Hockey / 4 OJHL players ranked in Central Scouting's NHL Draft rankings

4 OJHL players ranked in Central Scouting's NHL Draft rankings

Date:  Source: Ontario Hockey Association

Photos: From left to right are Ryan Tverberg of the Toronto Jr. Canadiens (Kevin Raposo/OJHL Images), Brendan Kennette of the Burlington Cougars (Spencer Smye/OJHL Images), Cole O'Hara of the North York Rangers (Photo by Amy Deroche/OJHL Images) and Ryan Alexander of the St. Michael's Buzzers (Ray MacAloney/OJHL Images). 


William Proulx, OHA Media

Four Ontario Junior Hockey League (OJHL) players have been named to the updated 'Players to Watch List' (Midterm Rankings) released by the Central Scouting department of the National Hockey League Monday.

Ryan Alexander of the St. Michael’s Buzzers received the highest ranking as he was listed 114th on the top draft eligible North American Skaters list by NHL Central Scouting. Toronto Jr. Canadiens forward Ryan Tverberg was listed just eight spots lower at 122. Both are predicted to be fourth round picks in the upcoming NHL draft.

North York Rangers forward Cole O’Hara was ranked 166th in the Midterm Rankings, while Burlington Cougars defenceman Brendan Kennette was rated 182nd on the North American draft eligible skaters list. There were no OJHL goaltenders rated in the latest version of the rankings.

Alexander (Toronto, Ont.) is enjoying a successful second season in the OJHL with the Buzzers. Through 40 games this season the second-year centre has 16 goals and 50 points. That’s already five point more than the 45 points he put up as a rookie with St. Michael’s in 2018-19. The 5’10” 181 pound centreman is committed to attend Arizona State University (NCAA) in fall 2020.

In his first full season with the Toronto Jr. Canadiens, Tverberg (Toronto, Ont.) has 43 points (23 goals, 20 assists) in 35 games. Tverberg’s 23 goals is eighth most in the OJHL, and is only six off the League lead. The 5’11” 170 pound centre is second on the Jr. Canadiens in points and recently committed to play for Harvard University in 2020-21.

North York Rangers right winger Cole O’Hara (Richmond Hill, Ont.) makes his first appearance on the list and rightfully so as he is enjoying a season in which he’s put up 48 points (14 goals, 34 assists). This is O’Hara’s second season in the OJHL, and in 2018-19 he scored 42 points (11 goals, 31 assists) in 53 games. The 5’11” 175 pound winger had three points with Canada East at the 2019 World Junior A Challenge and is committed to play for University of Massachusetts Amherst in 2021-22. In 2018, O’Hara was a 10th round pick of the Ontario Hockey League’s Hamilton Bulldogs.

Burlington Cougars defenceman Brendan Kennette (Belle River, Ont.) has made another appearance on the list after being left of the previous installment. Kennette, 17, has tallied 20 points (five goals, 15 assists) in his first OJHL season with the Cougars. In 2018-19, Kennette suited up for 46 games with the GOJHL’s Sarnia Legionnaires where he scored five goals and added 17 assists for 22 points as a 16-year-old. The 6’1” 190 pound defenceman was drafted 179th overall by the Sarnia Sting in the 2018 Priority Selection Draft.

The list is updated throughout the season and the 2020 NHL Draft is June 26-27 at the Bell Centre in Montreal, Que.