The Voodoos have added local 16-year-old defenceman Samuel Rivet, the club announced on Friday.
Rivet was taken in the 11th round, 218th overall by the North Bay Battalion in the 2024 OHL Priority Selection.
The Voodoos are the North Bay Battalion’s junior ‘A’ affiliate team.
The 6’0”,196-pound left shot defenceman, who played as an underage with the North Bay U16 AAA Trappers in 2022-23, netted 6 goals and 11 assists for 17 points in 20 games with the Halton U16 AAA Hurricanes in 2023-24.
“I think it is pretty cool playing for a team that I have grown up watching,” said Rivet, who attended the Voodoos July camp at Pete Palangio arena in North Bay.
“I have watched the guys come out of the Voodoos and make their way up to the Battalion and go on in their hockey careers,” added Rivet, whose mother Becky is from Powassan.
Peter Goulet, Voodoos head coach, helped develop local 16-year-old defender Mason Rotondo last year and he hopes to have similar success with Rivet this season.
“Sam had a slow start due to injuries but once he got rolling he had a great second half,” said Peter Goulet, Voodoos head coach.
“He’s a big strong kid. He was recognized by the OHL North Bay Battalion and they drafted him in the 11th round. I think he is going to be great for us. He is a big strong kid with great hockey sense and I’m looking forward to coaching him.”
Rivet will be at Voodoos camp on August 22.
“I just want to be able to contribute and keep it simple, get pucks in deep and I am happy to get going,” he said.
