Sports stats

OHL Erie Otters

Primer: Erie Otters 2024 OHL Under 18 Priority Selection Draft

April 17, 2024 - 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 eighth Under 18 Priority Selection Draft on Wednesday, April 17.

The final OHL-specific Draft of the year, the Under 18 Priority Selection arrives following last weekend's OHL Priority Selection Draft, which saw the Otters select 12 new prospects over 15 rounds, including first round pick Tyler Challenger. 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. The Under-18 Priority Selection Process is capped at two rounds with each OHL Member Team required to select two players. Should a Member Team select a goalie with one of their two selections, the Club has the option to select another player (skater only). There will be an additional round added to the Under-18 Priority Selection to facilitate the drafting of the additional skater utilizing the same selection order and process.

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, late developing, or under the radar prospects. In the 2023-24 season, five players selected during U18 Drafts dressed for the Otters: forwards Brett Hammond (#1 overall, 2023), Bruce McDonald (#41 overall, 2022) and goaltenders Boe Piroski (#20 overall [NIAG], 2021), Ethan Fraser (#36 overall [FLNT], 2020), and Marshall Nicholls (#28 overall, 2020).

In the 2024 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 2024 U18 Priority Selection picks are as follows for Erie:

Round 1, #10 pick

Round 2, #30 pick

Round 3, #50 pick*

As stated above, Erie will only be eligible to utilize this pick if they select a goaltender with either of their first two picks.

Erie has selected 21 players all-time in the Under 18 Priority Selection, with seven 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

2023 1 1 Erie Brett

Hammond RW 6.02 188 09/08/2006 Nepean Raiders U18 AAA HEO AAA

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

2023 2 22 Erie Maverick

Fletcher G 6.01 172 11/17/2006 Soo Jr. Greyhounds U18 AAA GNU

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

2023 3 42 Erie Michael Dion LD 6.00 157 05/30/2006 North York Rangers U18 AAA OJHL

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, 2024 (EBUG) 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.

During Erie's injury-plagued goaltender room in the 2024 portion of the 2023-24 season, Nicholls was re-called on an emergency backup basis for a road game in Guelph

Bruce McDonald (2022 Round 3, #41): 2022-24 with Erie

Since being selected in the third round in the 2022 U18 Draft, Bruce McDonald has become a vital piece of Erie's depth-focused forward core - playing in 132 career OHL games thus far for the Erie Otters

In 2022-23, McDonald played 67/68 games for the Otters, recording 18 points (7G+11A) including a game-winning goal

In 2023-24, McDonald would nearly double his offensive production in two less games. Playing 65/68 games for Erie, McDonald would find 35 points (18G+17A) including his first career power play and shorthanded goals alongside two game-winners

McDonald would also be the first U18 drafted Erie Otters player to play with the team in the playoffs, recording an assist in six games played.

McDonald's success as a depth forward for the Otters is a testament to the late-developing gems that can be found in the U18 prospect pool

Brett Hammond (2023 Round 1, #1): 2023-24 with Erie

The first-ever U18 draftee taken with the top pick by Erie, Brett Hammond would grow into a bottom-six forward for the Otters during his rookie OHL season

Playing in 58 games for Erie, the Ottawa native would record six points (2G+4A) and play an additional three games in the post-season.

Boe Piroski (2021 Round 1, #20 by Niagara): 2024 with Erie

An emergency backup goaltender for Erie's game in Saginaw on February 10, Boe Piroski would be called up from the Provincial Junior Hockey League for his second-career OHL game.

Piroski would stop 25/30 in the loss against the Memorial Cup hosts.

Ethan Fraser (2020 Round 2, #36 by Flint): 2024 with Erie

The goaltending story of the season in the final weeks of the OHL regular season, Ethan Fraser became something of a legend for Otters fans. Making his OHL debut as a 21-year-old, Fraser would play in 12 games - 10 regular season and two playoff - helping Erie secure not only stability in net, but a top-five seed in the Western Conference

Fraser would debut on February 17 at home against the Oshawa Generals stopping 40/41. From there, the Belleville, ON native would appear in 10 total regular season games with a 6-1-1-2 record behind a 2.96 GAA and .904 SV%.

Fraser would become the first Otters' goaltender to win a playoff game in seven years after a 1-1 record in round one against the Kitchener Rangers. In a high-scoring series, Fraser would have a 4.52 GAA and .850 SV% - eventually seeing his OHL career come to an end as Ben Gaudreau returned from injury.

* Ryan Thompson, Boe Piroski, and Ethan Fraser all played for the Erie Otters as U18 picks, but were selected by different teams than Erie.

As the Otters will return to Erie in the Fall under the tutelage of head coach Stan Butler, players selected in the 2024 OHL U18 Priority Selection will have the chance to make their mark and earn their spot in Training Camp. After making the playoffs in the 2023-24 season, Erie will now seek to be a competitor toward the top of the OHL Western Conference.

All three rounds of the 2024 OHL U18 Priority Selection Draft will take place starting at 7:00 P.M. on Wednesday, April 17. While there will be no live draft show, fans can keep up with the results in real-time on OntarioHockeyLeague.com.

2024 OHL U18 Priority Selection First Round Order of Selection:

Windsor Spitfires

Sarnia Sting

Peterborough Petes

Niagara IceDogs

Barrie Colts

Flint Firebirds

Owen Sound Attack

Kingston Frontenacs

Guelph Storm

Erie Otters

Ottawa 67's

Sudbury Wolves

Mississauga Steelheads

Brantford Bulldogs

Kitchener Rangers

North Bay Battalion

Oshawa Generals

Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds

Saginaw Spirit

London Knights

Check out the Erie Otters Statistics



Ontario Hockey League Stories from April 17, 2024


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.

Other Recent Erie Otters Stories



Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central