How was that for an Easter Weekend ?
I’m sure some of it was fresh and some of it was old hat.
Such was the case in the Ontario Hockey League who staged their Priority Selection over the weekend.
Connor McDavid, the 15 year old with ” exceptional status ” approval went first overall to the Erie Otters.
I liked what McDavid had to say to the Otters and the people in Erie regarding the honour of going first overall and having the privilege to play for the organization and fans.
If there’s one thing the OHL needs, it’s a little more honour.
I say that as I look at a piece of paper dated March 15th, that had the exact order of picks 1 through 8, 3 weeks in advance of the actual draft.
On the sheet is a question mark for Sault Ste Marie with a couple of choices at # 4, not because the Sault has a case of indecision, but rather there was the usual, ” I won’t report ” stance from some candidates.
Recently, there was an article by Damien Cox in the Toronto Star outlining the ins and outs, the cloak and dagger, and the flat out manipulation of the OHL Priority Selection by teams, agents, families, and maybe in the odd case, by a player himself.
The sad part is the Toronto Star article could have been written 25 years ago.
And even sadder, it likely could be re-worked by simply changing the names involved for the next 25 years.
So it goes.
The Ontario Hockey League Draft provided few surprises up front. Maybe your hunt for Easter Eggs was more above board.
I’m Fred Wallace