Five members of the North Bay Trappers U16 AAA team have been selected in the 2022 Ontario Hockey League Priority Selection.
On Friday night, Masen Wray was chosen 49th overall by the Hamilton Bulldogs and on Saturday four more of his teammates got calls from OHL clubs; Zachary Major, Marshall McCharles, Kaleb Papineau and Jesse Lefebvre.
The earliest of those to go was Major who was taken in the 9th round, 164th overall by Owen Sound.
“There was a lot of relief and excitement,” says Major when he saw his name come up.
“It’s an honour to be chosen by any organization in the OHL and Owen Sound is a great one and I’m lucky to have been selected by them.”
Major is listed at 6’1” and 194 pounds and plays Right Defence. He says, “I see myself as a two-way defenseman, I take pride in my game in all three zones.”
One round later at 186 overall, Marshall McCharles was selected by the Sudbury Wolves.
The 6’0” 178-pound Left Winger says, “I actually heard my brother yelling and I looked at him and said ‘where am I getting drafted?’ and he said Sudbury. The firth thing I thought was, ‘I’m going to be a Wolf!’”
Marshall says his coaches and family told him to, “Just stay positive and try to enjoy the experience,” of draft day.
McCharles is looking to fulfil a dynamic role with the Wolves next season. He says, “I bring a high hockey IQ. I can take a hit and give them out and I’m not afraid to carry the puck. I have a great shot and can make those quick hard passes and I don’t crumble under pressure.”
Goaltender Kaleb Papineau is heading south of the border to Saginaw as the Spirit selected him in the 12th round, 224th overall.
“I’m really happy and honoured to be picked by such a great organization and I’m excited to see what comes next,” says Papineau who added the Spirit had a zoom meeting with him a week before the draft.
At 6’0” 177 pounds, Papineau says he is an “aggressive goaltender with a good work ethic and I compete really hard and hate to lose.”
The North Bay Battalion selected one local product, picking up Jesse Lefebvre in the 13th round, 261st overall. You can read more about the Right Winger here in Kortney Kenney’s Battalion draft recap, https://www.baytoday.ca/local-news/troops-round-out-draft-with-13-picks-5317460
