Being drafted is a feeling that's still sinking in for local players

It’s been 24 hours since the Ontario Hockey League Priority Selection wrapped up and for the local players, it’s still taking some time for the news that they were selected to sink in.

“Not even now; it hasn’t sunk in yet,” said Soo Jr. Greyhounds defenceman Connor Toms, selected by the Soo Greyhounds in the third round.

“It’s starting to (sink in) now a little bit more,” said Jr. Greyhounds forward Devin Mauro, selected by the Sudbury Wolves in the 11th round. “Yesterday, and a little bit today, it was still a little bit of a shock but now I need to start getting back to work.”

Soo Thunderbirds forward Jacob Kovacs, selected by the Barrie Colts in the 13th round, said he wasn’t sure he would be selected but called it an honour.

While many players spoke of nerves heading into the draft, Jr. Greyhounds defenceman Mason Chitaroni spoke of the days leading up to the event as “all excitement.” The smooth-skating defenceman was eventually selected in the fifth round by the London Knights.

For Toms, draft day was “extremely exciting” and called being drafted by the Greyhounds “extremely special.”

“It almost felt surreal that the Sault chose me,” Toms said.

A defenceman that plays an offensive style, Toms will look to round out his game as he prepares for the next step in his career.

“I can always get stronger,” Toms said. “I need to work on that and my D-zone (play), I need to get better there. I can’t get away with quick stick checks that I do at the midget level. To get to the OHL, I have to have tighter gaps too.”

The son of former Greyhounds forward Jeff Toms, who was a member of the team from 1991 to 1994 before turning pro, the younger Toms was a player the Greyhounds feel fits the type of defenceman they look for.

“When we talk about a defenceman and what we look for in terms of skillset, he has that,” general manager Kyle Raftis said. “He’s a great skater. He’s got a great I.Q. His decision-making is elite. He can create shot lanes for himself on the blueline. He defends well and he quarterbacked the power play for them this year. He has a lot of attributes on that side of it and he’s definitely a kid that’s motivated.”

Much like Toms, Chitaroni is a modern-day defenceman.

“It would definitely have to be my skating,” Chitaroni said of his strength ahead of the event. “I’ve been working on it a lot and it’s really improved, especially as my confidence grew as a player throughout the year.”

“Mason’s game has grown leaps and bounds,” Jr. Greyhounds coach Jamie Henderson said prior to the draft. “His confidence really grew in the second half of the season and you could see that trend on the ice. He really makes some good decisions with the puck and is pretty willing to engage physically in the defensive zone. His skating is world class and it really helps him get out of some trouble and get back to get the puck to the forwards. That’s his strength is getting back and getting pucks to forwards.”

The wait prior to being selected made for a nerve-wracking day for Mauro, but the wait was worth it.

“I jumped out of my chair,” Mauro said when his name came up that the Wolves had selected him. “It was awesome.”

“I was sitting there waiting for a long time, it was a long day,” Mauro also said. “When I finally saw my name, I was like ‘Whew.’”

Much like Toms, Mauro hopes work on parts of his game to give himself an opportunity with the Wolves.

“I have to work on areas of my game and get stronger,” Mauro said. “I need to be more consistent so I can fit into the OHL.”

For Kovacs, getting drafted wasn’t a guarantee.

“When I saw my name, I was really excited,” Kovacs said. “I wasn’t too sure if I was going to get drafted so it was very exciting for me. I’m honoured.”

Born in 2003, Kovacs is a year older than many of the players drafted but a strong season with the Thunderbirds put him on the map with OHL teams.

“I was called by a couple of teams that were (interested),” Kovacs said. “But I wasn’t really 100 per cent sure if I was (going to be picked) or not.”

Kovacs led the Thunderbirds in goals (27) and points (58) and credited his teammates for his success while adding “I worked on everything throughout the year, just trying to get bigger and better throughout practice.”

“The strongest part of my game is probably my hockey I.Q.,” Kovacs also said. “Just knowing where the play is going to be and also my passing; looking for open areas to give my teammates the puck.”

In addition to looking to get stronger, Kovacs plans to continue to work on his skillset now that the draft is complete.