OHL Training Camp Roster Breakdown: Erie Otters

The OHL season is rapidly approaching, and many teams have started their training camps in the last few days. The Erie Otters were first out of the blocks, having started their camp last week.

Training camp is one of the most interesting times for OHL teams. Their rosters are never more volatile than in this moment when they are putting together their team. In our new series, The Hockey News OHL will take each OHL training camp roster and examine overage players, import players, draft-eligible players and the 2024 OHL draft class.

The second segment in the series belongs to none other than the Eries Otters who finished fifth in the Western Conference before a first-round playoff exit at the hands of the Kitchener Rangers.

Overage Players

Due to Hockey Canada regulations, a team can only roster four overage players. Currently, there are three overage players on Erie's tryout roster including, Sam Alfano, Pano Fimis and Martin Misiak.

Alfano split his three years in the OHL between Peterborough and Erie. Last season he set personal highs in goals and assists scoring 27 goals and adding 33 assists. He finished the season third on the team in scoring. Given his production last season, Alfano will likely have an important role during the upcoming season.

After spending his first OHL season in Niagara, Fimis was traded to Erie halfway through the 2022-23 season. Last year, he led Erie in scoring with 25 goals and 51 assists. While Fimis will undoubtedly add to Erie's scoring next season, he will also be part of Erie's leadership group given that he was an alternate captain last year.

Entering his second season with Erie, Misiak is a Chicago Blackhawks prospect. The Slovak defender led all Erie defensemen in points with 47 points in 60 games last season. As one of the few players signed by an NHL team on the roster, Misiak will lend his experience to younger players next season.

Import Players

Misiak's return will take up one of Erie's two import slots. The other will be taken by Erie's first-round pick in the 2024 CHL Import Draft goaltender Noah Erliden.

Erie signed Erliden just before the start of training camp. The 2005-born goaltender from Sweden has been highly successful in his home country and on the international stage.

While playing in Sweden last year, Erliden registered a .902 save percentage and had a 2.88 goals against average.

Draft-Eligible Players

Two returning players are eligible for the 2025 NHL Entry Draft. They are Matthew Schaefer and Wesley Royston.

Related: Otters Defenseman Matthew Schaefer Named Team Canada Captain for the Hlinka Gretzky Cup

Matthew Schaefer, the first-overall pick in the 2023 OHL Priority Selection is a player that is already considered an elite prospect.

He captained Canada's U-18 team at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup this summer and scored five points in seven games.

He has excellent skating, stick handling and shooting skills. More than anything, he is incredibly deceptive, often using his skating to outmaneuver opponents and create offensive opportunities. All eyes will be on him this season to see whether he merits a top pick in next year's draft.

Royston was Erie's second-round pick in the 2023 OHL Priority Selection. The 6-foot-3 forward played 45 games for Erie last season and scored four goals one assist. His scoring should increase next season especially if he can move up the lineup.

Goaltending

It seems likely that Erliden will be the lead goaltender in whatever tandem Erie puts together. Of the other goaltenders at camp, Jacob Gibbons played the most games for the team last season.

Gibbons played 20 games during the end of the year and recorded a .819 save percentage and a 5.11 goals against average. The 2006-born goalie is familiar with the team which may give him a leg up for making the roster.

However, the backup goalie position could easily be up for grabs given the large number of goaltenders attending camp.

2024 OHL Draft Class

First-round pick Tyler Challender and second-round pick Lucas Ambrosio have both signed development contracts with Erie.

Related: Erie first-round pick Tyler Challenger inks contract with Otters

The tenth-overall pick in the draft will have lots of eyes on him as he enters the Otters roster. At 6-foot-1 he is a strong forward with great offensive instincts. As he adjusts to the OHL he will likely take on a larger role.

At 6-foot-3, Ambrosio is large for his age. If he shows well at camp, the young defender will get the opportunity to play alongside Misiak and Schaefer for the upcoming season.

The entirety of the Otters 2024 draft class is as follows:

1. Tyler Challenger - LW -North York Rangers
2. Lucas Ambrosio - LD - Toronto Jr. Canadiens
4. Michael D'Alessio - LD - Vaughan Kings
6. Colton Radford - LW - Huron-Perth Lakers
7. Hudson Wozney - C - Guelph Gryphons
8. Andrew Willis - RD - Elgin-Middlesex Canucks
9. Michael Tamburro - G - Mississauga Reps
11. Kayden Edwards - LW - Toronto Marlboros
12. Thomas Hamilton - RD - Ottawa Myers Automotive
13. Jameson Fabbro - LW - Sudbury Wolves
14. Owen Papp - G - Hamilton Steel
14. Jacob Johnston - C - Mississauga Reps

All 12 draft picks will be in attendance for the camp. Joining them will be Oliver Philips, Jonathan Frattaroli and Jack Clarke who were all selected by Erie during the 2024 U-18 Priority Selection.

Stay posted and keep checking The Hockey News OHL as we continue this series.

Related: Brampton continues to add experience via trades

Related: Erie Otters Acquire Insurance In Net Signing Import Goaltender Noah Erliden

Related: Erie Otters Draft In Review: 2024 OHL Priority Selection