The rosters for the 2017 OHL Gold Cup were announced in Kitchener yesterday.
19 of the first round picks in the Priority Selection Draft will participate, including 1st overall pick Ryan Suzuki of London. Ryan, the younger brother of Owen Sound Attack forward Nick Suzuki, talked about being drafted by Barrie and following his brother into the OHL.
"It's pretty awesome. Barrie is a great organization. It's going to be weird playing my brother, but it's always weird playing familiar faces and I can't wait to play against him."
Ryan will represent the Alliance hockey team, just like his brother did in 2015. He also touched on the prospect of playing for NHL Hall of Famer Dale Hawerchuk in Barrie.
"I've had a conversation with him after the draft. He's a Hall of Famer, obviously he's doing something right. I'm going to have to be like a sponge, and take in all he's teaching me and be the best player I can."
Ryan played for the London Jr. Knights, and his brother Nick is eligible for the NHL draft this June. The Gold Cup tournament is used as a recruiting tool for Hockey Canada for the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge, and Ryan spoke about what it would mean to potentially represent Canada.
"It would mean everything. Growing up, you can't wait for the World Juniors to come around, and to finally put on that jersey would be really special."
The 2017 OHL Gold Cup will kick off May 3rd to the 7th, and 129 of the 160 players were taken in this year's OHL Priority Selection Draft. The tournament will again feature 8 teams: 2-time defending champs GTHL (Greater Toronto Hockey League) Blue, GTHL Red, OMHA (Ontario Minor Hockey Association) White and Black, NOHA (Northern Ontario Hockey Association) Green, HNO (Hockey North Ontario) Yellow, HEO (Hockey Eastern Ontario) Maroon, and Alliance Hockey, who again play host to the tournament at Activa Sportsplex in Kitchener.