ERIE OTTERS 2023 OHL PRIORITY SELECTION DRAFT PRIMER

Erie, Pennsylvania – A major weekend lies ahead for the Erie Otters, as the team participates in its 28^th all-time Ontario Hockey League Priority Selection Draft – and it’s all eyes on Erie. For the first time since 2012, and just the third time all-time, the Otters will have the #1 overall pick in the 2023 Priority Selection Draft after winning the OHL’s third-annual Lottery Process.

Erie finished 19^th in the Ontario Hockey League at the conclusion of the regular season, and would’ve held the 2^nd overall pick in a standard-style Draft. However, with the Draft Lottery implemented for a third time – and for the first time in a weighted-system – the Otters held a 30 percent chance to receive the first overall pick in the 2023 Priority Selection Draft. The luck of the Lottery was on Erie’s side on March 29 – winning the opportunity to make the first pick. With the draft spot ‘jump, the organization has the 1^st Overall Pick for just the third time in team history (first since 2012). The last time Erie held the #1 pick, they chose a player who lived the Exceptional Status honor in every form & facet – OHL legend and NHL superstar Connor McDavid.

General Manager Dave Brown expressed his excitement for the organization in winning the Lottery ahead of a very talented draft class.

“We’re just excited to be part of the process. It’s an honor to be selecting first.” said Brown, “We’re looking to add somebody who can fit in with the already exciting young group that we have. Somebody who can skate, who has dynamic skills, and who is a good person first-and-foremost. We think there’s exciting times ahead in Erie, and this person will definitely be adding to this unique group.”

The world is the Otters’ oyster, in a sense; any player they deem most valuable to their organization, they’ll have the chance to take. The 2023 OHL Priority Selection Draft officially kicks off on Friday, April 21 at 7 P.M., but will begin sooner than that for the team. As the holder of the first selection of the entire Draft, Erie will be utilizing the opportunity to announce their selection on Thursday, April 20 at 5:00 P.M.

In this edition of the Draft, the Otters are currently eligible to select 16 players from the 15 rounds (excl. Round 3), with a ‘Linear Draft’ being executed, ensuring Erie and all OHL member teams the same draft order in all 15 rounds (barring any traded picks). In the previous two Priority Selection Drafts, Erie has selected 32 total players; nine of which made the roster during the 2022-23 season. The picks (subject to change by week’s end) are as follows for Erie:

1. Round 1, #1 pick
   • Acquired via winning the Priority Selection Lottery on Wednesday, March 29
2. Round 2, #24 pick
   1. Erie will have the first pick of the second round – and every ensuing round – as a result of winning the first overall pick. Erie will have pick #23 instead of #21 due to compensatory picks for Niagara, Kitchener.
3. No Picks in Round 3
   • Erie traded its 2023 3^rd round pick to Sault Ste. Marie in August 2017 in exchange for Alex Gritz
4. Round 4
   1. #63 pick
   2. #77 pick (SAR): Acquired from Sarnia in December 2022 in exchange Christian Kyrou trade
5. Round 5, #83 pick
6. Round 6, #110 pick (SBY): Acquired from Sudbury in April 2023 in exchange for picks in the 2026 Priority Selection Draft
   1. Erie traded its 2023 6th round pick to London in May 2021 in exchange for picks in the 2021 Priority Selection Draft
7. Round 8, #143 pick
8. Round 9, #163 pick
9. Round 10, #183 pick
10. Round 11, #203 pick
11. Round 12
    1. #223 pick
    2. #230 pick (SBY): Acquired from Sudbury in April 2023 in exchange for picks in the 2026 Priority Selection Draft
12. Round 13, #243 pick
13. Round 14, #263 pick
14. Round 15, #283 pick

Erie has been very particular on the style and skillset of player drafted in the last few years, building a team focused on skill, work ethic, and attitude above all else. With 12 new players cracking the roster during the 2022-23 season – and nearly a handful from the 2022 Priority Selection – a glimpse of the bright future of Erie was able to be seen by fans.

2023 OHL Priority Selection Rounds that Erie will pick in alongside Round-draftees on the Otters roster in 2022-23:

• 1^st Round Selections
  • 2022: Malcolm Spence (#2)
    • Scored 42 points (16G+26A) in 64 games in rookie season
      • Top six rookie scorer, T-1 for game-winning goals
    • Named to World Under-17 Hockey Challenge by Hockey Canada
  • 2021: Carey Terrance (#10)
    • Top-scorer on 2022-23 Erie Otters with 47 points (30G+17A) in 67 games
      • Led team in goals with 30 – tripling rookie goal-scoring number
    • Named to 2023 CHL / NHL Top Prospects Game
    • Ranked #50 overall North American Skater in 2023 NHL Central Scouting Midterm Rankings
  • 2020: Pano Fimis (#2, NIA)
    • Second in total team-scoring in the 2022-23 season with 47 points (16G+31A)
      • Led team in assists with 31
    • Acquired by Erie on New Year’s Day 2023 in exchange for future picks
  • 2020: Spencer Sova (#8)
    • #4 in team-scoring with 39 points (16G+23A) in 68 games
      • Top seven goal-scoring defenseman
    • Played in every game of 2022-23 season for Erie
    • Named “Best Skater” in 2022-23 OHL Coaches Poll for Western Conference
    • #39 North American Skating Prospect – 2022 NHL Central Scouting Midterm Rankings | #136 North American Skating Prospect – 2023 NHL Central Scouting Midterm Rankings
    • Named to Canada’s National Men’s Under-18 Team for 2022 IIHF U18 World Championship
    • Top 10 goal-scoring defenseman in OHL, top 30 total-scoring defenseman in OHL in 2022-23 season
• 2^nd Round Selections
  • 2022: Jacob Gibbons (#38)
    • Appeared in five games for the Otters in 2022-23 season with a 3.98 GAA & .851 SV%
    • Won first-career start in OTW over Saginaw (Oct. 15)
    • Spent most of season in North York Rangers system (GTHL U18, OJHL)
  • 2021: Taeo Artichuk (#21)
    • Scored 11 points (7G+4A) in 65 games
  • 2020: Sam Alfano (#23, PBO)
    • Scored 33 points (18G+15A) in 59 games
    • Acquired by Erie in offseason prior to 2022-23 season for Connor Lockhart
  • 2020: Kyle Downey (#39, WSR)
    • Played in 26 games for Erie with a 3.79 GAA and .872 SV%
    • Acquired by Erie early in 2022-23 season for picks
  • 2019: Colby Saganiuk (#37)
    • Scored 32 points (7G+25A) in 55 games
    • Top 10 in team-scoring
• 4^th Round Selections:
  • 2021: George Alboim (#70)
    • Scored a goal and assist in 48 games
  • 2019: Brett Bressette (#65)
    • Scored 36 points (13G+23A) in 32 games
    • Top-five scorer on team
      • Missed second-half of season with Upper Body Injury
  • 2019: Liam Gilmartin (#82, LDN)
    • Scored 34 points (15G+19A) in 55 games
    • Acquired by Erie ahead of 2022-23 season for picks
• 5^th Round Selections:
  • 2022: Nicholas Holomego (#85)
    • Played in four games with Erie Otters during 2022-23 season
    • Spent most of season with Fort Erie Meteors (GOJHL), scoring 10 points (3G+7A) in 29 games
      • Named to 2022 GOJHL Future Stars Game Roster (Team White)
• 6th Round Selections:
  • 2022: Ty Henry (#109)
    • Played in three games with Erie Otters during 2022-23 season
    • Spent most of season with Brockville Braves (CCHL), scoring 13 points (2G+11A) in 53 total games (regular season + playoffs).
  • 2020: Kaleb Smith (#106)
    • Scored 23 points (10G+13A) in 65 games – nearly quadrupling rookie season scoring-output
• 8^th Round Selections:
  • 2021: Dylan Edwards (#150)
    • Scored seven points (2G+5A) in 44 games
• 11^th Round Selections:
  • 2019: Owain Johnston (#206)
    • Scored eight points (1G+7A) in 49 games

The 2023 OHL Draft Class has been touted as a high-impact prospect class, with the following being the top five prospects per the HockeyProspect.com 2023 OHL Draft Guide:

With an experienced, young, and deep Otters team taking the ice in 2023-24, players selected in the 2023 OHL Priority Selection will have the chance to make their mark and earn their spot in Training Camp.

The 2023 OHL Priority Selection Draft will be free-to-watch on OHL Live on CHL TV  all weekend long, with the Pre-Show beginning at 6:30 P.M. on Friday, April 29 and Draft Rounds 1-3 starting at 7:00 P.M., and on Saturday, April 30 with Draft Rounds 4-15 starting at 9:00 A.M.

Fans are also invited to attend a special Draft Night party at Voodoo Brewing Company – Erie Pub starting at 6:00 P.M. on Friday, April 21. Locally made craft beer and specialty crafted food will be available during this family-friendly event. Inside of Voodoo’s spacious taproom, attendees will be able to watch the Draft unfold live while also seeing Otters staff. Coinciding with the OHL Priority Selection Draft Show, the Erie Otters will be broadcasting its first-ever “Voodoo Brewing Draft Show”, hosted by voice of the Otters Shawn Bednard at 6:30. After the team’s final pick, head coach Stan Butler will partake in an exclusive town hall to talk about the players selected thus far and a State of the Otters.

2023 OHL Priority Selection First Round Order of Selection:

1. Erie Otters
2. Niagara IceDogs
3. Soo Greyhounds
4. Kingston Frontenacs
5. Niagara IceDogs*
6. Oshawa Generals
7. Mississauga Steelheads
8. Brantford Bulldogs
9. Sudbury Wolves
10. Kitchener Rangers*
11. Kitchener Rangers
12. Owen Sound Attack
13. Peterborough Petes
14. Guelph Storm
15. Flint Firebirds
16. Saginaw Spirit
17. Sarnia Sting
18. London Knights
19. Barrie Colts
20. Windsor Spitfires
21. North Bay Battalion
22. Ottawa 67’s

*- indicates compensatory pick

All eyes will be on the Otters on Friday, April 21 at 7:00 P.M. for day one the 2023 Ontario Hockey League Priority Selection Draft – with the first three rounds taking place. Day two of the Priority Selection Draft will take place at 9:00 A.M. on Saturday, April 22 with rounds four through 15. Erie currently has 14 picks in the 2023 Priority Selection Draft, with two on day one (1^st Round, 2^nd Round), and 14 on day two (two in 4^th [SAR], 5^th, 6^th [SBY], 7^th, 8^th, 9^th, 10^th, 11^th, 12^th [SBY], 13^th, 14^th, 15^th). Draft Picks are subject to change leading up to the day of the Draft.

Voodoo Brewing Draft Party

Fans are invited to attend a special Draft Night party at Voodoo Brewing Company – Erie Pub starting at 6:00 P.M. on Friday, April 21. Locally-made craft beer and specialty crafted food will be available during this family-friendly event. Inside of Voodoo’s spacious taproom, attendees will be able to watch the Draft unfold live while also seeing Otters staff. After the team’s final pick, head coach Stan Butler will partake in an exclusive town hall to talk about the players selected thus far and a State of the Otters.

Player Eligibility 

North American players born in 2007 and non-overage players that were not registered with an Ontario based U16 AAA team from protected OHL territories are eligible for selection in the 15 rounds of the 2023 OHL Priority Selection. 

Selected Players in the OHL 

OHL Member Teams are permitted to register a maximum of four 16-year-old players selected in the OHL Priority Selection. Those 16 year old players that are allowed to be signed are the first two 16-year-old players selected and a maximum of two additional 16-year-old wild carded players in any round of the OHL Priority Selection. 

All other 16-year-old players selected are eligible to be called up as an “affiliated player” or “floating affiliate player” for a maximum of 10 games or for any OHL regular season or playoff games when such player’s team has been eliminated from competition for that season. 

Keep up with the #1 overall pick and all the Otters picks and results on OttersHockey.com or across the Otters’ social media. For all results of the 2023 Priority Selection, please head to OntarioHockeyLeague.com. 

For the latest Otters news, visit OttersHockey.com, or follow the team on Facebook (Facebook.com/erieottershockey), Twitter (@ErieOtters), and Instagram (@ErieOtters). 

For further information on the Erie Otters and for media inquiries, please contact Shawn Bednard at shawn.bednard@ottershockey.com. 

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