Sting make Stamkos first overall pick at OHL draft

NEWS RELEASE

ONTARIO HOCKEY LEAGUE

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Stamkos to be Selected First Overall in OHL Priority Selection

Sarnia, ON – The Sarnia Sting Hockey Club announced this morning that Steven Stamkos of the Markham Waxers Minor Midget AAA team will be the first overall pick in the 2006 OHL Priority Selection. The OHL Priority Selection is set for Saturday May 6th beginning at 9:00 am.

Stamkos will receive the Jack Ferguson award as the player selected first overall in the OHL Priority Selection. Stamkos joins previous “Fergie” award winners such as last year’s recipient John Tavares, Jason Spezza, Alyn McCauley, and Kirk Muller as recipients of this prestigious distinction.

Stamkos lead the Markham Waxers Minor Midget AAA team to an undefeated season and an OHL Showcase Cup Championship. Stamkos led the OHL Showcase Cup Tournament in scoring with four goals, seven assists and 11 points in five games and was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player.

Stamkos, one of the top ranked players by OHL Central Scouting put up outstanding numbers, scoring 109 goals and 99 assists for 208 points in 72 games, for the Waxers.

OHL Central Scouting recorded the following report on Stamkos:

“Stamkos is one of the premier offensive players at the Minor Midget level. He possesses great puck skills and is always a threat to score when he is on the ice. He is a very good skater who shows the ability to get up to full speed immediately. Stamkos displays the ability to carry and attack with the puck at full speed. He plays a very smart and controlled game.” – OHL Central Scouting

OHL Central Scouting Chief Scout Rob Kitamura says that Sarnia Sting fans are going to enjoy watching Steven and his dynamic offensive abilities, over the course of his OHL career”.

The 2006 OHL Priority Selection will be conducted on Saturday May 6, 2006 beginning at 9:00 a.m. Media and fans can follow all of the results in real time on the league's Web site www.ontariohockeyleague.com. The web site will feature the Priority Selection results by round, by team and alphabetically and will include selected player information and photographs.

The OHL web site will also feature expanded coverage of the Priority Selection, including player interviews and a special live edition of OHL News - Radio Edition with Terry Doyle. The program will run from 9:00 a.m. through 12:00 noon with special interviews with selected players, team personnel and OHL Central Scouts.

Steven Stamkos Position: Center/Right Wing Height: 6.00 Weight: 165 lbs Home: Unionville, Ontario

Jack Ferguson Award History

The "Fergie" is presented annually to the player selected first overall in the Ontario Hockey League Priority Selection. The award recognizes the dedication and contributions made by Jack Ferguson during his 25 year association with the Ontario Hockey League, first as a scout with the Ottawa 67's and followed by his appointment as head of the OHL's Central Scouting Bureau in 1981 as its Director of Central Scouting.

Past Winners of the Jack Ferguson Award:

Year Player Team

1981 Dan Quinn, Belleville 1982 Kirk Muller, Guelph 1983 Trevor Stienburg, Guelph 1984 Dave Moylan, Sudbury 1985 Bryan Fogarty, Kingston 1986 Troy Mallette, S.S. Marie 1987 John Uniac, Sudbury 1988 Drake Berehowsky, Kingston 1989 Eric Lindros, S.S. Marie 1990 Pat Peake, Detroit 1991 Todd Harvey, Detroit 1992 Jeff O'Neill, Guelph 1993 Alyn McCauley, Ottawa 1994 Jeff Brown, Sarnia 1995 Daniel Tkaczuk, Barrie 1996 Rico Fata, London 1997 Charlie Stephens, Toronto 1998 Jay Harrison, Brampton 1999 Jason Spezza, Mississauga 2000 Patrick Jarrett, Mississauga 2001 Patrick O'Sullivan, Mississauga 2002 Rob Schremp, Mississauga 2003 Patrick McNeill, Saginaw 2004 John Hughes, Belleville 2005 John Tavares, Oshawa 2006 Steven Stamkos, Sarnia

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