OHL Erie Otters

Otters well-represented on NHL list

Published on January 12, 2007 under Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Erie Otters News Release


Four members of the Erie Otters have been included in the NHL Central Scouting Mid Term Rankings released this week.

Zack Torquato (36th), Nick Palmieri (43rd), Josh Kidd (49th) and Anthony Peluso (154th) were among the top 210 skaters playing in North America that are eligible for the 2007 National Hockey League Entry Draft.

Torquato, who was listed 13th in the OHL in the Preliminary Rankings released in November, is the Otters leading scorer with 41 points in 39 games. The 17 year-old from Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario is listed eighth among OHL players in the recent rankings.

Palmieri sits fourth in team scoring with 29 points in 32 games. The 17 year-old, who returned to action Thursday in Sarnia after missing nine of the previous 11 games due to injury, is the 10th among OHL players on the list, dropping from his eighth position in the Preliminary Rankings.

Kidd remains the top rated OHL defenseman on the list and held his 11th position among OHL Players in the Preliminary Rankings. The veteran Otters defenseman has already posted career highs in goals (eight), assists (11) and points (19) in only 39 games this season.

Peluso rounds out the Otters quartet. The second year defenseman, who has three goals and three assists for six points in 25 games this season, was not included in the Preliminary Rankings.

Since 1996 the Otters have had a total of 23 players selected at the NHL Entry Draft including eight players who were taken in the first round.

Angelo Esposito of the Quebec Ramparts (QMJHL) was rated first among players in North America followed by James Van Riemsdyk of the United States Development Program. Sam Gagner and Patrick Kane, both of the London Knights, rounded out the top-four.

Peterborough's Trevor Cann is the top rated goaltender playing in North American. Jeremy Smith of the Plymouth Whalers was listed second.

The Otters return to action tonight (Friday) when they travel to London to face the Knights. The game can be heard live on True Oldies Froggy 1330 and on line at www.ottershockey.com (presented by the James H. Cross Company) beginning with the pre-game show at 7:15 p.m.

The next Otters home game takes place Saturday at 7:30 p.m. at the Tullio Arena when the Guelph Storm pay a visit Tickets for the game are available at all Erie-area TicketMaster locations as well as the Erie Civic Center Box Office.

Check out the Erie Otters Statistics

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Ontario Hockey League Stories from January 12, 2007


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