By Pat Payton
It was an exciting time for a St. Marys family this past weekend.
Sam Sedley, a 15-year-old Stonetown native, was selected in the fourth round, 70th overall, by the Owen Sound Attack in Saturday’s Ontario Hockey League priority draft.
The right-shooting defenceman had eight goals, 24 points and 58 penalty minutes in 33 games this season with the Huron-Perth Lakers Minor Midgets. In eight playoff games, he collected six assists. Sedley, who turns 16 on June 8, also picked up two points in four games as an affiliate player with the Jr. ‘B’ Lincolns. In his games with the Lincs, he played with a lot of poise.
Sedley, who is listed at 5 ft., 10 inches and 154 lbs., was the first defenceman taken by Owen Sound. The Attack chose four forwards with their first four selections (they had two picks in the second round). They also had two picks in the fourth round and took a goalie with their second choice in that round.
Altogether, there were 303 prospects selected in 15 rounds by the Major Jr. ‘A’ teams in the 2019 draft.
“Before the draft, I got a call from basically every (OHL) team, except Flint,” Sedley told the Independent.
This summer, Sedley will be training with Joey Hishon, of Stratford. Hishon runs Skills Corp., a skills development business, providing high performance hockey training, on and off the ice.
Hishon, who is now retired from pro hockey, is a former No. 1 pick of the NHL’s Colorado Avalanche. He played four years of Junior in Owen Sound.
Note: Another St. Marys native is currently a member of the Owen Sound Attack. Kaleb Pearson recently completed his first season with the Attack. The 18-year-old right winger had 14 goals and 28 points in 66 games. He added two goals and three points in five playoff games.