Bertucci, Barlow lead 4-pack of Vaughan residents in opening round of OHL draft

Marlboros' teammates tops picks among York Region players selected

Yorkregion.com
June 7, 2021
John Cudmore

If the Ontario Hockey League draft was an in-person event, it is pretty certain the hosting venue would have been alive a significant Vaughan vibe.

After all, four residents of the city were among the first 17 picks in the draft of 2005-born players in the league’s online draft held June 4 and 5.

Leading the wave of Vaughan residents were defenceman Tristan Bertucci, selected seventh by the Flint Firebirds, and right winger Colby Barlow, with the next pick, chosen by the Owen Sound Attack.

The duo were teammates with the GTHL’s Toronto Marlboros during the 2019-20 season, the most recent season in which youth hockey experienced a full season. Competition in minor hockey was cancelled last winter due to health regulations resulting from the global pandemic.

Bertucci, who is listed at six-foot, two inches 178 pounds, compiled two goals and 21 assists in 32 regular season games for the Marlboros. He was the second defencemen selected in the 15-round process.

Meanwhile, forwards Denver Barkey, a resident of Maple, and Carson Rehkopf were selected back-to-back by the London Knights and Kitchener Rangers at 16th and 17th overall, respectively.

Barkey was a member of the Toronto Titans while Rehkopf was a member of the Toronto Jr. Canadiens.

Here is a roundup of players from York Region who were selected in the annual draft of 15-year-olds. They are listed by the teams by which they were drafted, position, U-16 teams, hometowns and draft position.

Round 2

Alex Assadourian, C, Sudbury Wolves, York Simcoe Express, Stouffville, 37th overall.

Twins Mark and Scarlett are the first babies born at Cortellucci Vaughan Hospital

Round 3

Bradley Gardiner, C, Ottawa 67s, St. Andrew’s College, Aurora, 40th overall.

Cole Brown, RW, Hamilton Bulldogs, YSE, Aurora, 43rd overall.

Noah Roberts, D, Hamilton Bulldogs, SAC, Aurora, 53rd overall.

Round 6

Declen MacDougall, LD, Mississauga Steelheads, YSE, Keswick, 104th overall.

Round 9

Brett Bouchard, C, North Bay Battalion, Markham Majors, Richmond Hill, 170th overall.

Jack Pridham, RW, Kitchener Rangers, Markham Majors, Stouffville, 177th overall.

Round 10

Michael Levin, RW, London Knights, Maple, 180th overall.

Owen McNamara, RW, Peterborough Petes, Aurora, 194th overall.

Round 11

Zain Milne, D, Saginaw Spirit, YSE, Aurora, 215th overall.

Round 13

Izayah Luddington, D, Kingston Frontenacs, Markham Waxers, Richmond Hill, 254th overall.

Round 14

Fionn Keon, LW, Kingston Frontenacs, YSE, Aurora, 275th overall.

Round 15

Paul Alexander, C, Sarnia Sting, Markham Waxers, Richmond Hill, 282nd overall.