Local prospects have seen some lean years when it comes to the OHL draft. But for the second consecutive year, junior teams across the province did not shy away in the least from mining Sudbury-based talent, with no less than seven teenagers nabbed in the entry draft proceedings that took place on Saturday.
Four members of the Copper Cliff Minor Midget Redmen along with three players from the Sudbury Nickel Capital Wolves roster saw their names appear via the OHL website April 7.
Defenseman Bradley Bell, who anchored the blueline for the Redmen, was the first local player selected, taken by the Mississauga St. Michael's Majors in round three.
Two picks later, the local juniors went according to plan, adding the owner's son to their list of prospects, as forward Connor Burgess became the third Sudbury Wolves' pick.
The Sudbury Nickel Capital Wolves player was preceded in the Wolves' picks by defenseman Conor Cummins (Whitby Wildcats), picked 14th overall in round one, as well as Kingston forward Francesco Vilardi, selected earlier in round three.
Forward Trent Mallette, a teammate of Bell's with the Redmen, joined the frey as the Soo Greyhounds made the Rayside-Balfour native their first choice in round four. Goaltender Michael Muzyka will enjoy an opportunity to ply his trade in front of family and friends, selected in round six by the hometown Sudbury Wolves.
Physical forward Andrew Dodge became a potential teammate of Tyler Bertuzzi one round later, picked up by the Guelph Storm early in round seven, while the eighth round provided great news for both defenseman Tyler Cooper, selected by the Oshawa Generals, as well as forward Dylan Callaghan from the Nickel Capitals, selected by Sudbury.
In fact, right across northern Ontario, there was good news to be found. Brett Hargrave, a power forward who developed coming through the North Bay Trappers organization before joining the Mississauga Rebels last fall, managed to crack the first round, grabbed by the Sarnia Sting one spot before the Wolves.
High-scoring forward Matt Amadio of the Soo North Stars became a second-round selection when the Brampton Battalion used the 36th over slot to add the slick forward to their squad.
Long-time teammate Anthony Stefano will head to the Peterborough training camp come late August, a fifth-round choice of the Petes.
North Stars goaltender Jacob Kment went to Brampton one spot after Sudbury drafted Muzyka, while Sault Ste. Marie forward Jaren Bellini was selected late in round six by his hometown Greyhounds.
Olivier Chabot, who played with the Sudbury AAA Bantams in 2010-2011 before returning to Kapuskasing, was a 10th-round pick of Guelph, while North Bay forward Tyler Peters went to the Wolves in round 11.
Rounding out the northern crew were Ryan Vendramin (Soo North Stars - 13th rd - Sarnia Sting) and Nick Trecroce (Soo North Stars - 14th rd - Sudbury Wolves) as the 15-round affair lasted into the early evening.
As for the Wolves, their picks were split almost evenly, with eight forwards and six defensemen, with Muzyka being the only puckstopper the team targeted in this draft.
Following is a complete listing of the Sudbury Wolves 2012 draft picks:
1st round - Conor Cummins (RD) - Whitby Wildcats
3rd round - Francesco Vilardi (LC) - Greater Kingston
3rd round - Connor Burgess (LW) - Sudbury Nickel Capitals
4th round - David Eccles (LD) - Hamilton Jr. Bulldogs
6th round - Michael Muzyka (G) - Copper Cliff Redmen
7th round - Stefan LeBlanc (LD) - Oakville Rangers
8th round - Dylan Callaghan (RW) - Sudbury Nickel Capitals
9th round - William Harrison (RW) - DC Capitals
10th round - Austin Veleke (LW) - Central Ontario Wolves
11th round - Tyler Peters (RW) - North Bay Trappers
12th round - Dylan Wettlaufer (RD) - Brantford 99'ers
13th round - Matt Adams (LC) - Markham Waxers
14th round - Johnathon Masters (RD) - Thunder Bay Kings
14th round - Nick Trecroce (LD) - Soo North Stars
15th round - Tom Beretta (RC) - South Central Coyotes
Following is a listing of the local players selected:
3rd round - Bradley Bell (LD) - Mississauga Majors (Copper Cliff Redmen)
3rd round - Connor Burgess (LW) - Sudbury Wolves (Sudbury Nickel Capitals)
4th round - Trent Mallette (RW) - Soo Greyhounds (Copper Cliff Redmen)
6th round - Michael Muzyka (G) - Sudbury Wolves (Copper Cliff Redmen)
7th round - Andrew Dodge (RW) - Guelph Storm (Copper Cliff Redmen)
8th round - Tyler Cooper (RD) - Oshawa Generals (Sudbury Nickel Capitals)
8th round - Dylan Callaghan (RW) - Sudbury Wolves (Sudbury Nickel Capitals)
Posted by Laurel Myers
