OHL priority selections: Local player expected to be picked early in draft and Spitfires add more picks

By Tate Harris

A local hockey player is expected to be a high draft pick during the Ontario Hockey League priority selections on April 7.

Matthew Maggio, 15, is eligible to be drafted by an OHL team. Maggio is from Tecumseh and played ‘AAA’ midget minor hockey for the Sun County Panthers in the Alliance League. He was tied for second in scoring in the league with 44 points in 33 games. The OHL awarded Maggio ‘Alliance player of the Year.’

“[I’m] humbled and honored to have been able to represent Alliance Hockey as player of the year,” Maggio said on twitter. “I’d like to thank everyone who helped me get here, especially my parents for all [the] countless hours they have put in to help me get to where I am today.”

Maggio is projected to be picked in the first or second round of the draft. OHL Central Scouting said Maggio is an explosive skater and can change a game with one shift.

Mitchell Avis, a scout for thescout.ca, said on Twitter Maggio may need even less than one shift to change a game.

“[He is an] exciting winger who can impact the game with just one shot,” said Avis. “Primarily a goal scorer with a quick release. Possesses good puck skill especially at full speed. Agile skater. The most intriguing risk/reward prospect in the league.”

Windsor Spitfires General Manger Warren Rychel, is also preparing for the draft April 7.

Rychel traded a 2021 second round pick, which was acquired from Barrie earlier in the season, to Saginaw for two more selections during the draft on Saturday and a sixth-round pick in 2019. The picks acquired for Saturday’s draft are a third-round pick, 56 overall, and seventh-round pick, 125 overall.

“We’re in really good shape now with four picks in the first 56 [picks] and we should be able to add a good player with the additional seventh-[round pick],” Rychel said in a press release. “This could be one of our deepest [best] drafts in years.”

The Spitfires now have 16 picks for the April 7 draft. Their first pick is 10 overall.