Three Sarnia-Lambton players picked in first round of OHL draft

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John McLaughlin was out of sight but not out of mind for much of this season.

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Despite being sidelined since October with a knee injury, the Sarnia-Lambton U16 AAA Jr. Sting centre was regarded highly enough to be chosen 21st overall by the Windsor Spitfires in the Ontario Hockey League draft.

“I was really nervous and obviously there was still a lot of uncertainty that my name was going to be picked, but really happy that it ended up working out,” McLaughlin said.

The Corunna native was part of a historic hat trick as three Sarnia-Lambton players were chosen in the first round for what’s believed to be the first time ever.

Huron-Perth U16 AAA Lakers teammates Matthew Henderson of Sarnia and Kane Barch of Grand Bend were the other selections – Henderson 17th to the Kingston Frontenacs and Barch 22nd to the Kitchener Rangers.

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Henderson had 35 points in 41 games in the Alliance regular season and playdowns.

The Frontenacs later chose Lakers defenceman Dante D’Andrea of Sarnia in the fourth round. Henderson and D’Andrea are Jr. Sting alumni, while Texas-born Barch has played his entire AAA career with Huron-Perth.

Lakers teammate Jake Murray also went in the first round, 12th overall to the Erie Otters. The high-scoring centre is a Meaford, Ont., native who called Grand Bend home during the season.

McLaughlin was the first of three Jr. Sting selections. Defenceman Ethan Glavin of Sarnia went to his hometown Sting in the 10th round and forward Carter L’Heureux of London went to the Niagara IceDogs in the 11th.

SOLID SUPPORT: Scouts got a good look at McLaughlin last season when he moved up an age group to play with the U16 Sting.

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“That helped me a lot being drafted where I was drafted,” he said about being scouted already. “That’s why we were still pretty confident that I was going to get picked.”

The five-foot-nine, 163-pound McLaughlin had 33 points in 24 games in 2023-24.

“(I’m) a really, really high compete player, a player you want in the playoffs,” he said. “… Really good skill and a 200-foot forward and plays with a big edge.”

McLaughlin had surgery on his left knee Nov. 30. He resumed skating about two weeks ago and expects to be game-ready for the start of next season.

“It’s been mentally tough, but I really have a good support cast around me,” he said. “Being in the gym a lot with Tyson Slack has helped me a lot working on my upper body. … And also I had really good physio people in Sarnia, too, with Ryan Cross at Cross Works and John Vargo.”

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He’s grateful for the Jr. Sting’s support as well.

“Lambton always had me playing a year up, which I really appreciate,” he said. “They were great to me with that. … They had great coaches as well.”

FAMILY TIES: Sting general manager Dylan Seca has made a lot of draft picks over the years, but he may have been happiest to call Glavin’s name.

Ethan grew up around the Sting just like his brother, Saginaw Spirit defenceman Josh. Their father, Mark, is the Sting’s longtime director of hockey operations.

“He (Ethan) has been someone that we could rely on in all kinds of situations helping out around the rink,” Seca said. “Just to see him and have the opportunity to draft him was really exciting.

“We wanted to have the opportunity to draft his older brother and we couldn’t, but when we knew it could work out for Ethan, we were pretty excited.”

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The six-foot, 163-pound Glavin has wanted to play for the Sting since he was young. He looks forward to showing in camp that he belongs.

“I’m going to work every day to try and make this team next year, and try and play on this team for the years to come,” he said.

He added: “I helped out the equipment manager, Dawson Young, for three years now, so I’ve always been around this organization and been around the players. I definitely know what it’s all about and it’s just really cool to be a part of that now.”

He can already dress like a Sting player. His closet is stocked with team clothing.

“I’ve got like 500 of everything,” he said.

Glavin had one assist in 21 games this season after posting 5-12-17 totals in 30 games with the U15 Jr. Sting in 2023-24.

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‘NEVER GIVE UP’: The six-foot, 164-pound L’Heureux was working outside with his family Saturday waiting for good news from the draft.

“I was pulling nails out of the deck and then going back and checking the TV and just pacing back and forth,” he said. “Then, my coach texted me congratulations and that’s when I found out.”

He had 10 goals and 10 assists in 30 regular season and playoff games this season.

“They (the IceDogs) said that they love how aggressive I am, how I never give up no matter the score or who we play, and how I’m just an all-around hard worker,” he said.

A former London AA player, he spent two AAA seasons in Sarnia after being invited by Jr. Sting coach Tom Babcock.

“It was a big jump,” L’Heureux said. “It was really a lot faster, but I would say by November, December my first year I caught up to speed. When January came, I felt like I started to take off.”

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