Erie Otters at (17-32-3-5) at London Knights (39-12-2-2)
When: Today, 2 p.m.
Where: Budweiser Gardens – London, Ontario
On the air: WFNN-AM/1330, www.ottershockey.com (live stream)
Upcoming schedule: Thursday at Windsor, 7:05 p.m.; Friday at Sarnia, 7:05 p.m.
What to expect: The Otters have split the first four games of the six-game season series with the Midwest Division rival Knights, including a 4-3 win at Erie Insurance Arena Friday night. They meet for the final time March 13 in Erie. … The Otters are five points away from being officially eliminated from playoff contention. Any combination of Otters losses and Saginaw wins/overtime losses totaling five points will end Erie’s postseason hopes. … The Otters are on pace to earn the No. 2 pick in the OHL Priority Selection. They have the second-worst record in the league, behind only Ottawa (15-37-0-4). Peterborough stands third worst at 20-29-3-4. … C Connor McDavid (24 goals, 30 assists, 54 points) holds a three-point lead over Sarnia RW Nikolay Goldobin (24-27-51) in the league’s rookie scoring race. Brampton LW Blake Clarke (18-25-43) trails McDavid by 11 points. … RW Connor Brown set a new single-season career high with his 26th goal of the season in a 4-2 loss to Kitchener Saturday night. He already has new career highs with 40 assists and 66 points. … C J.P. Labardo needs one goal for the first 20-goal season of his five-year OHL career. His 34 assists and 53 points nearly equal his totals from the previous four seasons. … C Luke Cairns (10-28-38) has set a new career best in assists and points. … F Dane Fox (12-16-28 in 28 games) has averaged a point per game since returning from a foot injury. He had two goals and an assist Friday against the Knights, his former team. … D Jimmy McDowell has 12 goals this season, four more than in his previous three seasons. He ranks among the league’s top goal-scoring defensemen. … G Oscar Dansk stopped 75-of-81 shots the past two games after allowing 16 goals on his previous 106 shots. … Rookie D Darren Raddysh has played 14 games as an affiliated player, although nine count toward the total of 10 allowed by league rules. He has been a healthy scratch the past two games. … The Knights snapped a four-game losing streak with a 5-1 win at Niagara Sunday. … They remain nine points ahead of Barrie by in the race for the league’s regular-season championship and home-ice advantage throughout the playoffs. … The Knights are playing without RW Seth Griffith (33-49-82), who is reportedly out with a broken hand. … Rookie G Anthony Stolarz stopped 40-of-41 shots against the IceDogs after making 29 saves on 31 shots in relief of starter Jake Patterson Friday in Erie. … The Knights are 8-9 since posting a 24-game winning streak, which fell one shy of tying the CHL record. … They lead the league with 229 goals scored.

- Victor Fernandes

Hayden Hodgson had a great summer playing baseball, headlined by two no-hitters. Yet that success, and the potential that comes with being a left-handed pitcher that throws nearly 90 mph, couldn’t keep him from choosing to focus on hockey.
Hodgson made it official Wednesday, as he joined fellow 2012 high-round picks Justin Felker (second round), Kyle Pettit (second) and Riley Robertson (third) in agreeing to terms with the Erie Otters.
“You want to follow your dream and do what you want,” said Hodgson, a third-round pick. “That’s important to me, and that’s important to my family. I leaned towards the sport that I really enjoy the most – hockey. The opportunity and the options at this level really swung me over.”
* Changing his mind?: In April, Millcreek Township native Nate Miller said he would pursue a career as an OHL goaltender. Since then, the Otters have added highly touted CHL pick Oscar Dansk and newly acquired Keinan Brown to their depth in net. Now Miller isn’t as sure about a future in the OHL.
“I don’t want to play as a backup (in the OHL) and ruin my college eligibility,” said Miller, who will play for the Toledo Cherokee in the North American Tier III Hockey League this coming season. “If I were to play her, I’d want a good chance to play and not sit on the bench.”
Miller, who hopes to earn a college scholarship in the future, isn’t surprised about the Otters’ moves in goal. “I expected it to happen,” he said. “But I wanted to prepare myself anyway in case I got the opportunity.”
* Numbers game: Sherry Bassin, Otters managing partner and general manager, wishes he could have kept Robertson and fellow 2012 picks Darren Raddysh (fifth round), Gregory Allen (sixth) and Bryan Sienerth (13th).
But the league rule limiting teams to four under-agers (five with a goalie) prompted Bassin to cut all four prospects today. Felker, Pettit and Hodgson likely will join No. 1 overall pick Connor McDavid on the roster this season.
“If players aren’t going to play for you this year, get them back to school and to their (Tier II) team,” said Bassin, who described Sienerth, a Millcreek Township, as “outstanding.”
* News and notes: Club officials sent a contract offer for Russian D Artem Kuleshov to his agent, former NHL goaltender MIke Liut, today. No word yet if an agreement was reached. … Former Otters D Paul Cianfrini participated in the afternoon practice today. He spent the 2011-12 season with Toledo (ECHL), and had re-signed with the Walleye. But he recently signed with Rapid City (CHL) after the possible NHL lockout cost him a spot in Toledo. Prospects from Chicago and Detroit would fill those spots in Toledo if a lockout occurs.

- Victor Fernandes

ANCASTER, Ontario – The Erie Otters have cut 11 players from training camp today. Nine are from the 2012 OHL draft class – Riley Robertson (3rd round, 55th overall), Darren Raddysh (5th round, 84th overall), Thomas Lattavo (6th round, 104th overall), Gregory Allen (6th round, 115th overall), Travis Dermott (9th round, 164th overall), Quentin Maksimovich (11th round, 204th overall), Millcreek Township native Bryan Sienerth (13th round, 244th overall), Nathan Kohler (14th round, 264th overall) and Jake Ireland (15th round, 300th overall). The others were Millcreek Township’s Nathan Miller (9th round, 174th overall, in 2011) and free-agent invite Francesco Tolfa.
That leaves 38 players in camp.

CAMP ROSTER
(subject to change)
Goaltenders (5)
Oscar Dansk – 2012 CHL Import Draft (1st round), 2012 NHL Entry Draft (Columbus, 2nd round)
Daniel DeKoning – 2012 OHL Priority Selection
Jake Ireland – 2012 OHL Priority Selection
Nate Miller – 2011 OHL Priority Selection (9th round; Millcreek Township native)
Devin Williams – Veteran

Left defense (9)
Kyle Allan – 2011 OHL Priority Selection (15th round)
Greg Allen – 2012 OHL Priority Selection (6th round)
Travis Dermott – 2012 OHL Priority Selection (9th round)
Justin Felker – 2012 OHL Priority Selection (2nd round)
Kris Grant – Veteran
Artem Kuleshov – 2012 CHL Import Draft (2nd round)
Adam Pelech – Veteran
Sebastian Stangherlin – Free-agent invite
Travis Wood – Veteran

Right defense (10)
Troy Donnay – Veteran
Nathan Glass – Veteran
Nathan Kohler – 2012 OHL Priority Selection (14th round)
Liam Maaskant – Veteran
Jimmy McDowell – Veteran
Patrick Murphy – 2011 OHL Priority Selection (5th round; played 9 games with Erie in 2011-12)
Darren Raddysh – 2012 OHL Priority Selection (5th round)
Riley Robertson – 2012 OHL Priority Selection (3rd round)
Troy Saunders – 2011 OHL Priority Selection (12th round)
Francesco Tolfa – Free-agent invite

Centers (9)
Luke Cairns – Veteran
Jake Evans – Veteran
Blake Jones – 2011 OHL Priority Selection (14th round)
Justin Maiolino – 2011 OHL Priority Selection (13th round; played 2 games with Erie in 2011-12)
Connor McDavid – 2012 OHL Priority Selection (No. 1 overall)
Mac McDonnell – Veteran
Aidan Muir – Free-agent invite
Kyle Petit – 2012 OHL Priority Selection (2nd round)
Bryan Sienerth – 2012 OHL Priority Selection (13th round; Millcreek Township native)

Left wing (10)
Anthony Cortellessa – Veteran
Connor Crisp – Veteran
Jordan Dunin – 2011 OHL Priority Selection (7th round)
Mitch Eisenberg – Veteran
Nathan Feric – Free-agent invite
Dane Fox – Veteran (fractured foot; not expected to participate in camp)
Stephen Harper – Veteran
Quentin Maksimovich – 2012 OHL Priority Selection (11th round)
Lucas Venuto – Free-agent invite
Kurt Wolff – Free-agent invite

Right wing (7)
Nick Betz – Veteran
Connor Brown – Veteran, 2012 NHL Entry Draft (Toronto, 6th round)
Sean Darroch – 2011 OHL Priority Selection (8th round; played 7 games with Erie in 2011-12)
Hayden Hodgson – 2012 OHL Priority Selection (3rd round)
Thomas Lattavo – 2012 OHL Priority Selection (6th round)
Johnny McGuire – Veteran
Sondre Olden – Veteran

No. 1 overall pick Connor McDavid headlines a group of 26 rookies and prospects invited to the Erie Otters’ rookie camp Friday and Saturday at Mercyhurst. Players report Friday morning before starting off-ice workouts on the soccer field at 10 a.m. They head to Mercyhurst Ice Center at 2 p.m. for a two-hour practice and a scrimmage On Saturday, they will have on-ice sessions from 9-11 a.m. and 2:45-4:45 p.m.

The players invited are as follows:
2012 draft picks
Gregory Allen
Daniel Dekoning
Travis Dermott
Justin Felker
Hayden Hodgson
Jake Ireland
Nathan Kohler
Dylan Larkin
Thomas Lattavo
Quentin Maksimovich
Connor McDavid
Kyle Pettit
Darren Raddysh
Riley Robertson
Bryan Sienerth (Millcreek Township native)

2011 draft picks
Sean Darroch
Jordan Dunin
Blake Jones
Justin Maiolino
Nate Miller (Millcreek Township native)
Patrick Murphy
Sean Power
Troy Saunders
Jordan Schneider

2010 draft picks
Brent Hambly
Eric Kimmerly

Future Otters
The Erie Otters’ picks in the 2012 OHL Priority Selection:
Round (No.) Pos. Name (Ht., Wt.) 2011-12 club 2011-12 statistics
1. (1) C Connor McDavid (5-10, 155) Toronto Marlboros 33 goals, 72 points (33 games)
2. (27) C Kyle Pettit (6-2, 170) London Knights-Gold 18 goals, 40 points (41 games)
2. (35) D Justin Felker (6-3, 170) Southern Tier Admirals 4 goals, 32 points (54 games
3. (44) RW Hayden Hodgson (6-1, 185) Sun County Panthers 29 goals, 54 points, 82 PIM (42 games)
3. (55) D Riley Robertson (6-4, 180) Grey-Bruce Highlanders 12 points, 24 PIM (34 games)
5. (84) D Darren Raddysh (5-11, 165) Toronto Marlboros 10 goals, 32 points
6. (104) RW Thomas Lattavo (6-1, 190) Toronto Young Nationals 9 goals, 15 points (19 games)
6. (115) D Gregory Allen (6-0, 180) Toronto Marlboros 17 points, 14 PIM
8. (144) G Daniel Dekoning (6-1, 140) Huron-Perth Lakers 14-5-3 record, 1.95 GAA .925 save pct.
9. (164) D Travis Dermott (5-7, 155) York Simcoe Express 8 points, 12 PIM (17 games)
10. (184) C Dylan Larkin (6-0, 150) Detroit Belle Tire U16s 13 goals, 20 points (20 games)
11. (204) C Quentin Maksimovich (6-3, 170) Toronto Jr. Canadiens 4 goals, 18 points (33 games)
13. (244) C Bryan Sienerth* (5-10, 160) Pittsburgh Hornets U16s 13 goals, 29 points (33 games)
14. (264) D Nathan Kohler (6-0, 175) Brantford 99ers 25 points, 32 PIM (38 games)
15. (300) G Jake Ireland (N/A) Don Mills Flyers N/A
* Millcreek Township native and Cathedral Prep sophomore; joins Millcreek Township’s Nate Miller (ninth round, 2011) and Erie’s Chris Brotka (seventh round, 1997) as the only players with local ties picked by the Otters.

Cream of the crop
First-round picks in the 2012 OHL Priority Selection:
No. Club Pos. Name (Ht., Wt.) 2011-12 club 2011-12 statistics
1. Erie C Connor McDavid (5-10, 155) Toronto Marlboros 33 goals, 72 points (33 games)
2. Kingston D Roland McKeown (6-1, 180) Toronto Marlboros 10 goals, 35 points
3. Peterborough C Eric Cornel (6-2, 165) Upper Canada Cyclones 18 goals, 32 points (26 games)
4. Sault Ste. Marie C Jared McCann (6-0, 175) London Knights-Gold 42 goals, 79 points (40 games)
5. Windsor C Joshua Ho Sang (5-11, 160) Toronto Marlboros 31 goals, 79 points
6. Guelph C Robert Fabbri (5-10, 150) Mississauga Rebels 57 goals, 105 points (60 games)
7. Oshawa C Michael Dal Colle (6-2, 170) Vaughan Kings 44 goals, 78 points (42 games)
8. Owen Sound D Jacob Middleton (6-2, 185) Huron-Perth Lakers 8 goals, 31 points (33 games)
9. Kingston* LW Samuel Bennett (5-11, 160) Toronto Marlboros 30 goals, 58 points
10. Belleville C Niki Petti (5-11, 175) Southern Tier Admirals 27 goals, 64 points (43 games)
11. Mississauga LW Damien Bourne (6-4, 185) Mississauga Rebels 79 points, 89 PIM (62 games)
12. Saginaw LW Jeremiah Addison (5-11, 160) Toronto Marlboros 28 goals, 46 points
13. Sarnia RW Brett Hargrave (6-4, 195) Mississauga Rebels 28 goals, 54 points (58 games)
14. Sudbury D Conor Cummins (6-3, 196) Whitby Wildcats 5 goals, 14 points (25 games)
15. Brampton LW Blake Clarke (6-2, 197) St. Louis Midgets 1 goal, 4 points (14 games)
16. Barrie LW Brendan Perlini (6-0, 165) Detroit Belle Tire U16s 20 goals, 43 points (28 games)
17. Kitchener RW Matt Schmalz (6-4, 190) Southern Tier Admirals 35 goals, 76 points (61 games)
18. Ottawa C Dante Salituro (5-9, 170) Don Mills Flyers 47 goals, 91 points (30 games)
19. Plymouth LW Zach Bratina (6-1, 165) Central Ontario Wolves 22 goals, 43 points (30 games)
20. Niagara# D Aaron Haydon (6-3, 190) Detroit Belle Tire U16s 11 points, 83 PIM (37 games)
21. Niagara C Brook Hiddink (5-11, 190) Elgin-Middlesex Chiefs 29 goals, 55 points (42 games)
22. London G Liam Herbst (6-3, 180) Mississauga Rebels N/A
* 2011 first-round pick Max Domi declined to report; Frontenacs received a compensatory pick one spot behind their 2011 draft pick (No. for trading Domi’s rights to London this past August
# 2011 first-round pick Adam Bateman declined to report; IceDogs received a compensatory pick o