You are likely going to hear the name Pacey Schlueting a lot more in the coming days.
He will no doubt be the first North Bay area player selected the 2018 OHL Priority Selection which begins online around 9 a.m. this Saturday morning.
The 6’0”, 175-pound defenceman had a banner season with the North Bay Minor Midget AAA Trappers where he netted 13 goals and 21 assists for 34 points in 24 regular season games in the Great North Midget League.
Schlueting was also named the NOHA Player of the Year during the OHL Cup minor midget tournament which took place in mid-March in Toronto.
“Pacey possesses both the physical attributes and the skill to be a dominant defender at the next level,” said Mike Mackley, OHL Scout for HockeyProspect.com
“He displays a confidence to his game that allows him to be effective on both sides of the puck. A quality skater, Pacey possesses a long and powerful stride that allows him to generate good straight line speed.”
Schlueting who is mature beyond his years is excited about the OHL Draft.
“I know it’s one of the biggest days of a minor hockey players career and it’s everything I’ve been dreaming about since I was a small hockey player,” Schlueting told BayToday.ca.
“Saturday marks the beginning of a new journey and I think that’s very special. This season, in particular, has been surrounded by this Saturday and I am very excited for it to finally be here. All of the hard work and dedication my teammates and I have put forward this year all comes down to this Saturday and I wish them and everyone in the draft best of luck,” added Schlueting who played for Trappers coach Mike Stockfish for the majority of his minor hockey years in North Bay.
The North Bay native has vaulted up the scout's ratings and has now gotten into the conversation to go in the first round of the OHL Priority Selection.
Schlueting believes winning the NOHA Player of the Year helped his draft stock rise.
“This year was a good learning curve because the minor midget AAA level is so elite that if you make a mistake it could cost you the game,” he said.
“I really looked at my game and found what was good and what could change and that has also impacted my play in a positive way. This year was spectacular for my teammates and I and I couldn’t be any more proud of what we accomplished this season.”
Schlueting even got into four junior ‘A’ games with the Powassan Voodoos as an affiliate, where he netted one goal.
The next question will be, has Schlueting impressed enough that the North Bay Battalion would be willing to take him at ninth overall in the first round?
That question will be answered on Saturday morning for Schlueting as he finds out where the next chapter of his hockey career will take him.
