BUILDING BLOCKS: 67’s add ‘speed, skill, size,’ in OHL draft

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Along with carving out their immediate future this weekend — and more on that later in this piece — the Ottawa 67’s are trying to build on past success in their present showdown with the Oshawa Generals.

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They’ll have to be better than they were on Friday for that to happen.

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After an opening period in which they looked like they might run away with the second-round playoff series against Oshawa, the 67’s were shoved aside by Colorado Avalanche first-rounder Calum Ritchie in Game 1’s 4-3 loss at Tribute Communities Centre in Oshawa.

Ritchie scored two goals in the final 10 minutes of the third period to prove that he has no regard for past history between the two clubs.

The 67’s, who won six of eight meetings this season, have taken 12 of their 14 all-time playoff series against the Generals.

“I think they’re going to be focused,” GM James Boyd said of his expectations for his Ontario Hockey League team in Game 2 Sunday (6 p.m.) in Oshawa. “They’ve shown all year that they’re a resilient group. They’ve been through adversity and they’ve responded well each time, so I think that you will probably see something similar to the first game against Brantford (which they lost before winning the series in six), where we take some time to compose ourselves.”

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Boyd didn’t see a lot of Game 1 because he and his scouts were busy with the OHL Priority Selection draft, which started with Rounds 1-3 on Friday and concluded on Saturday.

“It looks like we controlled the game for the first half, and then I think there was some mismanagement of the puck a little bit in the second half,” Boyd said. “It’s just like in the first round, we get these ebbs and flows to the game. It’s managing the shifts in momentum.

“When I was tuned in (near the end of the third period), we were making a real push and carrying the play, so we’ve just got to make sure we carry that momentum into the next game.”

Meanwhile, Boyd is pleased with the players he selected in the 2024 draft — but keep in mind that the next GM who says he wasn’t happy with what he picked will be the first.

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“With (Friday’s) picks we got some excellent skaters, with a lot of skill,” Boyd said. “In our opinion we got three of the fastest players and most dynamic skaters in the draft, and speed and skill are at a premium in this business. Then we were able to address some size by grabbing some some bigger players at each position. So, speed, skill size …

“We’ve got work to do with some recruiting. Some players have some choices to make (between school and major-junior hockey), but we believe in our program, so we’re comfortable with that.”

One of the players in that category is Nepean centre Thomas Vandeberg, who played for Ottawa Myers U-16 AAA and was selected by the 67’s in the fifth round, 93rd overall.

Boyd said Vandeberg “would have gone a lot higher” had he made it clear he’d be in the OHL, as is the case with Abe Barnett (Round 9, 173 overall), a defenceman from Chicago who has said he’ll join the U.S. program like his brother Asher, drafted by the 67’s last year.

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“You never know what happens in the NHL draft, where things change (a player’s plans),” Boyd said. “(Barnett) would be a top-10 selection in our draft all day long. He’s a great player. If you were to trade for this guy at 18 years old, 19 years old … you couldn’t. We love him. We like the family, we like the brother, it’s great.”

Another low 67’s pick with familiar connections is winger Jaxon Williams (10th round, 202 overall), the son of former NHLer Justin Williams who now plays for a team coached by his dad and former Edmonton Oilers captain Ryan Smyth in North Carolina.

“Smart player. We really liked him, we grabbed him,” Boyd said. “He’s got options, but he’s interested in the league.”

In the 11th round (213th overall), Ottawa took winger Justin Davis, whose dad, Jean-Paul Davis, was a prolific scoring defenceman on a Memorial Cup-winning Generals team that included Eric Lindros.

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Here’s a look at the 67’s took in the first three rounds Friday, including draft position, size, birthplace and team.

Round 1 (11th overall): C/W Nathan Amidovski, 6-1, 160 pounds, Alliston, Barrie Jr. Colts AAA.

Led the Barrie Colts U-16 AAA team to the OMHA championship this season with 69 points in 33 games during the regular season and 22 points in nine playoff games.

“He’s big, He’s an excellent skater. He can really score,” Boyd said. “He’s a dynamic player. Dangerous player. Game-breaking ability.

Round 1 bonus pick (21st overall): D Kohyn Eshkawkogan, 5-8, 159 pounds, Vaughan, North York Rangers, U-16 AAA.

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In 76 games this season he had 13 goals, 52 assists, 63 PM and a plus-75 rating.

“He’s a really smart player,” Boyd said. “He moves really well. He closes really quick. He makes good decisions with the puck. We’re really excited about him.”

Round 3 (52nd overall): C Jordan Perrier, 5-9, 159 pounds, Carp, Ottawa Valley Titans U-16 AAA.

“Really fast,” Boyd said. “He’d be one of the top skaters in the draft. Ottawa Valley had a really dynamic line this year that took them deep into the playoffs and he was the speed merchant on that line. Speed and skill. He’s and impressive player.”

Other locals taken by the 67’s included LD Conor Dervin (10th round, 193 overall), a Gloucester product who played for Upper Canada Cyclones, and C Spencer Bowes (15th round, 293rd overall), who’s from Carleton Place and who played for Perth Blue Wings Jr. B.

ICE CHIPS: The London Knights selected Ottawa native Max Mews, brother of 67’s defenceman Henry Mews, in the third round … Eshkawkogan is a member of the M’Chigeeng First Nation on Manitoulin Island. With their fifth-round pick the 67’s took his North York blue-line partner, 6-4, 239-pound Luca Bonomo. He turns 16 in May.

dbrennan@postmedia.com

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