Mauro looking to perfect game to earn OHL spot

One of a number of members of the Great North Midget League’s Soo Greyhounds eligible for the 2020 OHL Priority Selection earlier this month, Devin Mauro’s offensive game is something that has an appeal for major junior teams.

The 15-year-old forward wound up finishing second in GNML scoring with 62 points, which included 30 goals, in 28 games.

That proceeded to help the Sault product be selected by the Sudbury Wolves.

After being selected, Mauro said it took some time for it to sink in that he had been selected “but now I need to start getting back to work.”

That work will mean putting in time to perfect all aspects of his game.

“I have to work on areas of my game and get stronger,” Mauro said. “I need to be more consistent so I can fit into the OHL.”

Ahead of the annual event, Mauro spoke of how his skill set had allowed him to draw interest around the OHL.

“My ability to score and my speed and ability to beat defenders really stood out,” Mauro said at the time.

Even prior to joining the Jr. Greyhounds, Mauro’s scoring ability has been on display.

Playing with the Soo Greyhounds AAA major bantam team in 2018-19, Mauro scored 34 goals in 28 games and was a 45-goal scorer in AA bantam the previous season.

Jr. Greyhounds coach Jamie Henderson said Mauro “has the ability to be a game-changer.”

“When he decides to really be engaged, he’s got really high-end offensive instincts and some really gifted feet and he’s got a really good shot, which should be able to lead to some success at the next level,” Henderson added.

The opportunity to play his minor midget season in a major midget league is something that Mauro called a positive for his game.

“It was really different to start,” Mauro said of playing in the GNML. I was playing against kids that were a lot bigger and stronger. They looked like men compared to the kids I played against before. After the first couple of games, I got used to it and fit in.”