Former Tiger shortlisted for NHL draft first round

December 7, 2016 · 0 Comments

By Jake Courtepatte

A key component of last season’s Junior A Aurora Tigers squad has been projected by the NHL as one of the first thirty picks in the 2017 entry draft.
Alex Formenton, one of only two Tigers to suit up for all 54 games in the 2015-16 OJHL season, signed with the OHL’s London Knights in the offseason. The King City native, a natural left-winger, joined the Tigers following a successful Minor Midget season with the AAA Misssissauga Rebels in 2014-15.
With fourteen points through the first 27 games in the OHL, the 17-year old has been pegged as a first round candidate by the NHL’s Central Scouting division.
“I would say my game has definitely improved,” said Formenton. “I just try to play my game, and get lots of scoring chances.”
Formenton recorded thirteen goals and thirteen assists in his one season with Aurora.
Also making the list was Formenton’s teammate Robert Thomas, a former member of the York-Simcoe Express now in his second year with the Knights. The Aurora native has been projected by the NHL as a second round draft pick in 2017, playing at over a point-per-game pace so far this season.
“It’s always been a dream of mine to get drafted,” said Thomas. “I’m just trying to work as hard as I can and play my best.”
The 5’11”, 175-lb. Thomas has been cemented into the second line centre role in London since joining the Knights last season.
“You’re going to get a lot of criticism, and people critiquing how you play, but you just have to focus on your game.”
Both players will be waiting to hear their names called in the draft in late June.