For the first time in modern history, an Orillia skater could be chosen in the top 10 of the NHL draft.
Owen Sound Attack forward Cody Barlow, 17, is the highest-ranked Ontario Hockey League player in NHL Central Scouting's mid-season ranking, which was released Friday.
The Orillia native is ranked No. 10 among all skaters. The rugged, high-scoring left-winger, who is in his second season with the Attack, leads his team in scoring with 27 goals and 23 assists for 50 points in 35 games.
Barlow, listed at six-foot-one and 187 pounds, will celebrate his 18th birthday on Feb. 14. He came up through Orillia Minor Hockey and played his 'AAA' hockey with the Toronto Marlboros.
Earlier this year, Barlow became the youngest captain in the history of the Attack. OHL coaches voted his shot the hardest in the league.
He scored a team-record 30 goals as a 16-year-old last season and earned an invite to CHL/NHL’s Top Prospects game. He was named the team's top rookie and also was named the team's playoff MVP last year.
Over the last two years, he helped Team Canada win a gold medal at both the Hlinka Gretzky Cup and at the Capital City Challenge.
Another OHL player with local roots also could be selected high in this June's NHL Draft.
Barrie Colts defenceman Beau Akey, who is also 17 years old, comes in at No. 25 in the rankings.
A native of the Kitchener-Waterloo area, he has six goals and 24 assists in 34 games this season with the Colts, which puts him among the league's top offensive defencemen. Akey, who turns 18 on Feb. 11, is in his second year with the team.
Akey and Barlow are among 55 OHL players included on the list, which includes 30 forwards, 21 defencemen and four goaltenders from the 'O'.
The NHL Draft takes place June 28-29 in Nashville, Tenn.
Of the 55 OHL players included in the draft rankings, 15 of them — including Akey and Barlow — will be playing in the 2023 CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game on Wednesday, Jan. 25 in Langley, B.C. The game will be televised on TSN.
For the full NHL Central Scouting mid-season rankings, visit nhl.com.
