While the actual draft festivities do not begin until Saturday morning, the Ontario Hockey League and the Belleville Bulls announced on Friday that John Hughes will be this year's first overall selection.
The Bulls will select the Whitby native with the first pick at the 2004 OHL Priority Selection at 9 a.m. over the Internet.
Hughes lit up the scoreboard this past season as a centre with the Whitby Wildcats Minor Midgets. The right-hand shot scored 66 goals and added 48 assists for 114 points in 56 games.
"We are very pleased and excited to welcome John to the Bulls organization," said Belleville general manager Brad Vaughan in a release on the OHL website. "John's a highly skilled player with exceptional offensive abilities and tremendous vision, a player who will contribute to the success of the Bulls with his capabilities as a goal scorer."
As the first-overall pick, Hughes will receive the OHL's Jack Ferguson Award.
Other Jack Ferguson Award winners include Sault natives Patrick Jarrett with Mississauga in 2000 and Rico Fata with London in 1996. Eric Lindros claimed the honour with the Soo Greyhounds in 1989 and Troy Mallette was selected first by the Hounds in 1986.
*** DRAFT ON THE NET:
With fans being able to follow the draft in real time on the Internet, the OHL will provide observers with expanded coverage.
Aside from the actual selections, fans will be able to view players information and photographs. The website will also include player interviews and host a live radio webcast from 9 a.m. until noon.
To access the OHL website, click here.
*** HOUNDS DRAFT FOURTH:
The Soo Greyhounds will select fourth on draft day after receiving the high pick for failing to qualify for the playoffs this season in the tough Western Conference.
Following Belleville's selection of Hughes, the Saginaw Spirit will select second and the Peterborough Petes third. The Sudbury Wolves round out the top five selections.
After the first round, the Greyhounds have two picks in the second round at 24th and 34th overall. The team will then have one pick in the remaining 13 rounds expect the seventh where they have no pick and the 10th where they have two selections.
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Fans can follow action and read the reaction from the Greyhounds draft table on SooToday.com. Continue checking throughout the day on Saturday for continuous draft updates.
*** LOCALS READY FOR SELECTION:
Four local players have been rated for selection at this year's draft.
Eligible players include Soo North Stars forwards Matt Caria and Paul Dupont, defenseman Jake McClelland and Soo Thunderbirds forward Matt Dias.
*** DRAFT ORDER:
The following is the order of selection in the first round:
1. Belleville Bulls 2. Saginaw Spirit 3. Peterborough Petes 4. Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds 5. Sudbury Wolves 6. Brampton Battalion 7. Windsor Spitfires 8. Oshawa Generals 9. Kingston Frontenacs 10. Ottawa 67's 11. Erie Otters 12. Owen Sound Attack 13. Plymouth Whalers 14. Kitchener Rangers 15. Barrie Colts 16. Sarnia Sting 17. Mississauga IceDogs 18. Toronto St. Michael's Majors 19. Guelph Storm 20. London Knights