Guelph Storm select defenceman in opening round

The Guelph Storm added some height to their blueline with the selection of Declan McNally in the opening round of the OHL draft Friday night in Kingston.

The Storm used the seventh pick of the draft to grab McNally. He stands just a shade under 6-foot-6 and was the tallest player selected in the first round.

The 180-pounder from La Salle had three goals, 15 assists and 70 penalty minutes in 29 games with the Don Mills Flyers in U16 AAA play in the recently-completed season. He also had a goal, three assists and two penalty minutes in five games in the OHL Cup tournament and also suited up for a pair of Ontario Junior Hockey League games with the Aurora Tigers.

McNally is to turn 16 late in September.

The Oshawa Generals picked centre Kane Cloutier of the Vaughan Kings U16 AAA team with the first overall pick. He had 32 goals, 26 assists and 32 penalty minutes in 33 league and playoff games Vaughan and also collected six goals, five assists and two penalty minutes in four games at the OHL Cup.

Cloutier is the son of former Storm goaltender Dan Cloutier and nephew of former Storm forward Sylvain Cloutier.

The first round of the draft was held Friday night while the other 14 rounds are to go Saturday.

The Storm have a pick in every round except the third and seventh rounds as they were sent to other teams in earlier trades.

• Guelph Sports Journal