Hockey players with ties to Waterloo Region, Hamilton and Brantford snapped up in NHL draft

CTV News

2 days ago

It was a big night for local hockey players as the NHL draft got underway Friday night.
Hamilton-born Matthew Schaefer was picked up by the New York Islanders as the first overall pick.
Schaefer had been playing for the Erie Otters. He's now the second Erie player to go first in the draft after Connor McDavid was scooped up by the Edmonton Oilers in 2015.
Another local player, Brady Martin went fifth overall. The Elmira local was picked up by the Nashville Predators after spending his last two seasons with the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds.
Meanwhile, a Brantford Bulldog, Jake O'Brien, went to the Seattle Kraken as the eighth overall pick. O'Brien is originally from Toronto, but has been a standout on the Brantford squad for the past two seasons.
Cameron Reid played for the Kitchener Rangers for two seasons as a defenceman before being selected by the Nashville Predators Friday. The Predators traded up picks 23 and 67 and selected Reid.
Reid, who is originally from Copenhagen, Ont. just south of Aylmer, scored 14 goals and 54 points with Kitchener of the OHL last season.
Round two of NHL draft picks start on Saturday at 12 p.m.