The Ontario Hockey League held its under-18 draft on Wednesday night and the Barrie Colts picked up a left-winger with the fifth-overall pick.
Luc Gauvreau, who is listed at five-foot-11 and 185 pounds, had eight goals and 10 assists in 32 games this past season with the Ontario Minor Hockey Association's Hamilton Steel.
With its second pick, at No. 25 overall, the Colts chose Barrie-born goalie William Belitski from the Vaughan Kings. He is listed at five-foot-11 and 175 pounds.
At No. 44 overall, Barrie selected another hometown boy in left-shot defenceman William Muszynski, who played this past season with St. Andrews College where he had 23 goals and 24 assists in 44 games. He has also played for the Greater Toronto Hockey League's Mississauga Senators and the Stayner Siskins in the Provincial Junior Hockey League. Muszynski is listed at five-foot-10 and 158 pounds.
The draft, which was created eight ago, is for U18 AAA players in Ontario who have previously been passed over in the OHL Priority Selection.
Another local player could also soon be suiting up for an OHL team after being taken in the U18 draft. Minesing native Cameron Martin, a strapping defenceman at six-foot-three and 216 pounds, was taken by the Peterborough Petes at 23rd overall. He is coming out of the Barrie Jr. Colts U18 AAA organization.
Eligibility for the 2024 OHL Under-18 Priority Selection included all U18 players (2006 and 2007 birth years) not currently on an OHL team's protected list who were carded with an Ontario-based U18 AAA hockey club or an accredited Hockey Canada sport school within the Ontario Hockey Federation, Hockey Eastern Ontario or Hockey Northwestern Ontario in the current season.
Fifty-five players were selected from 31 different teams and included 27 forwards, 13 defencemen and 15 goaltenders.
With the top pick in the U18 draft, the Windsor Spitfires selected goalie Michael Newlove from the Halton Hurricanes.
“The under-18 priority selection has provided the OHL with a number of quality players since its inception in 2017, and it presents another opportunity for prospects to further their development and showcase themselves in an effort to become the best player they can be," OHL director of player recruitment Brodie Barrick said in a news release. "Enjoy celebrating with your families and the people who have helped you achieve this great accomplishment."
For the full list of picks, click here.
