The North Bay Battalion marched a pair of players onto the final draft rankings released Tuesday by the National Hockey League’s central scouting department.
Forward Anthony Romani and goaltender Charlie Robertson of the North Bay Battalion are among a total of 56 Ontario Hockey League skaters and goalies in the 2023 NHL draft rankings.
Romani, who has played centre and right wing, is ranked 106th among 224 North American-based skaters in advance of the NHL Draft to be held June 28-29 at Nashville. Robertson is 13th of 32 North American goaltenders.
“Charlie and Anthony have both had great second halves and are deserving of their recognition by NHL central scouting,” said general manager Adam Dennis in a release.
“Anthony has really come into his own and provided offence in the clutch when the team needed it most down the stretch. Charlie capped off a strong rookie campaign by being named the OHL Rookie of the Month.”
Romani, one of 49 OHL skaters listed, scored 23 goals and earned 20 assists for 43 points in 66 games this season. As a rookie in 2021-22, he played 54 games, scoring eight goals and adding six assists for 14 points.
Romani, who turns 18 on July 12, is a Pickering, Ont., resident who was a third-round choice in the 2021 OHL Priority Selection from the Toronto Jr. Canadiens. He measures six feet and 178 pounds.
Robertson is second-rated among seven OHLers on a goaltending list. Nathaniel Day of the Flint Firebirds is No. 12, one spot ahead of Robertson.
In 21 games, Robertson posted a 3.17 goals-against average, an .892 save percentage, three shutouts and a won-lost-extended record of 12-6-1.
A six-foot-three, 167-pound London resident who turned 18 on April 2, he was a seventh-round choice in 2021 from the London Jr. Knights U16s.
He was the only OHL goaltender named to the Kubota CHL-NHL Top Prospects Game at Langley, B.C., in January, playing for Team Red. The game showcased the top 40 Canadian Hockey League skaters and goaltenders eligible for the NHL draft.
“Like any list around this time, we’re proud of our guys for their recognition but know there’s still a lot of work ahead,” said Dennis. “We wish all our draft-eligible players the best of luck this summer.”
