A pair of North Bay Battalion first-year players were recognized today on the OHL Second All-Rookie team for the 2019-20 season.
Goaltender Joe Vrbetic and defenceman Paul Christopoulos were recognized as two of the top dozen rookies in the Ontario Hockey League.
Vrbetic, a 2018 second round pick who turns 18 on Oct. 24 was also named the Battalion's rookie of the year.
The Dunvegon, Ontario product who played for the Powassan Voodoos in 2018-19, had a strong finish to the season where he finished with 14 wins along with a pair of shutouts in his first OHL campaign with the Troops.
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Paul Christopoulos, who turned 17 in late March along with twin and teammate Alex, netted four goals and seven assists for 11 points in 53 games in his rookie campaign with the Battalion. Paul was a second round pick in the 2019 OHL Priority Selection.
The OHL All-Rookie Teams were selected by the OHL’s General Managers, with voting conducted in two stages beginning with a Conference ballot followed by a final ballot that integrated the top selections from both the Eastern and Western Conference results.
A total of 10 different teams were represented among the All-Rookie Team selections led by the Kingston Frontenacs and North Bay Battalion with a pair each.
OHL Rookie of the Year and 2019 OHL Priority Selection first overall pick Shane Wright of the Kingston Frontenacs headlined the First All-Rookie Team. Wright led OHL rookies as an exceptional status underage talent with 39 goals and 66 points over 58 games. He was joined on the First Team by former Don Mills Flyers Minor Midget teammates in second overall OHL Priority Selection choice Brennan Othmann of the Flint Firebirds and fourth overall pick Brandt Clarke of the Barrie Colts on the back end. Sudbury Wolves winger Chase Stillman and Finnish-born Windsor Spitfires rearguard Ruben Rafkin joined London Knights standout netminder Brett Brochu in completing the First Team.
The Second Team is centred by 2019 fifth overall OHL Priority Selection choice and Peterborough Petes 29-goal scorer Mason McTavish. He’s joined up front by CHL Import Draft selections and 2020 NHL Draft prospects Martin Chromiak of the Kingston Frontenacs and Oliver Suni of the Oshawa Generals. On the blue line, North Bay Battalion rearguard Paul Christopoulos joins Saginaw Spirit defender Mitchell Smith in front of North Bay goaltender Joe Vrbetic to round out the group.
