With the 2022 NHL draft starting up on July 7 and running through July 8, North Bay Battalion captain Liam Arnsby is hoping to hear his named called by a big-league club.
“Everyone, whether you admit it or not, it is a big thing and you’re looking forward to it,” Arnsby stated. “You try not to focus on it too much, but obviously you think about it here and there, especially once the season is done. You don’t want to get distracted during the season; you have to keep your eyes on the prize.”
Taken ninth overall in 2019 by the Troops in the OHL Priority Selection, Arnsby has proven to be a thorn in the side of opposing OHL teams in the league, which is a trait scouts covet.
“What I bring that a lot of scouts like is my grit,” the captain explained. “Doing the little things, a lot of that is missing from the game nowadays, and I think it is getting harder and harder to find players like me so I think that impresses scouts.”
Ranked 115 by NHL Central Scouting among North American skaters, Arnsby figures to hear his name called on the second day of the draft. However, he still plans on making the trip to Montreal.
“My grandmother is here and we’re going to head down. It’s my first time in Montreal. We’ll probably go out for dinner, but we’re really looking forward to the draft part of the trip.”
After the 2019 Priority Selection, Arnsby was part of that first wave of young talent coming through General Manager Adam Dennis’ vision for the new look North Bay Battalion. As such, the team has many players on scouts’ radar such as Ty Nelson, Tnias Mathurin, Owen Van Steensel, Dom DiVincentiis, Dalyn Wakely, Kyle Jackson and more, which Arnsby credits as helping to change the narrative around the Battalion.
“It’s huge. There was an article at the start of the year that ranked all the teams in the East, and it said ‘nothing to worry about with North Bay’ and that stung a little bit. So, it’s nice to get the recognition and I think next year we will be a good team and have a good run again so this means a lot to me.”
Yet, even with his name potentially being called by a NHL GM this week, the captain is showcasing his team first mentality as he is already focused back on the Gateway City.
“At the end of the day it’s not the end of the road and I am heading back to North Bay regardless. So, if I get drafted, cool, but I have already set my focus back on North Bay.”
