Gibson leads local hopes into NHL Draft

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Author of the article:

Jim Parker  •  Windsor Star

Published Jun 27, 2023  •  Last updated 40 minutes ago  •  4 minute read

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LaSalle’s Andrew Gibson and Windsor’s Konnor Smith have taken different paths to the NHL Draft, but plan to meet up in Nashville.

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The 18-year-old Gibson has battled injuries all season on a Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds team that missed the OHL playoffs, but he is earned the area’s top-rated prospect heading into the draft, which will be held on Wednesday and Thursday.

“Kind of making a little vacation of it,” said the six-foot-three, 196-pound Gibson, who headed to Nashville on Sunday. 

A late birthday, the six-foot-six, 209-pound Smith got an extra season to develop and helped the Peterborough Petes win the OHL championship this year and reach the semifinals at the Memorial Cup.

“We’re making a little trip out of it and we have close family friends down there,” the 18-year-old Smith said. “I’m going meet up with (Gibson) because we’re buddies.”

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Both are Windsor Jr. Spitfires Zone AAA products and Gibson is rated No. 31 among North American Skaters while Smith sits at No. 94.

“Honestly, being injured for so long, it could go any way for me,” the 18-year-old Gibson said of the draft. “I know I’ve been projected, but at this point anything can happen.”

An early end to the season gave Gibson a chance to play for Canada’s under-18 team at the world championship and he moved into a top four role in helping the team to a bronze medal.

“I thought it was some of the best hockey I’ve played and it was a great experience,” said Gibson, who attended the NHL Combine.

While Gibson’s season ended early, Smith was still playing until the start of June, which is always a good thing for a prospect since scouts have fewer games to focus on.

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“My coaches always told me, ‘The further we go, the better it is for the team and myself,” Smith said. “Me, being a shutdown defenceman, hard and gritty, the further we went, the better the players we played and that was more exposure for me. I’m fortunate how well we did and the exposure I got.”

Another friend and workout buddy the two are pulling for is Tecumseh defenceman Spencer Sova, who is going through the draft a second time. The former first-round pick for the Erie Otters is rated No. 182.

“We don’t talk about (the draft) that much,” Gibson said. “It’s just having fun, hanging out and having the same goal.”

A pair of Windsor Spitfires, who were not selected in the draft last year, made NHL Central Scouting’s final rating list. Defenceman Roddy Dionicio, who shone on offence after coming over in a deal with Niagara, is No. 114 on the list while forward Alex Christopoulos, who had 49 goals this season, is No. 198. Former Spitfires’ first-round pick Ethan Miedema, who was traded to Kingston, is also on the list at No. 50.

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“I haven’t spoken to any teams, but my agent has handled that and talked to a couple,” the 19-year-old Christopoulos said. “There’s a possibility I could be taken in this route, but I’m just training. That’s all I’m doing to just step up my game. I know my area’s that are good and have to keep improving.”

Although they did not play in the OHL, twin brothers Connor MacPherson and Ryan MacPherson both made the final ratings list after helping the Leamington Flyers to the club’s first-ever Sutherland Cup title.

Connor MacPherson won the B.J. Monro Memorial Award as the Ontario Hockey Association’s top prospect. He was the Western Conference’s player of the year after posting 28 goals and 63 points in 43 games.

“I have heard from a few teams,” said Connor MacPherson who is rated No. 128. “Some directly and some who reached out to my coaches. 

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“Obviously, it would be dream come true to be drafted, but there are a lot of great players in this draft. So, whatever happens, happens.”

Ryan MacPherson topped the Flyers in playoff scoring with 14 goals and 38 points in 24 games and was named the Western Conference’s top defensive forward. The Tecumseh duo have signed to play at the University of New Hampshire next season.

“Obviously, it will be pretty cool if I was to be drafted and a dream come true, but I’m not entirely focused on that at this time,” said Ryan MacPherson, who is ranked No. 211. “I still have a lot I need to improve upon as a player. If I get drafted or not, my mindset will still be the same and that is to be the (best) player I can be.”

jpparker@postmedia.com

twitter.com/winstarparker

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