A special day for four players from the U16 Thunder Bay Kings hockey team.
Goaltender Kolton Bourett went to the North Bay Battalion in the Ontario Hockey League Priority Selection draft Saturday while forwards Luca Ricciardi (Sudbury Wolves), Owen Voortman (London Knights), and EJ Paddington (Soo Greyhounds) also had their names called.
The 16-year-old netminder was not expecting the call from the North Bay Battalion.
“Every year it’s a big competition, there’s a lot of goalies, in Ontario,” said Bourett. “There’s hasn’t been a goalie drafted here in a long time. I think there’s around 20 to 30 goalies picked today, among 20 teams… especially this year not playing many games.”
Bourett believes he was picked because of his hard work, as well as his 6’3 frame… something his coaches and others who know him agree with.
“I was getting ready to go golfing, when I heard the news I got drafted,” recalled Bourett. “Mom was super excited, she was hugging me… and I called my grandpa, he was really excited too. Yeah, it was a special moment.”
The draft was also historic as goaltender Taya Currie was picked in the 14th round by the Sarnia Sting, becoming the first female athlete ever chosen in the OHL.
