The two-day event ended on Saturday afternoon and, for the Greyhounds, they added a mix of players, some of whom could have a significant impact depending on how things turn out. “We have a good mix of some high IQ players, some skating guys, some bigger bodies,” said Greyhounds general manager Kyle Raftis. “We were all happy when you took a step back and looked at the whole painting and how it is shaped,” said Raftis. With their first choice of the day, the Greyhounds chose defender Matthew Virgilio from St. Andrew’s College. The 16-year-old is currently committed to the University of Michigan with the plan to attend school from the fall of 2024. “It is not a secret if he did not have his commitment, it is the first round of selection,” said Raftis. “He is one of the top defenders in the draft. In our conversations with him, there were no promises or anything like that, but at the same time, he is such a good kid on the ice and the talent on the ice speaks for itself. We thought at that point, “Let’s give him a piece of the organization from the blueprint and see where it goes.” “If you commit to such a player, it adds a top talent to your team.” Virgilio, a right-back, has scored seven goals and 24 points in 44 games for St. Andrews this season. Raftis called Virgilio “a really smart, very capable defender”. “He can really play a power play and play heavy minutes,” Raftis added. “It just has what you are looking for in our defenders.” Holding a pair of options in the fifth round, the Greyhounds first selected center Tate Vader from the Huron Perth Lakers in 92nd place overall. “He came out of the gate this year and he was great,” Raftis said of Vader. “He has an advantage in his game. It seems to get under the opponent’s skin. He has the ability, a good skater and a good size. “ In 28 games with the Lakers, Vader scored 24 goals and 38 points in 28 games. The Greyhounds then selected Nate Brentnell, a center with Richmond Hill Coyotes’ U16 team, with 98th overall. “He is someone who, as we have been watching all year, has good skills and someone who can be a real center for us,” said Raftis. “Many times when you draft centrally, many of the top players at a young age play center and then come to OHL or junior level and have to play wing. With Nate giving him another year to see where he is, he is someone who could potentially be a really healthy player for us. “ Brendel scored 20 goals and 36 points in 31 games for Richmond Hill. Selecting in the sixth round, the Greyhounds selected defender Spencer Evans with the 118th option. “Spencer has some advantage in his game, but at the same time, he is a guy who can skate very well,” said Raftis. “When you look at this team of defenders, there was someone who could really, after a year, join this team. He has many of these tools that are difficult to teach. ” Evans scored five goals and 29 points in 30 games for Smith Falls Bars U18. The seventh round found the Greyhounds to select winger Justin Tavares in 138th place overall. “Justin is someone who commands when he’s on the ice,” Raftis said. “He puts in good numbers and can play with good players. “He is a hard worker and has a very good nose for the nets and can also play games.” Tavares comes with 17 goals, 40 points in 34 games with the U16 team of Vaughan Kings. Defender Logan Shannon was selected by the Greyhounds in the eighth round, 158th overall. “He is a big defender at the moment who will need to add a little strength to his game,” said Raftis. “She is OK. It can move very well. Is smart. With such a player, if he can gain some size, he is placed in good defensive points, he will definitely give himself a chance “. Shannon scored twice and assisted on 16 goals in 27 games with the North Central Predators U16. On the local front, the Niagara IceDogs selected Greyhounds Soo Jr. goalkeeper Charlie Burns in the ninth round, 167th overall. Later in the round, the Greyhounds selected winger Brayden Russell of Hamilton Jr. U16 team. Bulldogs. “Braden is a shooter,” said Raftis. “He can score goals. When you look at our dashboard at this point, we had a lot of centers and defenders lined up. He is someone who, in the right place, can work hard, play hard and at the same time, can finish. If he can continue on this path, he gives us a look. “ In 23 games with the Junior Bulldogs, Russell has scored 12 goals and 23 points this season. Having no choice in the 10th round, the Greyhounds selected the winger Aiden Nicholson of the Toronto Nationals U16 team in the 11th round. “He is very smart,” said Raftis. “His height (6 feet) and weight (134 pounds), he is quite thin at this point, but he is really smart and also has good ability. He is an athlete. He plays other sports at a high level and when you see this sport, combined with some strength, it will make him an impact player “. Nicholson has scored three goals and 13 points in 26 games this season for the Nationals. In the 12th round, the Greyhounds selected center Elijah Lilja of the Pittsburgh Penguins Elite 15’s. “He is someone who has high skills and it is only a matter of whether we can translate that into every game,” said Raftis. “He is someone who has this dynamic ability in on-on-one. To enter and play, he must raise his game in terms of 200 feet (game). He has nice hands. He can really create for himself. “ Lilia has scored 13 goals and 35 points in 48 games this season. Round 13 saw the Greyhounds pick Troy Hunka, a winger with the Cleveland Barons 15’s. “Troy is another player who has a very good ability,” said Raftis. “He is a hard-working player who, from some of this year’s shop windows, just returns his name to us. “We continued to watch him and as the draft progressed, it was something that is of great interest to our program and we thought if we could add him and see where he would be in a year from now, he could really make a little headway.” Hunka has scored 14 goals and 27 points with the Barons in 17 games this season. Raftis said that both Lilia and Hunka showed interest in the big junior hockey. Round 14 saw the Greyhounds select center Andrew Hopley of the Whitby Wildcats U16 team. “Andrew is a good play center,” said Raftis. “It is a little smaller, but bigger than what was written (5.06, 148 pounds). He is someone who has an excellent IQ and can really play games. He is really smart on both sides of the elf. “If he continues to have this trend, he will give himself a chance.” Hopley has scored six times and helped 14 more in 28 games this season. The Windsor Spitfires used their option in the 14th round to select Greyhounds defender Soo Jr. Gage Evans. The Greyhounds closed the day by selecting local defender Evan Roach from Soo Jr. Greyhounds in the 15th round. “He is a smart defender,” said Raftis. “It simply came to our notice then. It got better as the year went on. We hope he can come and add a little size and a little IQ to our backs and be the guy who can move elves but shut up at the same time. “ Roots, who has scored three goals and seven points in 24 games this season with Jr. Greihunds, is the son of former blue-collar Gary Roots, who was a member of the 1993 Memorial Cup champions.
