OHL NOTES: Tavares selected first overall at OHL draft

While the actual draft festivities do not begin until Saturday morning, the Ontario Hockey League and the Oshawa Generals announced on Thursday that John Tavares will be this year's first overall selection.

The Generals will select the Oakville native with the first pick at the 2005 OHL Priority Selection at 9 a.m. over the Internet.

Tavares has created quite a stir in recent weeks regarding his eligibility to play in the league next year as a 15 year-old. Tavares requested to play in the OHL next season despite not being old enough to be drafted.

The Soo Greyhounds experienced a similar situation in the 1995-96 season when Rico Fata played for the locals as a 15 year-old before entering the following draft and being selected first overall by the London Knights.

Tavares became eligible for the draft on Wednesday when the Regional Evaluation Panel, established by the Ontario Hockey League, announced the results of its review and consideration of the application by Tavares to be granted "exceptional player" status and thus be eligible for the OHL Priority Selection Process on Saturday.

Tavares, a left-shooting centre/left winger scored 91 goals and 67 assists for 158 points to go along with 62 penalty minutes in 72 games with the Toronto Marlboros Minor Midgets of the Greater Toronto Hockey League during the 2004-05 season.

He added six goals and eight points in five games to help the Marlies win the OHL Cup Showcase Tournament in March and played in 20 games with the Tier II Milton Merchants, scoring 13 goals and 15 assists for 28 points.

"The Oshawa Generals are proud to be selecting John Tavares as our first overall pick on Saturday," said Generals' general manager Brad Selwood in a press release. "John is a gifted individual who will have a tremendous impact in the OHL. This is great news for our team, our fans, and the City of Oshawa."

As the first-overall pick, Tavares will receive the OHL's Jack Ferguson Award.

Other Jack Ferguson Award winners include Sault natives Patrick Jarrett with Mississauga in 2000 and 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:

While fans will be able to follow the draft in real time on the Internet, the OHL will also 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. Meanwhile, SooToday.com will provide coverage of the draft as it happens with reaction from the Soo Greyhounds draft room.

*** HOUNDS DRAFT 11TH:

The Soo Greyhounds will select 11th overall in the first round of the draft on Saturday after finishing the 2004-05 season with the west division regular season championship.

On Wednesday, the Hounds completed a minor deal with the Guelph Storm involving an exchange of draft picks. The Hounds dealt the Plymouth Whalers' seventh-round pick in 2005 and a ninth-round selection in 2006 to the Storm for a sixth-round pick in 2006.

*** TORQUATO EXPECTED TO BE EARLY PICK

Zack Torquato will need to be awake bright and early on Saturday to hear his name called at the draft.

The 15 year-old Torquato, an underage player with the Soo North Stars in 2003-04, is the top local player rated and is expected to be a top five pick.

This past season, Torquato played junior B for the Stratford Cullitons where he scored 34 goals and 41 assists for 75 points.

Following Oshawa's selection of Tavares, the Sarnia Sting pick second, the Saginaw Spirit third, the Kingston Frontenacs fourth and Guelph Storm fifth.

*** FIRST ROUND DRAFT ORDER:

1. Oshawa Generals 2. Sarnia Sting 3. Saginaw Spirit 4. Kingston Frontenacs 5. Guelph Storm 6. Windsor Spitfires 7. Toronto St. Michael's Majors 8. Belleville Bulls 9. Plymouth Whalers 10. Erie Otters 11. Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds 12. Ottawa 67's 13. Sudbury Wolves 14. Brampton Battalion 15. Barrie Colts 16. Peterborough Petes 17. Mississauga IceDogs 18. Kitchener Rangers 19. Owen Sound Attack 20. London Knights

*** CARTER FINISHES THIRD IN MOST OUTSTANDING PLAYER VOTING:

Greyhounds centre Jeff Carter finished third behind winner Cory Perry of the London Knights for the OHL's Red Tilson Trophy as the league's most outstanding player this past season.

Perry won the OHL scoring title after scoring 47 goals and 83 assists for 130 points in 60 games. The 19-year-old from Peterborough became the Knights' all-time scoring leader with 380 points in 253 regular season games over four seasons. Perry, a first round pick of the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim in 2003, helped Team Canada win the gold medal at the World Junior Championships in January.

He was named OHL player of the month in October, January and March and was selected to the OHL's First All-Star Team for the second straight season. Perry was named the Best Playmaker, Most Dangerous in the Goal Area and Best Stickhandler in the Western Conference in the OHL Coaches Poll.

Perry received 109 points in the voting while runner-up Brad Richardson of the Owen Sound Attack received 41 Points. Carter and Patrick O'Sullivan of the Mississauga IceDogs tied for third with 32 points.

Voting for the award is conducted by media covering the league.