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Wolves draft day: Offensive help on the way

Offensive help is on the way. That was clearly the priority as the Sudbury Wolves completed their selections during the 2015 OHL Entry Draft on Saturday.

 Offensive help is on the way. That was clearly the priority as the Sudbury Wolves completed their selections during the 2015 OHL Entry Draft on Saturday.

The local juniors followed up the announcement of sniper David Levin as the first overall pick on Friday with nine more forwards, including their first four picks, and six of their top eight.

In the second round, the Wolves acquired a pair of left wingers, Shane Bilutka from the Elgin-Middlesex Chiefs and MacAuley Carson of the Barrie Colts, another portsider in Owen Lane of the Kitchener Rangers in round three, and defenceman Conor Ali of the Brampton 45's six choices later.

With no fourth round selection, the Wolves followed up by taking centre and North Bay native Ben Garagan in round five, with the high-scoring forward having laced up the skates with the North York Rangers in 2014-2015.

Garagan was the second Northern Ontario prospect selected in the draft, with Hanmer native Bradley Chenier tagged by the North Bay Battalion one round earlier. The pair are well acquainted, securing two of the top three slots in the NOHL Minor Bantam "AAA" scoring race in 2012-2013.

Chenier finished first, accumulating 90 points in 34 games as a member of the Nickel City Sons, while Garagan was just seven points back with a stat line that read 46G-37A-83 points.

Little surprise that these numbers would catch the eye of the Wolves. 


"We would like to add more skill and speed," said head sout Andrew Shaw on Friday, attending the Levin media reception.

"All things being equal, we have a lot of young defencemen. We would probably like to add some forwards into the mix, increase our speed and skill up front." True to their word, the Wolves utilized their five picks in the top fifty to replenish their arsenal, with a strong likelihood that a handful of those names will dot the starting roster come September.

"I think we can get three players who can contribute right now," added Shaw. "Three realistically, four max. We were pretty young last year." As for Chenier, the forward that offers a nice mix of grit with skill, tried to take the day all in stride.

"I had a couple of buddies over and we watched the first three rounds," he said. "I hadn't been picked yet, so we decided to just relax. I was actually in the shower when I got picked."

Despite some obvious connections, Chenier did not see North Bay coming as a destination of choice. "It was a big surprise," he said. "It's a very well coached team and a great organization."

Added to the fact that long-time Battalion scout Steve Blinn has a great deal of first hand knowledge in working both with Chenier, as well as teammate Daniel Walker, whom North Bay selected in round ten.

That said, Blinn did not tip his hand this year. "I've known Steve a long time," said Chenier. "We didn't really talk at all this season, we'd just run into each other from time to time at the grocery store and say hi."

In total, nine Northern players were drafted, with the Soo chipping in with Max Khull, Gage Stephney, Nolan Makkonen and Zach Taylor, while North Bay (Eric Allair) and New Liskeard (Cayse Ton) were also represented.

One final local connection, as Toronto Jr Canadians netminder Lanny Korbee was chosen in the 12th round by the Flint Firebirds. Korbee is the son of Copper Cliff native Brenda Denomme, still with plenty of family residing in the Sudbury area.

Following is a detailed list of both the Wolves selections, as well as Northern Ontario prospects:

Sudbury Wolves - 2015 Entry Draft


1st Round - #1 - David Levin (RW) - Don Mills Flyers

2nd Round - #28 - Shane Bulitka (LW) - Elgin-Middlesex Chiefs

2nd Round - #41 - MacAuley Carson (LW) - Barrie Colts

3rd Round - #42 - Owen Lane (LW) - Kitchener Rangers

3rd Round - #48 - Conor Ali (LD) - Brampton 45's

5th Round - #85 - Ben Garagan (C) - North York Rangers

6th Round - #105 - Donovan Cowan (RD) - Elgin-Middlesex Chiefs

7th Round - #122 - Adam Panacci (LW) - Don Mills Flyers

8th Round - #142 - Jake McGrath (G) - Toronto Marlies

8th Round - #154 - Tyler Madden (F) - Avon JV (Connecticut)

9th Round - #162 - Declan Hilton (RW) - Ottawa 67's

10th Round - #182 - Kyle Kozielski (RD) - Niagara North

11th Round - #202 - Evan Fear (G) - Chicago Mission

13th Round - #242 - Drake Lafontaine (RW) - Don Mills Flyers

14th Round - #262 - Adrian Bilic (LD) - Toronto Jr Canadians

15th Round - #282 - Kier Cumming (LW) - Chatham-Kent Cyclones

Tyler Madden is the son of former NHLer and current Florida Panthers' assistant coach John Madden. No coincidence that the Panthers are also the team where Sudbury native Derek Mackenzie is playing these days.

Northern Ontario Prospects

Bradley Chenier (Hanmer) - Round 4 - #77 - North Bay Battalion

Ben Garagan (North Bay) - Round 5 - #85 - Sudbury Wolves

Max Khull (Sault Ste Marie) - Round 6 - #118 - Niagara Ice Dogs

Gage Stephney (Sault Ste Marie) - Round 8 - #159 - Oshawa Generals

Nolan Makkonen (Sault Ste Marie) - Round 9 - #174 - Guelph Storm

Daniel Walker (Valley East) - Round 10 - #197 - North Bay Battalion

Cayse Ton (New Liskeard) - Round 11 - #213 - Owen Sound Attack

Eric Allair (North Bay) - Round 13 - #257 - North Bay Battalion

Zach Taylor (Sault Ste Marie) - Round 15 - #289 - Soo Greyhounds


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