Erie makes Ryan O'Reilly first overall pick at OHL draft

NEWS RELEASE

ONTARIO HOCKEY LEAGUE

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Erie Otters Select Ryan O'Reilly with Top Pick The Erie Otters Hockey Club announced this evening that they will select Ryan O’Reilly of the Toronto Jr. Canadiens with the first pick in the 2007 OHL Priority Selection. The 2007 OHL Priority Selection is scheduled for Saturday May 5th beginning at 9:00 am.

O’Reilly will receive the Jack Ferguson Award as the player selected first overall in the OHL Priority Selection. O’Reilly joins previous “Fergie” award winners such as John Tavares, Jason Spezza, Alyn McCauley, and Kirk Muller as recipients of this prestigious distinction. Steven Stamkos of the Sarnia Sting was last year’s award winner.

O’Reilly spent the 2006-2007 season with the Toronto Jr. Canadiens minor midgets where he collected 31 goals and 43 assists for 74 points in 50 games. The 16 year-old from Varna, Ontario also played five games (one regular season and four playoff) with the Toronto Jr. Canadiens of the Ontario Provincial Junior A Hockey League collecting three goals.

“We are excited to make this young man a part of our team,” said Otters General Manager and Managing Partner Sherry Bassin. “Ryan is a tremendously talented player who will help our hockey team as we continue to move forward. On top of that, he is also an outstanding individual who comes from a caring family and possesses all the values that we, as an organization, consider to be extremely important when it comes to putting together the pieces of a successful team.”

“Ryan O’Reilly is a premier offensive talent in this year’s Priority Selection and has produced all season long, leading his team into the OHL Cup,” said Rob Kitamura, OHL Director of Central Scouting and Player Development.” Erie Otters fans are going to enjoy watching Ryan showcase his dynamic abilities over the course of his OHL career.”

Media and fans can follow all of the results in real time on the league's website www.ontariohockeyleague.com or www.bestofbothworlds.ca . The website will feature the Priority Selection results by round, by team, alphabetically and will include selected player information and photographs.

The OHL website will also feature expanded coverage of the Priority Selection, including player interviews and a special live edition of OHL News - Radio Edition with Terry Doyle. The program will run from 9:00 a.m. through 12:00 noon with special interviews with selected players, team personnel and OHL Central Scouts.

Jack Ferguson Award History

The "Fergie" is presented annually to the player selected first overall in the Ontario Hockey League Priority Selection. The award recognizes the dedication and contributions made by Jack Ferguson during his 25 year association with the Ontario Hockey League, first as a scout with the Ottawa 67's and followed by his appointment as head of the OHL's Central Scouting Bureau in 1981 as its Director of Central Scouting.

Past Winners of the Jack Ferguson Award:

Year Player Team

1981 Dan Quinn, Belleville Bulls 1982 Kirk Muller, Guelph Storm 1983 Trevor Stienburg, Guelph Storm 1984 Dave Moylan, Sudbury Wolves 1985 Bryan Fogarty, Kingston Frontenacs 1986 Troy Mallette, Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds 1987 John Uniac, Sudbury Wolves 1988 Drake Berehowsky, Kingston Frontenacs 1989 Eric Lindros, Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds 1990 Pat Peake, Detroit Jr. Red Wings 1991 Todd Harvey, Detroit Jr. Red Wings 1992 Jeff O'Neill, Guelph Storm 1993 Alyn McCauley, Ottawa 67’s 1994 Jeff Brown, Sarnia Sting 1995 Daniel Tkaczuk, Barrie Colts 1996 Rico Fata, London Knights 1997 Charlie Stephens, Toronto St. Michael’s Majors 1998 Jay Harrison, Brampton Battalion 1999 Jason Spezza, Mississauga IceDogs 2000 Patrick Jarrett, Mississauga IceDogs 2001 Patrick O'Sullivan, Mississauga IceDogs 2002 Rob Schremp, Mississauga IceDogs 2003 Patrick McNeill, Saginaw Spirit 2004 John Hughes, Belleville Bulls 2005 John Tavares, Oshawa Generals 2006 Steven Stamkos, Sarnia Sting 2007 Ryan O’Reilly, Erie Otters

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