OHL Completes 2024 Under-18 Priority Selection, News (Minor Hockey Alliance of Ontario)

Toronto, Ont. – The Ontario Hockey League conducted the eighth annual OHL Under-18 Priority Selection for U18 AAA hockey players in Ontario on April 17.

Eligibility for the 2024 OHL Under-18 Priority Selection included all U18 players (2006 and 2007 birth years) not currently on an OHL Member Team 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.

Congratulations to the nine ALLIANCE Hockey selections: 

RD	RK	TETAM	PLAYER	POS	HT	WT	HOMETOWN	ALLIANCE TEAM
1	12	Sudbury	Henderson, Rowan	C	5.11	162	Wellesley, ON	Waterloo Wolves U18 AAA
1	19	Saginaw	Kechego, Zander	C	5.11	185	London, ON	Elgin Middlesex Canucks U18 AAA
2	22	Windsor	Caswell, Noah	LD	5.10	175	Innerkip, ON	Waterloo Wolves U18 AAA
2	27	Owen Sound	Costa, Mason	G	6.02.5	164	London, ON	London Jr. Knights U18 AAA
2	33	Mississauga	Davidson, Maxwell	RD	6.00	175	London, ON	London Jr. Knights U18 AAA
2	37	Oahawa	Straus, Reed	G	5.11	175	St. Clements, ON	Waterloo Wolves U18 AAA
3	42	Windsor	Vilardi, Matteo	RW	5.10	160	Kingsville, ON	Windsor Jr. Spitfires U18 AAA
3	43	Sarnia	Douglas, Roen	C	5.09	170	Petrolia, ON	Lambton Jr. Sting U18 AAA
3	47	Erie	Clarke, Jack	C	6.01	185	Rockwood, ON	Waterloo Wolves U18 AAA

A total of 55 players were selected from 31 different teams and included 27 forwards, 13 defencemen and 15 goaltenders. 53 of the 55 players selected were born in 2007.

“Congratulations to all 55 players selected tonight,” said OHL Director of Player Recruitment and Player Services Brodie Barrick. “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. Enjoy celebrating with your families and the people who have helped you achieve this great accomplishment.”

Winners of the Under-18 Priority Selection Draft Lottery back on March 27, the Windsor Spitfires used the first overall selection to take 6-foot-1 Halton Hurricanes goaltender Michael Newlove. He becomes the first goaltender to be chosen with the first overall pick since the Kingston Frontenacs selected Aidan Spooner in 2019.

All OHL member teams were required to draft a minimum of two players, however to enhance opportunities specifically for goaltenders, clubs selecting a goaltender with one of their selections had the option to select another player (skater only) in a third round.

The HEO’s Ottawa Myers Automotive program developed the most players selected with seven being taken off their roster. The OMHA’s Halton Hurricanes and ALLIANCE’s Waterloo Wolves trailed with four each respectively.

The OHL Under-18 Priority Selection was conducted in partnership with RinkNet as picks were submitted online by OHL member clubs and displayed in real time at ontariohockeyleague.com. The selections were also streamed live on OHL Live.

Announced in January 2017, the concept of the OHL Under-18 Priority Selection was developed with full support from Hockey Canada’s three Ontario Branches including the Ontario Hockey Federation (OHF), Hockey Eastern Ontario (HEO), and Hockey Northwestern Ontario (HNO).

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