OHL draft update

Matia Marcantuoni, who was considered an easy top five selection that internet scuttlebutt had having a “deal” with Oshawa at No. 3, dropped to Kitchener at No. 18.  The Rangers, according to the guys at The Wolverine, are “very aggressive” in pursuing their prospects, but right now this has to be taken as at least a slight positive for Michigan’s chances of landing the star forward.

EDIT: I also just dug up this in an article by Peter Ruicci of The Sault Star from yesterday morning before the draft.  “Both” refers to Nick Ebert and Matia Marcantuoni:

A source says both have informed OHL teams they have

no interest in playing in the league and are considering National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) options.

I have no idea how reliable Ruicci and his sources are, and as always with kids this age, things can change, but it seeing as he posted his before the draft then Marcantuoni went from being a top three pick to No. 18, there might be some credibility to it.

DOUBLE EDIT: On the front page of the Kitchener Rangers website there is a photo of Marcantuoni wearing a Rangers jersey standing in front of a locker bearing his name.  While it could just be a photo op thing, it appears his chances of landing in Ann Arbor are very slim.

Defenseman Grant Webermin, who I believe had very strong Michigan interest, went 20th overall to Windsor.  Bob Miller of CollegeHockey247.com simply said, “No college for Grant.”

Kitchener took another prospect of interest in the third round when they picked defenseman Jacob Trouba.  It was also an interesting pick because Trouba recently committed to the U.S. NTDP and, as we know from some past cases, it’s not cheap for families to break that commitment.  The Wolverines are battling Notre Dame for his services.

Niagara nabbed 2012 Michigan commit Boo Nieves in the 10th round.  Definitely a good sign for Wolverine fans.  Boo was considered a first round talent, and after getting snubbed by the NTDP some thought he might be leaning towards going the major junior route.  If he was strongly considering it, he most likely would have been drafted in the top round.  Being taken in the 10th round is more like taking a flier on a player and hoping they can convince him but not really wasting a draft pick, either.  The Ice Dogs are also the team that drafted Michigan commit Lucas Lessio in the first round last year, but Lessio turned them down and remains commited to St. Mike’s and Michigan.

Michigan goaltender target Dalton Izyk went in the 11th round to Brampton, and defensive commitment Connor Carrick went to Guelph in the 11th round.  Carrick is committed to the NTDP.  Izyk turned down the NTDP, again leading some to believe he was leaning towards the OHL.  Being a late round flier seems to indicate his options are open.