Yahoo Sports OHL Training Camp Roster Breakdown: Soo Greyhounds
OHL training camps are starting up and every day there's more news regarding teams adding or subtracting players from their rosters. Bookmark The Hockey News OHL site to stay updated on all news and training camp roster announcements.
During our training camp series on the site, we will analyze the Import players, overage players (2004-born), first-year draft-eligible players to keep an eye on, and each team's representation from their 2024 draft class, as well as any other storylines.
Today we are looking at the Soo Greyhounds' training camp roster. The PDF link to their roster can be found here.
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The Greyhounds finished with the third-best record in the OHL last season (45-18-3-2, 95 points) and loaded up with players for a lengthy playoff run. Unfortunately, the team met the Saginaw Spirit in the second round of the playoffs and fell short of taking down the eventual Memorial Cup Champions, losing in Game 7.
The team's captain, Bryce McConnell-Barker, and Gavin Hayes have both graduated to the professional ranks. Furthermore, overage forwards from the previous year – Jordan D'Intino, Jacob Frasca, and Jack Beck – have moved on, either to play in the AHL or at university.
That's a total of 103 goals missing from the lineup heading into the 2024-25 season. The Greyhounds may have a harder time producing offense this season and it could be a year the organization looks at developing their younger players over being contenders.
Overage Players
Sault Ste. Marie has five 2004-born players on their training camp roster — forwards Owen Allard, Justin DeZoete, Julian Fantino, defenseman Caedan Carlisle, and goaltender Charlie Schenkel.
Luke Durda/OHL Images
Utah Hockey Club prospect, Owen Allard, isn't going anywhere and will play a ton of minutes this season. He's not a highly skilled player like Jack Beck and putting up 80 points may be an unreasonable expectation. However, he's the ultimate team player and someone the younger players should take after on and off the ice. There's a good chance he wears the "C" for the Greyhounds this season.
DeZoete will aim to stay in one place for his last OHL season. The Hamilton, Ontario native played for Mississauga, then Guelph, and finished in the Soo. He recorded 10 points in 25 regular season games and one assist in 11 playoff appearances with the team. If he sticks with the team, he needs to provide more than just the secondary offense he brought after being acquired from the Storm.
The Greyhounds acquired Fantino from Owen Sound halfway through the 2022-23 season. He's played 97 games, including playoffs for the Soo, recording 22 goals and 40 points. The same goes as what we said about DeZoete, Fantino's offense needs to come alive in 2024-25.
Related: OHL Training Camp Roster Breakdown: Kitchener Rangers
The 6-foot-2 defenseman, Caedan Carlisle, was drafted by the organization in the fifth round, 84th overall, in 2020. He has played in 200 games, including playoffs, for them, and brings leadership and stability to the backend.
Lastly, netminder Charlie Schenkel and Detroit Red Wings 2024 fourth-rounder will share the crease again. Schenkel had a terrific playoff with a 2.36 goals-against average, 913 save percentage, and two shutouts. It's still his net for any marquee matchups.
Import Players
The Greyhounds only have one import player. Russian defenseman, Kirill Kudryavtsev, does not appear to be returning (he'd be an overage too) and his offense from the blueline will be deeply missed.
However, the team did sign 2025 NHL Draft prospect, David Holub, who they recently drafted in the 2024 CHL Import Draft in the first round.
Holub won silver at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup with Czechia, losing to his new teammate Brady Martin on Canada. The 5-foot-11 right-shooting rearguard split last season between the U20 and U17 junior leagues in Czechia for the Ocelari Trinec organization.
NHL Draft-Eligible Players
As mentioned above, Holub is entering his NHL Draft season, but the team also has a couple of forwards — Brady Martin and Travis Hayes — and will have an increased role on the team in 2024-25 due to all the departures.
Natalie Shaver/OHL Images
Martin didn't have a poor rookie season by any means. 28 points as a 16-year-old turning 17 in your first year is nothing to sneeze at. Alas, his counterpart Hayes outdid him and was voted onto the OHL's First All-Rookie Team for 2023-24 after putting up 35 points, third-most amongst 2007-born players.
Brady has a ton of offensive creativity. He isn't afraid to take defenders on one-on-one and deke through them. He's also got a super quick release and was a lethal goal-scorer in his OHL draft year with the U16 Waterloo Wolves. And loves to hit and is willing to play a physically abrasive style of game.
Free Agent Invites
A few brothers of some Sault Ste. Marie players have been invited to the Greyhounds' training camp. Joey, the older brother of Brady Martin and the leading scorer for the Elmira Sugar Kings Jr. B squad in 2023-24, has received an invitation.
Additionally, Parker, the twin brother of Spencer Evans and a former player for the Valley Timberwolves in the EOJHL last year, has also received an invite.
Here's a very bizarre note, which I have never seen before with twins. Spencer is listed at 5-foot-11 but his twin brother Parker is 6-foot-4(!).
Related: OHL Training Camp Roster Breakdown: Erie Otters
The other free agent invites are:
F, Sam Bowness (2005) - Played in the QMJHL for the Charlottetown Islanders from 2021 to 2023.
F, Joshua Caloiero (2005)
F, Andrew Castiglione (2007)
F, Erik Muxlow (2007)
F, Nathan Seed (2006)
F, Aaron Dukeshire (2007)
F, Carter Fogarty (2007)
F, Jordan McLeod (2007)
D, Sam Pye (2007)
D, Ethan Mann (2007)
D, Shea Crewson (2007)
G, Logan Heideman (2007)
2024 OHL Draft Class
Here are the players from Sault Ste. Marie's 2024 draft class who will be attending their first OHL training camp:
NOTE: The Soo's 2024 first-rounder, Ryder Cali, is not on their training camp roster. He's expected to play for the Milton Menace in the OJHL. Cali not reporting to the Soo most likely means he is heading down the NCAA development route.
Additionally, their second-rounder, Callum Croskery, is headed to the USHL to play for the Chicago Steel and has signed a scholarship to play for Boston College starting in 2027.
RW, Carson Andrew - 4th round, 78th overall
LHD, Charles Ashcroft - 5th round, 100th overall
LW, James Elliott - 7th round, 137th overall
C, Nolan Long - 7th round, 140th overall
C, Owen Kelly - 8th round, 150th overall
LW, Cade Kinnear - 9th round, 180th overall
RHD, Isaiah Allen - 10th round, 200th overall
C, Chase Bailey-Reid - 11th round, 220th overall
RW, Kaylin McQueen - 12th round, 240th overall
LHD, Alexander Kyriacou - 13th round, 260th overall
C, Colton Bain - 14th round, 280th overall
G, Justin Cossais - 15th round, 300th overall
Goaltender William Camputaro and right-shot defenseman Harris Pangretitsch were drafted two spots from one another in the fourth round of the 2024 OHL Priority Selection and are also a few other names not on the training camp roster.
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