2008 Born for the 2024 OHL Draft

[GermanSpitfire]

Never too early to start discussing next years OHL crop.
Here is a rough list of 40 names I compiled a few months ago of 2008 born kids to keep an eye on. It‘s not nessarily a ranking, just a list of 40 guys I found interesting and have highlighted.

I hope to be following this age group as much, if not more than the 2007 born group. Looks to be a good group early on. There is no clear cut #1 kid, any one of the top-10 right now I can see laying a claim to the #1 spot.

I’ll be sure to be active in this thread throughout the year and provide updates as I see fit.

1	Logan Hawery (F)	Barrie Colts U16 AAA
2	Adam Valentini (F)	Mississauga Senators U16 AAA
3	Braidy Wassilyn (F)	Markham Majors U16 AAA
4	Beckham Edwards (F)	Elgin Middlesex Canucks U16 AAA
5	Zachary Nyman (D)	Vaughan Kings U15 AAA
6	Ethan Garden (F)	Little Caesars 14U AAA
7	Alex Mclean (F)	Pittsburgh Penguins Elite 14U
8	Nik Rossetto (F)	Soo Greyhounds U18 AAA
9	Luca Blonda (D)	Soo Greyhounds U15 AAA
10	Brady Smith (F)	North York Rangers U15 AAA
11	Quinn Kipfer (F)	Huron Perth Lakers U16 AAA
12	Jude Bray (D)	Toronto Marlboros U15 AAA
13	Maxim Dube (F)	Greater Kingston Gaels U15 AAA
14	Dominic Pajkic (D)	Shattuck St. Mary's 14U AAA
15	Weston Cameron (F)	Toronto Marlboros U15 AAA
16	Tyler Challenger (F)	Toronto Marlboros U15 AAA
17	Brayden Krawczyk (F)	Toronto Jr. Canadiens U15 AAA
18	Alessandro Di Iorio (F)	Vaughan Kings U15 AAA
19	Caleb Malhotra (F)	Vaughan Kings U15 AAA
20	Kent Greer (D)	Pittsburgh Penguins Elite 14U
21	Dillon Atkinson (F)	Grey-Bruce Highlanders U15 AAA
22	Maximus Crete (F)	Upper Canada Cyclones U15 AAA
23	Alexander Hage (F)	Vaughan Kings U15 AAA
24	Patrick Babin (D)	Niagara North Stars U15 AAA
25	Matthew Rotter (D)	Don Mills Flyers U15 AAA
26	Max Skinner (F)	Toronto Marlboros U15 AAA
27	Jalen Lobo (F)	Toronto Jr. Canadiens U15 AAA
28	Ronan Clarke (D)	Markham Majors U16 AAA
29	Jet Kwajah (D)	Toronto Jr. Canadiens U15 AAA
30	Nikita Zitserman (F)	Mississauga Senators U15 AAA
31	Cole Emerton (D)	Barrie Colts U15 AAA
32	Luca Bonomo (D)	Mississauga Senators U16 AAA
33	James Elliott (F)	Soo Greyhounds U15 AAA
34	Dimian Zhilkin (F)	Toronto Jr. Canadiens U15 AAA
35	Grandon Echols (F)	Little Caesars 14U AAA
36	Javian Nei (F)	Toronto Jr. Canadiens U15 AAA
37	Carson Andrew (F)	Shattuck St. Mary's 14U AAA
38	Pierce Mbuyi (F)	Toronto Marlboros U15 AAA
39	Liam Kerr (F)	Toronto Red Wings U15 AAA
40	Ryan Cranny (F)	Grey-Bruce Highlanders U15 AAA

Click to read more...

 

[scotty171]

I thought Parker Vaughan had a good tournament this past week at the U15 all Ontario for Elgin. That Vaughn Kings team was very strong.

 

[GermanSpitfire]

I thought Parker Vaughan had a good tournament this past week at the U15 all Ontario for Elgin. That Vaughn Kings team was very strong.

They‘ve been the top team from the age group for a while now. One of the more stacked rosters in this age group in the last little while

I’d definitely add him, as well as kids like Ben Bowen, Jack Yates, Bryson Morgan, Gavin Killoran among others to this list after their preformances at the most recent U15’s championship.

 

[HockeyPops]

U15 AAA ETA season stats
U15 AAA SCTA season stats
U15 AAA Alliance season stats
U15 AAA NOHA season stats
U15 AAA All-Ontario Championships stats

U15 AAA "Mission Labor Day" Tournament stats
U15 AAA "Wendy Dufton" Tournament stats
U15 AAA "Canadiens Cup" Tournament stats
U15 AAA "Kitchener Blueline" Tournament stats
U15 AAA "Eastern Exposure Cup" Tournament stats
U15 AAA "Hamilton Jr. Bulldogs" Tournament stats
U15 AAA "PPE Midwinter" Tournament stats
U15 AAA "The Cup" Tournament stats

 

[scotty171]

They‘ve been the top team from the age group for a while now. One of the more stacked rosters in this age group in the last little while

I’d definitely add him, as well as kids like Ben Bowen, Jack Yates, Bryson Morgan, Gavin Killoran among others to this list after their preformances at the most recent U15’s championship.

The top line for UCC with Yates and Crete was very good and fun to watch too. Best team from the Soo at this age group in quite a while as well. Too bad it sounds like they are going to lose some of their top players to other teams.

 

[GermanSpitfire]

The top line for UCC with Yates and Crete was very good and fun to watch too. Best team from the Soo at this age group in quite a while as well. Too bad it sounds like they are going to lose some of their top players to other teams.

Not just “some” but all of their top kids from what I know are moving on.

 

[HockeyPops]

They don't run a U16AAA program in the Soo for some reason; these kids are leaving because there is no good option here for them to play on.

 

[scotty171]

They don't run a U16AAA program in the Soo for some reason; these kids are leaving because there is no good option here for them to play on.

I heard they applied for U16 cards for the upcoming season but don't know the status of that yet. They really seem to value the U18 program more than U16 over the years for some reason. Players have been leaving to play their U16 season elsewhere for years.

 

[flamebird]

Never too early to start discussing next years OHL crop.
Here is a rough list of 40 names I compiled a few months ago of 2008 born kids to keep an eye on. It‘s not nessarily a ranking, just a list of 40 guys I found interesting and have highlighted.

I hope to be following this age group as much, if not more than the 2007 born group. Looks to be a good group early on. There is no clear cut #1 kid, any one of the top-10 right now I can see laying a claim to the #1 spot.

I’ll be sure to be active in this thread throughout the year and provide updates as I see fit.

1	Logan Hawery (F)	Barrie Colts U16 AAA
2	Adam Valentini (F)	Mississauga Senators U16 AAA
3	Braidy Wassilyn (F)	Markham Majors U16 AAA
4	Beckham Edwards (F)	Elgin Middlesex Canucks U16 AAA
5	Zachary Nyman (D)	Vaughan Kings U15 AAA
6	Ethan Garden (F)	Little Caesars 14U AAA
7	Alex Mclean (F)	Pittsburgh Penguins Elite 14U
8	Nik Rossetto (F)	Soo Greyhounds U18 AAA
9	Luca Blonda (D)	Soo Greyhounds U15 AAA
10	Brady Smith (F)	North York Rangers U15 AAA
11	Quinn Kipfer (F)	Huron Perth Lakers U16 AAA
12	Jude Bray (D)	Toronto Marlboros U15 AAA
13	Maxim Dube (F)	Greater Kingston Gaels U15 AAA
14	Dominic Pajkic (D)	Shattuck St. Mary's 14U AAA
15	Weston Cameron (F)	Toronto Marlboros U15 AAA
16	Tyler Challenger (F)	Toronto Marlboros U15 AAA
17	Brayden Krawczyk (F)	Toronto Jr. Canadiens U15 AAA
18	Alessandro Di Iorio (F)	Vaughan Kings U15 AAA
19	Caleb Malhotra (F)	Vaughan Kings U15 AAA
20	Kent Greer (D)	Pittsburgh Penguins Elite 14U
21	Dillon Atkinson (F)	Grey-Bruce Highlanders U15 AAA
22	Maximus Crete (F)	Upper Canada Cyclones U15 AAA
23	Alexander Hage (F)	Vaughan Kings U15 AAA
24	Patrick Babin (D)	Niagara North Stars U15 AAA
25	Matthew Rotter (D)	Don Mills Flyers U15 AAA
26	Max Skinner (F)	Toronto Marlboros U15 AAA
27	Jalen Lobo (F)	Toronto Jr. Canadiens U15 AAA
28	Ronan Clarke (D)	Markham Majors U16 AAA
29	Jet Kwajah (D)	Toronto Jr. Canadiens U15 AAA
30	Nikita Zitserman (F)	Mississauga Senators U15 AAA
31	Cole Emerton (D)	Barrie Colts U15 AAA
32	Luca Bonomo (D)	Mississauga Senators U16 AAA
33	James Elliott (F)	Soo Greyhounds U15 AAA
34	Dimian Zhilkin (F)	Toronto Jr. Canadiens U15 AAA
35	Grandon Echols (F)	Little Caesars 14U AAA
36	Javian Nei (F)	Toronto Jr. Canadiens U15 AAA
37	Carson Andrew (F)	Shattuck St. Mary's 14U AAA
38	Pierce Mbuyi (F)	Toronto Marlboros U15 AAA
39	Liam Kerr (F)	Toronto Red Wings U15 AAA
40	Ryan Cranny (F)	Grey-Bruce Highlanders U15 AAA

Players to add:

Adam Kelly -- JRC
Peter Koukouves - Toronto Marlies
Ryder Cali - North Central Predators
Tucker Roberts - YSE
Colin Ellsworth (Goalie) - YSE

 

[Isaac Nootin]

I heard they applied for U16 cards for the upcoming season but don't know the status of that yet. They really seem to value the U18 program more than U16 over the years for some reason. Players have been leaving to play their U16 season elsewhere for years.

Unfortunately it's too little too late.

Last I heard (last night) 8 of the kids from the Soo team are committed elsewhere for next year.

The teams are known, but it's not for me to say.

 

[ColtsNLeafs]

Curious how your ranking this time last year compare to the current rankings for this upcoming draft...?

 

[GermanSpitfire]

Curious how your ranking this time last year compare to the current rankings for this upcoming draft...?

I’d be surprised if anyone had a “ranking”.

Even the list I posted here isn’t a ranking - it’s just an aggregation of kids I’ve found interesting this year.

I can say that Roobroeck, Moore and Martin were highly regarded, Schaefer was seen as one of the top defenders, although seperatwd himself as the year went along And Owen Griffin was highly regarded since he played up a year and lead his team in scoring.

So most of the top kids, were seen as top kids heading into the year.

Some of the kids that “fell” during the year include Jack Nesbitt, Ethan Weir, Harry Nansi, Matheas Stark and Kieran Witkowski.

 

[GermanSpitfire]

Alex Mclean breaks the U15 WSI points record set by Ryan Roobroeck last year.

His team, CCM All Out finished 1st in the tournament, they dominated frankly.

Other 2024 OHL draft eligibles that played well include :
Kent Greer who lead all defenders in scoring in the tournament with 18
Zachary Nyman
Maximus Crete
Braidy Wassilyn
Ethan Belchetz
Nicholas Giby
Noah Barton
Carter Hicks
Parker Vaughn

 

[HockeyPops]

Here are the stats from that tournament if anyone is interested.

Player Stats | 2023 - WSI - 08 - Nashville - April 26-30

GameSheet is your source for always up-to-date scores, standings, schedules and player stats.

gamesheetstats.com

 

[LDN]

Who are the top kids in Alliance?

 

[Bradenr08]

Last year in the Alliance
Kipfer played up.
Otterman played up.
Vreugdenhil played up.

Top scorers
Edwards
Vaughan
Radford

Top scoring D men
Gaitens
Hicks

Top Goalies
Durno
Torchia

 

[HockeyPops]

@Bradenr08 welcome to the boards!

Points for 2008 players playing U16:
Quinn Kipfer (F) played up for Huron Perth, 32 points in 39 games
Cooper Otterman (D) played up for Windsor, 22 points in 47 games
Seth Vreugdenhil (D) played up for Hamilton, 1 point in 46 games

On defense, Cunningham-Louks (D) and Baker (D) finished slightly ahead of Hicks (D) for points:
Nathan Gaitens (D) Hamilton, 29 points in 37 games
Jackson Cunningham-Louks (D) Cambridge, 27 points in 40 games
Lincoln Baker (D) Cambridge, 24 points in 36 games
Carter Hicks (D) London, 24 points in 39 games

For goalies, Durno and Torchia were 2nd and 6th for GAA:
Zoey McKellar (G) Elgin, 1.42 GAA in 19 games
Dylan Durno (G) London, 1.53 GAA in 20 games
Luke Binning (G) Elgin, 1.56 GAA in 17 games
Ben Kraft (G) London, 1.65 GAA in 19 games
Jackson Tarraborrelli (G) Cambridge, 1.73 GAA in 25 games
Andrew Torchia (G) Waterloo, 1.75 GAA in 21 games

Source:

Player Stats | 2022-2023 - ALLIANCE Hockey Pavilion (AAA)

GameSheet is your source for always up-to-date scores, standings, schedules and player stats.

gamesheetstats.com

 

[Bradenr08]

@HockeyPops
I appreciate the clarification. I was certain about the forwards. The D men not as much, however the goalies I listed were more an opinion than GAA but thank you for the actual stats.

 

[HockeyPops]

And I appreciate @Bradenr08 viewings, and certainly put as much or more weight on viewings than on actual stats. I haven't had a chance to view most of these kids (except the Elgin kids who were in the Soo for the All Ontarios). Just wanted to post the stats that were available to supplement the provided opinions.

For goalies the GAA stat always has as much to do with team defense as the goaltender. So of course you see goalies from the top teams atop that leaderboard. What was really interesting to me was the Cambridge goalie Tarraborrelli that was pretty high on the leaderboard, way above his playing partner (Schaus - 3.51 GAA) on a middling team. He would be one I would want to get a few looks at. However, it looks like Schaus might have gotten tougher opponents - more games vs. Elgin/London. So there is that.

Also, the 2nd and 3rd highest scorers on Cambridge were defensemen (also 2nd and 3rd highest D scorers in the entire league). Seems like they might have made their points without much support from the forwards. I would want to get some looks at them.

* I have no affiliation with anyone involved in the Cambridge program, honest, I am just mentioning some interesting things that jumped off the page at me looking at the stats.

 

[Bradenr08]

@HockeyPops
I hope to get to see lots of these guys over the next year as I am in the alliance area. I have been watching the board quite a bit over the past year and I am most familiar with the 08 group so I hope I can provide a useful opinion for others.

 

[Bradenr08]

@HockeyPops

Couldn’t agree more and I have seen the Cambridge team a number of times and their offense does run through those 2 on the back end. Baker is a great skater and plays up front at times. Louks loves to jump up in the rush however, he has moved to Guelph for this year but should be one to watch.

Tarraborrelli is very good and was confused as to why he wasn’t playing some more big games but is definitely one of the best in the league.

 

[GermanSpitfire]

Last year in the Alliance
Kipfer played up.
Otterman played up.
Vreugdenhil played up.

Top scorers
Edwards
Vaughan
Radford

Top scoring D men
Gaitens
Hicks

Top Goalies
Durno
Torchia

Carter Hicks is so damn good. Love his game.

Should also note that Beckham Edwards appears to be going to the U.S and joining the Detroit Little Ceasers. Not confirmed but highly speculated upon.

 

[Bradenr08]

@GermanSpitfire
Seen him skating in Komoka wearing LC gear.

Yes I would argue that Carter Hicks has the best overall game in the Alliance as a D man.

Nathan Gaitens is also very good but will be in the OMHA with Hamilton Steel.

 

[Puck Possession]

@Bradenr08 welcome to the boards!

Points for 2008 players playing U16:
Quinn Kipfer (F) played up for Huron Perth, 32 points in 39 games
Cooper Otterman (D) played up for Windsor, 22 points in 47 games
Seth Vreugdenhil (D) played up for Hamilton, 1 point in 46 games

On defense, Cunningham-Louks (D) and Baker (D) finished slightly ahead of Hicks (D) for points:
Nathan Gaitens (D) Hamilton, 29 points in 37 games
Jackson Cunningham-Louks (D) Cambridge, 27 points in 40 games
Lincoln Baker (D) Cambridge, 24 points in 36 games
Carter Hicks (D) London, 24 points in 39 games

For goalies, Durno and Torchia were 2nd and 6th for GAA:
Zoey McKellar (G) Elgin, 1.42 GAA in 19 games
Dylan Durno (G) London, 1.53 GAA in 20 games
Luke Binning (G) Elgin, 1.56 GAA in 17 games
Ben Kraft (G) London, 1.65 GAA in 19 games
Jackson Tarraborrelli (G) Cambridge, 1.73 GAA in 25 games
Andrew Torchia (G) Waterloo, 1.75 GAA in 21 games

Source:

Player Stats | 2022-2023 - ALLIANCE Hockey Pavilion (AAA)

GameSheet is your source for always up-to-date scores, standings, schedules and player stats.

gamesheetstats.com

Otterman always played forward anytime I watched Windsor this year. Be interesting to see if he drops back to D full time as he was used the majority of the time up front. Good size and skill and should go in top 7 rounds.

 

[GermanSpitfire]

So we just had the World Youth Championships, a team consisting of mostly Ontario players called Maroon hockey finished 2nd at the tournament.

Once again, Alex McLean and Braidy Wassilyn were standouts all tournament long. Wassilyn in paticular continues to convince me the he‘s the early favourite for #1.

So some players from maroon hockey that stood out:

Jacob Ceranic (G)
Beckham Edwards
Callum Croskery (D)
Ben Bowen
Ethan Belchetz
Tyler Challeger

Then here we’re the scoring leaders from Maroon:

Other Ontario kids with impressive performances include
Nathan Amasovski
Max Crete
Lucas Amborosio
Dima Zhilkin
Javian Nei

Max Dube
Troy Patton
I wanted to highlight the play of these two kids in paticular. Dube finished with 14 points, Patton 11 and the next highest scorer on their team had 5 points. This shows a disparity in talent, and they enjoyed amazing tournaments. Dube in paticular coukd be a #1 contender.