OHL Draft Preview: Hall skates well, makes good decisions
Blake Hall is one of the top-rated Niagara prospects for this Saturday’s OHL draft. Photos by OHL Images.
For the past few seasons, Blake Hall has set his sights on a career in the Ontario Hockey League.
“I started getting really interested in it and following the OHL a lot,” the 16-year-old Fort Erie resident said. “It’s one of the best junior leagues in the world and it a great place to play and a great environment. There’s a lot of fans who go watch the games.”
The realization that the 6-foot-2 175-pound forward might have the opportunity to play in the league came at the end of last season and the start of this season when he started to get attention from OHL scouts.
The Grade 10 student at Greater Fort Erie Secondary School, who led the Southern Tier Admirals in regular-season scoring this season with 12 goals and 34 points in 31 games, is one of the top-rated Niagara prospects for this Saturday’s OHL draft.
A report by hockeyprospect.com stated Hall skated well with the puck, protected it from attackers, and made good decisions with it.
“I think I am a playmaker and a 200-foot centreman who is good both offensively and defensively,” Hall said.
He is hoping to use those tools to have a successful hockey career.
“I want to play junior and then go get an education and player hockey there as well.”
Hall started his AAA hockey career with two seasons with the Niagara Falls Rivermen before joining the Admirals for the past four campaigns.
He works hard at his craft. In addition to the on- and off-ice work with his team, Hall works out three days a week with a personal trainer, Stacey Gough, in St. Catharines.
Hall recently got a chance to show his stuff at last weekend’s OHL draft combine. He was one of 36 forwards invited to the event.
“It was a great experience for me,” he said. “It was good to see all the players there, including some of the best players in Ontario.
“It was cool to do the on-ice testing as well as the off-ice testing and to see how I compared against the other players.’
That comparison was favourable.
“I think I was pretty even against them.”
Hall and Niagara North Star Parker Hendsbee were on Team Ekblad which won the team event at the combine. The winning team was the one which accumulated the most points based on overall testing results combined with Sunday’s in-game play.
Hall evened potted a goal in one of the games.
“It was awesome to score,” he said.
Hall plans to watch this Saturday’s internet draft at home with his family. In anticipation of the draft, he describes himself as excited and apprehensive.
“It’s all of the above,” he said.
He has spoken to a few OHL clubs, but isn’t going to be fussy about who selects him.
“I would be happy to go anywhere.”
