2008 Born for the 2024 OHL Draft

GermanSpitfire

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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.

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

GermanSpitfire

EU Video Scout for McKeen’s | Rest Easy #13
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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.
 
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scotty171

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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.
 
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GermanSpitfire

EU Video Scout for McKeen’s | Rest Easy #13
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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

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Aug 20, 2018
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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.
 
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scotty171

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Sep 11, 2007
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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

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Jul 28, 2007
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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.

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

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Sep 28, 2017
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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.
 
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ColtsNLeafs

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Jul 20, 2022
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Curious how your ranking this time last year compare to the current rankings for this upcoming draft...?
 

GermanSpitfire

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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

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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

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Aug 20, 2018
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@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:
 
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Bradenr08

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May 3, 2023
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@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.
 
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HockeyPops

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Aug 20, 2018
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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.
 
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Bradenr08

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May 3, 2023
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@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

Registered User
May 3, 2023
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@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

EU Video Scout for McKeen’s | Rest Easy #13
Jul 20, 2020
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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

Registered User
May 3, 2023
11
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@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

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Oct 13, 2022
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At the Rink
@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:
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

EU Video Scout for McKeen’s | Rest Easy #13
Jul 20, 2020
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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:

9D7CAAA3-8CCD-4062-9829-1A9FC90186DD.jpeg


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.
 

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