OHL Erie Otters

Spence, Gibbons to Represent Otters at Hockey Canada Development Camp

Published on June 9, 2022 under Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Erie Otters News Release


Erie, Pennsylvania - Hockey Canada announced today that 100 players have been invited to participate in Canada's National Under-17 Development Camp next month. Among these 100 players are the Erie Otters' first two picks from the 2022 Ontario Hockey League Priority Selection Draft, Forward Malcolm Spence (1st Round, #2 overall) and Goaltender Jacob Gibbons (2nd Round, #38 overall).

The Under-17 Development Camp, which takes place from July 10-16 in Calgary, AB, begins the process of player evaluation to build out Canada's National Teams for the 2022 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge in November. Malcolm Spence and Jacob Gibbons represent two of the 40 OHL players selected for the Development Camp.

Erie Otters Director of Hockey Operations Scott Grieve spoke highly of the invitation and the event.

"The Canadian National Under-17 Development Camp is the first step for these players in representing their country." said Grieve, "Both Malcolm and Jacob are very deserving of this opportunity, and we are excited that they get to experience this in order to continue with their development."

Malcolm Spence, the #2 overall pick in the 2022 Priority Selection, was a highly-touted prospect coming out of his time with the Mississauga Senators U16 AAA of the Greater Toronto Hockey League. In his last season in the GTHL, where he was named Player of the Year, Spence had a two-point-per-game average season with 56 points (29G+27A) in 28 games. During the OHL Cup, Spence would grab an additional 13 points (6G+7A) in seven games enroute to the Senators' OHL Cup Championship - and being named to the OHL Cup All-Star Team.

"I'm just humbled and honored to be representing the Otters at the Under-17 Development Camp." said Spence, "There's a lot of guys across Canada, and I'm excited that I was chosen to wear the Leaf."

Erie's second pick, #38 overall, in the 2022 Priority Selection was big-bodied goaltender Jacob Gibbons. Playing with the Markham Majors U16 AAA in the OHL Cup, Gibbons came away from four games played with a 1.54 GAA, .926 SV%, two shutouts, and a 3-1 record.

"It's an unbelievable feeling. Being able to represent the Otters organization at this level is unreal." said Gibbons, "I'm honored to be selected, and couldn't be more excited to go and wear the Leaf."

For the duration of the week-long camp, the players - selected by Hockey Canada Director of Player Personnel Alan Miller - will be split into five teams for on-and-off-ice training, fitness testing, practices, intrasquad games and classroom sessions.

"The national under-17 development camp is the first stage in introducing these athletes to the Program of Excellence, and it is a great opportunity for them to develop as players and learn what it takes to wear the Maple Leaf," said Millar, "We look forward to enhancing these young players' ongoing development during this camp and starting the process of building our three national U17 teams for the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge this fall."

Spence and Gibbons will represent a number of current Otters to have participated in the Under-17 Development Camp, including three in 2020 (Nolan Lalonde, Spencer Sova, Lucas Ross) and one in 2019 (Connor Lockhart). Despite the cancellation of the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge in 2021, Carey Terrance was named a Captain to Team Canada White for the one-off Capital City Challenge.

The Otters congratulate Malcolm and Jacob on the honor, and look forward to them proudly representing themselves and the organization in Calgary.

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