Lots of local talent at CCHL protect draft

Williamsburg represented at CCHL draft
Two 14-year-olds from Williamsburg made names for themselves after being drafted at the 2018 CCHL protect draft held in Carleton Place on Mon., April 9. Kayne McCadden was selected by the Brockville Braves in the tenth round and his neighbour, Ben Lapier, was taken in the ninth round by the Kemptville 73s. Both played for the Rideau St. Lawrence AA Major Bantam Kings in the 2017-18 season. Prior to joining the Kings both played for the South Dundas Lions.      Courtesy photo

Inkerman’s Adam Barkley was selected by the Kemptville 73s in the seventh round of the CCHL protect draft on Mon., April 9, in Carleton Place. Barkley played the 2017-18 season with the Upper Canada Cyclones AAA and before that played his minor hockey for the North Dundas Demons. Courtesy photo

Jeff Moore
Record Staff
CARLETON PLACE — The CCHL hosted their third annual bantam draft on Mon., April 9, at the Carleton Place Arena. This year the draft focused on players born in 2003 exclusively, and there were quite a few local players selected by the 12 CCHL Junior A clubs.

This is the third year for the draft after the CCHL took over Midget Triple A from minor hockey, which is still a bone of contention. Previously there was no draft; the player played in their district and was protected by the local teams in Junior A and B. Now all 12 Junior A teams have a shot at players playing in the Hockey Eastern Ontario (HEO) region.

This is the same regime that has taken over the previous EOJHL, which was Junior B, and rebranded it as the CCHL Tier 2 (CCHL2) Junior A. The downside of the draft is that a local player can be drafted by the CCHL team that now controls most of the Midget AAA in the area while some teams also owning CCHL2 teams can hold a player in their organization for a longer term before the player can be relocated without compensation.

The draft, however, excited the 14-year-old draftees as it is part of the hockey process. The locals selected in this year’s draft are: Adam Chouinard who was chosen by the Brockville Braves in the second round, Matthew Pietrkiewicz by the Cornwall Colts in the fifth round, Nolan Gagnon from Metcalfe also selected by the Colts in the sixth round, Todd McBain from Maxville by the Hawkesbury Hawks in the sixth round, Tristan Masse from Embrun by the Cumberland Grads in the sixth round, Adam Barkley from Inkerman by the Kemptville 73s in the seventh round, Brett Johnston from Kemptville by the Smiths Falls Bears in the seventh round, Ryley McCain from Russell by the Colts in the eighth round, Adam Carter from Long Sault by the Colts in the ninth round, Ben Lapier of Williamsburg by the 73s in the ninth round, Kayne McCadden also from Williamsburg by the Brockville Braves in the tenth round and Jeremy Dicaire from Embrun by the Ottawa Junior Senators in the tenth round.