The Battalion selected a player who prides himself after power forward Ryan Getzlaf in the OHL draft this morning.
The Troops selected power forward Liam Arnsby of the Don Mills Flyers.
Arnsby is described as a solid 200-foot centreman who finished the season with 70 points (21-49–70) over 49 games.
Arnsby is only 5’10”, but plays a physical style and added four goals and seven assists at the OHL Cup to finish fourth in tournament scoring.
Arnsby took exception when Adam Dennis asked him if he has ever been called small.
“He plays like he is 6 foot 2, he can do everything," said Dennis during the fifth round break.
"He has all sorts of skill understated sometimes because he is so responsible in his own end. He can play any position up front, he is very versatile and just the type of person we really wanted into our culture."
In the second round, the Battalion selected another member of the champion Don Mills Flyers team. They took right hand shot defenceman Paul Christopoulos.
The 5'9", 181 pound defender racked up 22 goals and 45 assists for 67 points in 67 games with the Flyers this season.
In the third round, the Troops selected Alex Christopoulos also from the Don Mills Flyers. He is the twin brother of second round pick Paul Christopolous.
Alex had 49 goals along with 44 assists for 93 points in 73 games this past season.
He is also the third member of the Don Mills Flyers selected by the Battalion after three rounds.
Dennis says these three players are highly competitive and were the core players that the Don Mills 03 Flyers age group was built around.
"They are the same type of player," Dennis stated about the Don Mills twins.
"One thing we learned in the playoffs is that we need to get harder to play against and again I know people are going to look at the height but these two twins are thick kids, they compete. I mean I would not want to go into the corner with any three of them and expect to come out with the puck. You are going to come out with a couple bumps and bruises. They can score, they can skate, they can defend and we are really excited to get them and the hardest decision was which one do you take first."
The Troops left the Flyers program but stayed in the GTHL with the selection of forward Justin Ertel from the Toronto Red Wings with the 54th overall pic.
The 6'0", 186 pounder had 12 goals and 11 assists totaling 23 points last season with the Wings.
Ertel has ties to North Bay. His grandfafther Bob was a former GM of the North Bay Centennials and his Dad Tyler played for the Centennials.
The Troops went east with their fourth round selection as they snatched up righthand shot defenceman Ty Hollett from the Navan Grads U18 team.
The 6'1", 197 pounder had 22 points in 45 games with the Grads. He also got into a pair of affiliate games with the CCHL junior A Navan Grads this past season.
In the fifth round the Battalion selected Brantford 99ers product Steven LaForme. The dual citizen netted 18 goals along with 28 assists for 46 points in 33 games last season. He is listed at 5' 11" and 183 pounds.
With their second fifth round selection the Troops left the country to grab forward Clint Levens from the Florida Alliance U16's. The 6'0", 165 pound forward had 14 goals and 13 assists for 27 points in 20 games this season.
With their final selection of the 5th round, the Troops took forward Joshua Zilliotto of the Burlington Eagles. Zilliotto is listed at just over 6'0" and 178 pounds. He recorded 21 goals and 14 assists totalling 35 points in 25 games with the Eagles.
With their final pick, the Troops stayed close to home to select minor midget AAA Trappers goaltender Owen Wray, who is the son of assistant coach Scott Wray.
The OHL Priority Selection which can be followed online HERE
More selections:
7th round - Erik McNeil - D - Quinte Red Devils
9th round - Devon Savignac - F - Sudbury Wolves
10th round - Cameron Gauvreau - D - Hamilton Jr Bulldogs
11th round - Aidan Shepard - D - Toronto Marlboros
12th round - Bill Gourgon - F - Carleton Place Canadiens MAAA
13th round - Kevin Perrott - F - Oakland Jr Grizzlies (USA)
14th round - Will Donato - F - Hill School Blues (USA)
15th round - Owen Wray - G - North Bay Minor Midget Trappers
