Niagara IceDogs select 18 players over 15 rounds during two-day OHL Draft

Braidy Wassilyn, who played this past season with the U16 AAA Markham Majors in the GTHL, was drafted fourth overall after recording 31 goals and 31 assists for 62 points. Pictured: Braidy Wassilyn. Photo Credit: Niagara IceDogs/X.

The Niagara IceDogs made a total of 18 selections over the two-day 2024 Ontario Hockey League Priority Selection this past weekend drafting six forwards, eight defencemen and two goaltenders.

On Friday night, Braidy Wassilyn, a 6’1 195-pound centreman from Puslinch, ON, who played this past season with the U16 AAA Markham Majors in the GTHL, was drafted fourth overall after recording 31 goals and 31 assists for 62 points.

OHL Central Scouting had this to say about Wassilyn:

“Braidy is one of the most dynamic and offensively gifted players in this year’s Priority Selection. He is a threat every time he is one the ice, and will constantly challenge defenders with his speed and skill. He is a dangerous one on one player as he has the size, skill and speed that makes him hard to handle all over the ice. He competes hard every shift and he is always playing the game at a high pace. He has a cannon for a shot and will put the puck on the net from anywhere in the offensive zone, definitely a shoot first type of player. Braidy will be an elite goal scorer at the next level.”

Next up for Niagara was one of the best names selected in the OHL Draft – Maximus Crete – in the second round. 

Crete is a 5’8 164-pound centreman from Ottawa, ON, playing this past season with the U16 AAA Upper Canada Cyclones at 28 goals and 66 points in 29 games. 

OHL Central Scouting had this to say about Crete:

“Maximus is a highly skilled centre that drives the offence for his team. He is a very elusive skater with great edge control that makes him very hard to contain in the offensive zone. He can stickhandle well under pressure and does not panic in high traffic areas. He rolls off checks well and is hard to knock off the puck. He has elite playmaking skills and makes very creative plays with the puck. He has a very good understanding of the game and uses his very good offensive instincts to create offense for his teammates and himself. He was the leading scorer in the HEO U16 league this season.”

The IceDogs made two picks in the third round.

Matthew Humphries, a 6’2, 180-pound goaltender from Newmarket, ON, playing this past with Wassilyn for the U16 AAA Markham Majors in the GTHL

IceDogs goalie coach, Adam Munro offered this on Humphries:

“Matthew is quite possibly the closest to OHL ready goalie in the draft. A big goalie who fills the net well and battles hard. He’s got really good reads on situational plays and can handle the puck well. Very excited to begin working with him and see him develop into a top end starter.”

Next up was Nicholas Frasca, a 6’1, 175-pound left shot defenceman from Caledon, ON, who played this past season with the U16 AAA Toronto Marlboros in the GTHL. In 35 games he recorded 5 goals and 13 assists for 18 points. Frasca comes from a strong bloodline of OHL players as both his brothers, Jordan and Gabriel Frasca are in the midst of strong OHL careers.

The following are the IceDogs day two (Saturday) draft pick selections, including Thorold native Reece Matier of the Niagara North Stars in the ninth round. 

Maties is the cousin of former Ottawa 67, and Nashville Predators 2022 second round draft pick, Jack Matier. 

Round 4 Pick 68: Jacob McMahon (D) – 6’2, 186 Ibs (Peterborough Petes U16 AAA)

Round 6 Pick 113: Charlie Hotles (C) – 6’0, 172 Ibs (North York Rangers U16 AAA)

Round 7 Pick 123: Chase McDougall (LW) – 6’1, 184 Ibs (Huron-Perth Lakers U16 AAA)

Round 8 Pick 159: Brady Real (D) – 6’2, 180 Ibs (Soo Greyhounds U18 AAA)

Round 8 Pick 160: Mateo Craievich (D) – 6’0, 168 Ibs (Elgin-Middlesex Canucks U16 AAA)

Round 9 Pick 163: Matthew Ross (RW) – 5’6, 136 Ibs (Oakville Rangers U16 AAA)

Round 9 Pick 181: Reece Matier (LW) – 6’0, 134 Ibs (Niagara North Stars U16 AAA)

Round 10 Pick 183: Evan Akerman (G) – 6’1, 170 lbs (Mississauga Senators U16 AAA)

Round 11 Pick 219: Luke Wachowiak (D) – 5’10, 163 lbs (London Jr. Knights)

Round 12 Pick 223: Teagen Hartnett (D) – 6’1, 191 lbs (Oshawa Minor Generals U16 AAA)

Round 12 Pick 227: Jerry Wang (D) – 6’0, 157 lbs (Mississauga Senators U16 AAA)

Round 13 Pick 243: Carter Owen-Speelziak (LW) – 5’8, 151 lbs (Don Mills Flyers U16 AAA)

Round 14 Pick 263: Nicholas Muzzatti (RW) – 5’7, 135 lbs (York Simcoe Express U16 AAA)

Round 14 Pick 266: Brady McConnell (D) – 5’7, 143 lbs (Oakville Rangers)

Despite all of these players being 16 years old or younger, height was a common theme on day two of the draft, as Niagara selected nine players listed at 6 feet tall or above.