With medals from OHL Cup Championships, Provincial titles, Scotiabank GTHL Playoffs’, and endless tournament championships sitting on their trophy shelves, 40 GTHL players hope to add an OHL Gold Cup title to their collections. Split between two squads (GTHL Blue and GTHL Red), players will face off against teams from the OMHA, HEO, ALLIANCE, and HNO in the four day tournament which acts as an opportunity for scouts to evaluate players for the national under-17 development camp. To make the competition even more exciting, many players are set to face off against their former GTHL teammates.

“I definitely think it will be a fun experience, and some friendly chirps too, but I will be taking it serious once the puck drops,” said Toronto Red Wings stand out Francesco Pinelli. “It’s something I have to get used to moving forward now that most of us are all on different teams.”

Pinelli was one of 82 GTHL players selected at the 2019 OHL Priority Selection in April. A total of 128 of the 160 players selected for the tournament were drafted to various OHL teams – a goal many of them have been working towards for years.

“Getting drafted was an amazing feeling,” said Brennan Othmann who was drafted second overall by the Flint Firebirds. “Was dream come true for me. I set many goals for myself at the end of last season and being drafted was one of my goals. Being drafted, for me, means hard work truly pays off.”

Othmann is one of 21 players selected in the first round of the OHL Draft to be named to an OHL Gold Cup team. Like Pinelli, Othmann will face off against his former Don Mills Flyers teammates, including Flyers linemate Shane Wright.

“I don’t look at it as playing against my teammates, but rather it’s an opportunity to continue growing as player and person on and off the ice,” said Othmann who will represent defending champions GTHL Blue at the tournament. “I wish my teammates nothing but success.”

Wright, who will play for GTHL Red, is the only 2004-born player selected to the tournament after being granted exceptional player status. He was drafted first overall by the Kingston Frontenacs.

Twenty-one GTHL grads were selected to participate in the national under-17 development camp in 2018.

The 2019 OHL Gold Cup runs from May 2-5 in Kitchener, Ontario. Click here to see a full schedule for the 2019 OHL Gold Cup.