Swick thrilled to be a Ranger
Trent Swick got to have his cake and eat it too.
Not only did the 15-year-old, Grade 10 student at St. Francis fulfil his dream of being drafted to the Ontario Hockey League come true Saturday, he was also able to share it with two of his closest friends from the Southern Tier Admirals.
The Kitchener Rangers drafted the Thorold resident in the third round (47th overall) after previously selecting Andrew LeBlanc and Jacob LeBlanc.
“It means a lot to get drafted to such a great organization with such great staff and especially to go wth two close friends,” Swick said. “It really means a lot.”
Swick, who came into the draft ranked 82nd by Prospectpipeline.ca, feels the presence of the LeBlancs should help off the ice as well.
“It, for sure, will help,” he said. “They are probably my closest friends and I’ll be more comfortable and I feel they’ll make me better just being there.”
Swick had a breakout season for the Admirals finishing third on the team in scoring with 26 goals and 55 points in 32 regular season games before adding 12 goals and 24 points in 13 playoff games playing on the team’s top line alongside Andrew Leblanc and Sam Alfano. Alfano was drafted in the second round by Peterborough.
Swick has high hopes for next season.
“Next year I want to play in the OHL,” he said. “My goal is to play in the OHL and do everything that I can. Hopefully, I get to play a full season and produce a lot of points and put up the numbers that I want to.”
Having said that, he is aware rookies also have to bide their time.
Swick said the Rangers contacted him just prior to his selection.
“They had a chat with me just before I got drafted asking me if I would come and I said, ‘For sure.’ ”
Swick watched the draft with his parents, brother and sister and brother’s girlfriend.
“Just get texts and call people,” he said when asked how they planned to mark the occasion.
Below are the other local players selected in the draft and not profiled today on the BPSN website.
Tai York was selected by the Barrie Colts in the sixth round 109th overall
The 5-foot-11, 160 pound left winger from the Niagara North Stars had 33 goals and 74 points in 67 games for Niagara North this past season.
The 15-year-old Niagara-on-the-Lake resident is a Grade 10 student at A.N. Myer.
Ethan Whitcomb was selected by the Guelph Storm in the eighth round, 109th overall
The 6-foot-3, 177-pound forward right winger with the Niagara North Stars had 27 goals and 66 points in 53 games played this season. The 15-year-old St. Catharines native is a Grade 10 student at Governor Simcoe
Southern Tier Admirals player Luke Gualtieri was chosen in the 10th round, 196th overall by Flint.
The 5-foot-9, 151-pound left defenceman from St. Catharines had nine goals and 27 points in 32 regular season games and one goal and six points in 13 playoff games for the Admirals. He also had a goal and five points in five games at the Ontario Minor Hockey Association championships.
Connor Thomson-Dick was selected in the 11th round, 208th overall by the Erie Otters.
The 5-foot-10, 150-pound right defenceman played with the Niagara North Stars this past season and recorded nine goals and 16 points in 32 regular season games and followed that up with two goals and two assists in 13 post-season games.
The 15-year-old St. Catharines resident is a Grade 10 student at St. Francis
Derek Smyth was taken in the 11th round, 220th overall by the Ottawa 67’s.
The 15-year-old stay-at-home defenceman with the Niagara North Stars collected four goals and 21 points in 29 regular season games and 12 points in 13 post-season matches.
The 6-foot-3, 190 pounder is a Grade 10 student at Sir Winston Churchill.
Nathan Duplessis was drafted in the 12th round, 229th overall by the Barrie Colts.
In 70 games played for the Niagara North Stars this season, the 6-foot-1, 192 pounder left winger had 18 goals and 45 points.
The Grade 10 student at Denis Morris made the leap to AAA from last season where he suited up for the St. Catharines AA Falcons.
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