Colts select Victor Hadfield with historic First Overall Pick in inaugural Under-18 Priority Selection
The Barrie Colts made Hamilton Jr. Bulldogs Midget AAA
defenceman Victor Hadfield the first overall pick of the inaugural OHL Under-18
Priority Selection on Wednesday.
The first of 96 players to be chosen in the five round priority selection,
Hadfield is a talented player with a fitting back-story that encapsulates many
of the reasons the OHL Under-18 Priority Selection was implemented this season.
The Hamilton Jr. Bulldogs are proud to announce that 4 other Jr.
Bulldogs’ Midget Players were selected:
Matthew Giannini to Erie Otters, Jared Hill to London Knights, Lucas
Felietti to the Hamilton Bulldogs and Dante Tesoro to the Oshawa Generals.
1st ever Major Midget Draft
“The Major Midget Draft is partly about taking the best player at your pick, and then part about identifying which player has the best potential to be that diamond in the rough that comes along and makes the team at some point” said Colts GM Jason Ford.
Having the first overall selection in the history of the Major Midget Draft, the Barrie Colts were excited to be able to select Defenseman Victor Hadfield (Grandson of former NYR/PIT, Vic Hadfield) of the Hamilton Jr. Bulldogs Midget AAA. “I am grateful and excited to be selected by such a great organization” said Hadfield who made OHL history by becoming the first ever player taken in the Major Midget Draft this evening.
When asked about Hadfield, Ford said “I think with Hadfield; we feel that he is the best skater in this draft and his ability to skate and move pucks gives him an edge. He is a late birthday player that has come a long way as a hockey player over the past 18 months. His skating is elite, and his 5.10-5.11 frame should fill out over time. Victor played single A hockey a year ago and then really elevated his game this season at the AAA-level.“
The Oakville, Ont., native went from playing Minor Midget A hockey at home a year ago to being the first player selected among eligible 1999 and 2000-born Midget AAA players in the province on Wednesday.
Hadfield, who had played AAA hockey in Oakville for eight years, had a setback in his minor midget season before returning to the circuit this past year.
“I got sick at the beginning of tryouts last season,” he said of the experience. “It kind of put me behind, so I decided to stay home and play with my friends in Oakville. This year I really wanted to get back to playing at the highest level so I tried out for Triple-A in Hamilton and I made the team and ended up having a great season.”
The name sure sounds familiar.
Hadfield is the grandson of 1960’s and 70’s star Vic Hadfield, a hard-working winger who played for the New York Rangers and Pittsburgh Penguins from 1961-77. His best NHL season featured 50 goals, 56 assists and 106 points with the Blueshirts in ’72, serving as the team’s captain as he played on a line alongside Jean Ratelle and Rod Gilbert.
“My grandpa has had a lot of influence on my career,” the younger Hadfield noted. “He got out to see a lot of my games this year and has been a real encouragement to me.
“I don’t think I’m quite as tough as he is,” he laughed.
Hadfield looks to crack a Colts roster next fall that features longtime Oakville Rangers AAA teammate and 6-foot-8 winger Curtis Douglas.
“I’m very grateful to have been taken by such a great organization,” he said. “I’ve heard a lot of good things about the Colts and the success they have had. I’m thankful to their staff for having faith in me and taking me first overall.”
|
2017 OHL UNDER-18 PRIORITY DRAFT RECAP
|
|
ROUND
|
PICK
|
NAME
|
OHL TEAM
|
OMHA TEAM
|
POSITION
|
|
1
|
1
|
Victor Hadfield
|
Barrie Colts
|
Hamilton Jr. Bulldogs
|
D
|
|
1
|
20
|
Matthew Giannini
|
Erie Otters
|
Hamilton Jr. Bulldogs
|
F
|
|
2
|
37
|
Jared Hill
|
London Knights
|
Hamilton Jr. Bulldogs
|
F
|
|
3
|
50
|
Lucas Felicetti
|
Hamilton Bulldogs
|
Hamilton Jr. Bulldogs
|
F
|
|
3
|
54
|
Dante Tesoro
|
Oshawa Generals
|
Hamilton Jr. Bulldogs
|
D
|