Bears set to Add Fresh Talent at 2023 OHL Priority Selection

Though the 2022-23 season didn’t go as planned for the Owen Sound Attack, the future for the Bears looks very bright, and this weekend the organization looks to add to that bright future as the 2023 OHL Priority Selection Draft takes place.

Last year the Attack selected Ben Cormier with the 11th overall selection, while picking the team’s future captain in the 2021 draft Colby Barlow at 8th overall. This season the Bears hold the 12th overall selection, and General Manager Dale DeGray is confident that he will be able to select a top end player in that position. Though many experts say that the draft is not overly deep in top end talent, that doesn’t stop DeGray from rating the draft’s depth as one of the stronger ones in previous years.

“It’s a deep draft,” DeGray offered. ” There’s lots of players throughout the draft that I think will find themselves in our league within the next 2-3 years.”

Being that there are a number of young returning players next year to the Attack roster, lineup spots will be in tough competition, but DeGray feels that whomever he selects this weekend will be up to the task of battling for a spot.

“I feel confident that we will have three 16-year olds on our roster next season,” said DeGray. “I feel they will be ready to step in and really push our lineup forward.”

The OHL Draft will take place over the span of two days, with rounds 1-3 going Friday night and the remaining rounds (4-15) set to begin Saturday morning. Fans can catch the draft on OHL Live, or follow the Attack’s draft selections on social media. As usual the Attack Pak is having their annual draft party to watch the proceedings live, if fans are looking for further information on the draft party or the Attack Pak click here.

Attack Draft History

*As the Attack, Owen Sound has only selected at 12th overall once before, selecting Payton Liske with the pick back in 2004. Like spent his first two seasons in Owen Sound before being traded to Sue Sault Marie.

The previous three OHL Draft’s first three round selections by the Attack:

2022

11 – Ben Cormier

30 – Braedyn Rogers

35 – Antonio Tersigni

2021

8 – Colby Barlow

42 – Cal Uens

47 – Thomas Chafe

2020

10 – Cedrick Guindon (MTL, 127th overall, 2022)

37 – Gavin Bryant

50 – Madden Steen