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Four Kings players taken in OHL draft

Owen Voortman the first local player to hear his name called, in the 11th round
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THUNDER BAY – A quartet of Thunder Bay Kings players were taken on Saturday’s second day of the Ontario Hockey League draft.

Forward Owen Voortman led the way, taken in the 11th round, 216th overall, by the London Knights, a team with a deep history of drafting and developing Thunder Bay players.

The 15-year-old was held scoreless in four games with the Kings during an abbreviated 2020-21 campaign.

The Sudbury Wolves kept it in the family, drafting centre Luca Ricciardi, whose father Jeff is a coach with the Kings and a Thunder Bay-area scout for the Wolves, in the 12th round, with the 239th pick overall. Ricciardi picked up eight penalty minutes in four outings with the Kings last season.

A pair of Kings players were taken in the 15th and final round.

Kolton Bourret, a 6-foot-3 goaltender, was grabbed with the 11th pick of the round, 290th overall. He played in three games against SIJHL competition, compiling a 6.72 goals against average.

Lastly, winger E.J. Paddington was snatched up by the Soo Greyhounds with the 298th pick of the draft. Paddington had a goal and an assist in four games for the Kings last season.

Sudbury had first pick in the draft and took right-winger Quentin Musty from the North Jersey Avalanche under 16 squad. The Sarnia Sting made history, taking Taya Currie in the 14th round, the first female player ever taken in the OHL draft.



Leith Dunick

About the Author: Leith Dunick

A proud Nova Scotian who has called Thunder Bay home since 2002, Leith is Dougall Media's director of news, but still likes to tell your stories too. Wants his Expos back and to see Neil Young at least one more time. Twitter: @LeithDunick
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