards Anthony Cortellessa, Connor Crisp and Mitchell Eisenberg; and defenseman Nathan Glass.

In total, the Otters have had a total of 33 players selected at the NHL Entry Draft since 1996. The list includes at least one first round pick in five straight drafts from 1997-2001.

Check out the Erie Otters Statistics

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Ontario Hockey League Stories from June 21, 2012


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