OHL Erie Otters

Preview: Erie Otters 2023 OHL Priority Selection Draft Primer

Published on April 19, 2023 under Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Erie Otters News Release


Erie, Pennsylvania - A major weekend lies ahead for the Erie Otters, as the team participates in its 28th all-time Ontario Hockey League Priority Selection Draft - and it's all eyes on Erie. For the first time since 2012, and just the third time all-time, the Otters will have the #1 overall pick in the 2023 Priority Selection Draft after winning the OHL's third-annual Lottery Process.

Erie finished 19th in the Ontario Hockey League at the conclusion of the regular season, and would've held the 2nd overall pick in a standard-style Draft. However, with the Draft Lottery implemented for a third time - and for the first time in a weighted-system - the Otters held a 30 percent chance to receive the first overall pick in the 2023 Priority Selection Draft. The luck of the Lottery was on Erie's side on March 29 - winning the opportunity to make the first pick. With the draft spot 'jump, the organization has the 1st Overall Pick for just the third time in team history (first since 2012). The last time Erie held the #1 pick, they chose a player who lived the Exceptional Status honor in every form & facet - OHL legend and NHL superstar Connor McDavid.

General Manager Dave Brown expressed his excitement for the organization in winning the Lottery ahead of a very talented draft class.

"We're just excited to be part of the process. It's an honor to be selecting first." said Brown, "We're looking to add somebody who can fit in with the already exciting young group that we have. Somebody who can skate, who has dynamic skills, and who is a good person first-and-foremost. We think there's exciting times ahead in Erie, and this person will definitely be adding to this unique group."

The world is the Otters' oyster, in a sense; any player they deem most valuable to their organization, they'll have the chance to take. The 2023 OHL Priority Selection Draft officially kicks off on Friday, April 21 at 7 P.M., but will begin sooner than that for the team. As the holder of the first selection of the entire Draft, Erie will be utilizing the opportunity to announce their selection on Thursday, April 20 at 5:00 P.M.

In this edition of the Draft, the Otters are currently eligible to select 16 players from the 15 rounds (excl. Round 3), with a 'Linear Draft' being executed, ensuring Erie and all OHL member teams the same draft order in all 15 rounds (barring any traded picks). In the previous two Priority Selection Drafts, Erie has selected 32 total players; nine of which made the roster during the 2022-23 season. The picks (subject to change by week's end) are as follows for Erie:

Round 1, #1 pick

Acquired via winning the Priority Selection Lottery on Wednesday, March 29

Round 2, #23 pick

Erie will have the first pick of the second round - and every ensuing round - as a result of winning the first overall pick. Erie will have pick #23 instead of #21 due to compensatory picks for Niagara, Kitchener.

No Picks in Round 3

Erie traded its 2023 3rd round pick to Sault Ste. Marie in August 2017 in exchange for Alex Gritz

Round 4

#63 pick

#77 pick (SAR): Acquired from Sarnia in December 2022 in exchange Christian Kyrou trade

Round 5, #83 pick

Round 6, #110 pick (SBY): Acquired from Sudbury in April 2023 in exchange for picks in the 2026 Priority Selection Draft

Erie traded its 2023 6th round pick to London in May 2021 in exchange for picks in the 2021 Priority Selection Draft

Round 7, #123 pick

Round 8, #143 pick

Round 9, #163 pick

Round 10, #183 pick

Round 11, #203 pick

Round 12

#223 pick

#230 pick (SBY): Acquired from Sudbury in April 2023 in exchange for picks in the 2026 Priority Selection Draft

Round 13, #243 pick

Round 14, #263 pick

Round 15, #283 pick

Erie has been very particular on the style and skillset of player drafted in the last few years, building a team focused on skill, work ethic, and attitude above all else. With 12 new players cracking the roster during the 2022-23 season - and nearly a handful from the 2022 Priority Selection - a glimpse of the bright future of Erie was able to be seen by fans.

2023 OHL Priority Selection Rounds that Erie will pick in alongside Round-draftees on the Otters roster in 2022-23:

1st Round Selections

2022: Malcolm Spence (#2)

Scored 42 points (16G+26A) in 64 games in rookie season

Top six rookie scorer, T-1 for game-winning goals

Named to World Under-17 Hockey Challenge by Hockey Canada

2021: Carey Terrance (#10)

Top-scorer on 2022-23 Erie Otters with 47 points (30G+17A) in 67 games

Led team in goals with 30 - tripling rookie goal-scoring number

Named to 2023 CHL / NHL Top Prospects Game

Ranked #50 overall North American Skater in 2023 NHL Central Scouting Midterm Rankings

2020: Pano Fimis (#2, NIA)

Second in total team-scoring in the 2022-23 season with 47 points (16G+31A)

Led team in assists with 31

Acquired by Erie on New Year's Day 2023 in exchange for future picks

2020: Spencer Sova (#8)

#4 in team-scoring with 39 points (16G+23A) in 68 games

Top seven goal-scoring defenseman

Played in every game of 2022-23 season for Erie

Named "Best Skater" in 2022-23 OHL Coaches Poll for Western Conference

#39 North American Skating Prospect - 2022 NHL Central Scouting Midterm Rankings | #136 North American Skating Prospect - 2023 NHL Central Scouting Midterm Rankings

Named to Canada's National Men's Under-18 Team for 2022 IIHF U18 World Championship

Top 10 goal-scoring defenseman in OHL, top 30 total-scoring defenseman in OHL in 2022-23 season

2nd Round Selections

2022: Jacob Gibbons (#38)

Appeared in five games for the Otters in 2022-23 season with a 3.98 GAA & .851 SV%

Won first-career start in OTW over Saginaw (Oct. 15)

Spent most of season in North York Rangers system (GTHL U18, OJHL)

2021: Taeo Artichuk (#21)

Scored 11 points (7G+4A) in 65 games

2020: Sam Alfano (#23, PBO)

Scored 33 points (18G+15A) in 59 games

Acquired by Erie in offseason prior to 2022-23 season for Connor Lockhart

2020: Kyle Downey (#39, WSR)

Played in 26 games for Erie with a 3.79 GAA and .872 SV%

Acquired by Erie early in 2022-23 season for picks

2019: Colby Saganiuk (#37)

Scored 32 points (7G+25A) in 55 games

Top 10 in team-scoring

4th Round Selections:

2021: George Alboim (#70)

Scored a goal and assist in 48 games

2019: Brett Bressette (#65)

Scored 36 points (13G+23A) in 32 games

Top-five scorer on team

Missed second-half of season with Upper Body Injury

2019: Liam Gilmartin (#82, LDN)

Scored 34 points (15G+19A) in 55 games

Acquired by Erie ahead of 2022-23 season for picks

5th Round Selections:

2022: Nicholas Holomego (#85)

Played in four games with Erie Otters during 2022-23 season

Spent most of season with Fort Erie Meteors (GOJHL), scoring 10 points (3G+7A) in 29 games

Named to 2022 GOJHL Future Stars Game Roster (Team White)

6th Round Selections:

2022: Ty Henry (#109)

Played in three games with Erie Otters during 2022-23 season

Spent most of season with Brockville Braves (CCHL), scoring 13 points (2G+11A) in 53 total games (regular season + playoffs).

2020: Kaleb Smith (#106)

Scored 23 points (10G+13A) in 65 games - nearly quadrupling rookie season scoring-output

8th Round Selections:

2021: Dylan Edwards (#150)

Scored seven points (2G+5A) in 44 games

11th Round Selections:

2019: Owain Johnston (#206)

Scored eight points (1G+7A) in 49 games

The 2023 OHL Draft Class has been touted as a high-impact prospect class, with the following being the top five prospects per the

HockeyProspect.com 2023 OHL Draft Guide:

RANK NAME TEAM LEAGUE POSITION HEIGHT WEIGHT GRADE

1 Matt Schaefer Halton Hurricanes SCTA D 6'1.5" 160 A

2 William Moore Toronto Marlboros GTHL F 6'3" 160 A

3 Brady Martin Waterloo Wolves Alliance F 5'11.5" 170 A

4 Cole Mckinney Chicago Mission 15U HPHL 15U F 5'11" 173 A

5 Ryan Roobroeck London Jr Knights Alliance F 6'2" 192 A

With an experienced, young, and deep Otters team taking the ice in 2023-24, players selected in the 2023 OHL Priority Selection will have the chance to make their mark and earn their spot in Training Camp.

The 2023 OHL Priority Selection Draft will be free-to-watch on OHL Live on CHL TV all weekend long, with the Pre-Show beginning at 6:30 P.M. on Friday, April 29 and Draft Rounds 1-3 starting at 7:00 P.M., and on Saturday, April 30 with Draft Rounds 4-15 starting at 9:00 A.M.

Fans are also invited to attend a special Draft Night party at Voodoo Brewing Company - Erie Pub starting at 6:00 P.M. on Friday, April 21. Locally-made craft beer and specialty crafted food will be available during this family-friendly event. Inside of Voodoo's spacious taproom, attendees will be able to watch the Draft unfold live while also seeing Otters staff. Coinciding with the OHL Priority Selection Draft Show, the Erie Otters will be broadcasting its first-ever "Voodoo Brewing Draft Show", hosted by voice of the Otters Shawn Bednard at 6:30. After the team's final pick, head coach Stan Butler will partake in an exclusive town hall to talk about the players selected thus far and a State of the Otters.

2023 OHL Priority Selection First Round Order of Selection:

Erie Otters

Niagara IceDogs

Soo Greyhounds

Kingston Frontenacs

Niagara IceDogs*

Oshawa Generals

Mississauga Steelheads

Brantford Bulldogs

Sudbury Wolves

Kitchener Rangers*

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

Check out the Erie Otters Statistics

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