Rangers pick local player first
Posted May 8, 2011 09:53:36 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
The Kitchener Rangers have made Arthur native Brent Pedersen their first pick in the 2011 OHL Priority Selection.
Pedersen was the 14th overall pick in this year’s draft and head coach and General Manager Steve Spott expects the not-quite-16-year old to make an immediate impact.
“He’ll definitely play in our top 9,” Spott says flatly. “I think he’ll be able to play on the power play and then, obviously for him, 5-on-5 goes without saying.”
Spott says adding Pedersen addresses a need for size at the forward position. The 6’2, 193 pound left winger played last year with the Waterloo Wolves, where he scored 34 goals in 49 games.
Pedersen, who turns 16 in July, calls it a “great honour” to be drafted into the OHL. He knows his size is an advantage and describes himself as a player who can go to the net but also use his shot as a weapon.
As for being a first round pick and following in the footsteps of Matia Marcantuoni, Ryan Murphy and Gabriel Landeskog, Pedersen doesn’t admit to feeling any added pressure.
“I think that I just have to keep working hard and see what I can do from here,” Pedersen says.
Besides his size and skill, Spott is pleased with Pedersen’s character.
“He’s a graduate of our hockey schools here in Kitchener,” Spott notes. “We do more due diligence in the character and stock of these players off the ice than we do on the ice.”
The Rangers complete draft list looks like this:
ROUND 1 (14th overall) — Brent Pedersen
ROUND 3 (56th overall) — Jared Gilbert
ROUND 5 — Josh Sterk
ROUND 6 — Owen Stewart
ROUND 7 — Justin Bailey
ROUND 7 — Stephen Cooney
ROUND 8 — Jack Moylan
ROUND 9 — Patrick Gazzillo
ROUND 10 — Adam Abu-Ali
ROUND 11 — Brandon Bockman
ROUND 12 — Matt Greenfield
ROUND 13 — Mackenzie Dick
ROUND 14 — Jacob McNamara
ROUND 15 — Eric Bogart
