Lauchlan Whelan could not contain his excitement. The 15-year-old forward from the Quinte Red Devils sought out Windsor Spitfires’ general manager Bill Bowler on four different occasions to give him a hug after the club made him the 16th overall pick in Friday’s OHL Draft in Kingston.
A Dream Realized
“I had them rated No. 1,” Whelan said of the Spitfires. “Mr. Bowler made such a good impression and, when he came to visit, I just had the perfect vibe.”
“When Windsor’s turn came up on the board (to pick), I had such a good feeling. It’s been nothing, but super special.”
Goal-Scoring Machine
The five-foot-11, 156-pound Whelan has been a goal-scoring machine for the Red Devils. He posted 20 goals in 23 games in under-15 play and came back with a 32-goal performance in 34 games this past season in under-16 action while totaling 54 points.
“He’s unreal and you can feel it in him,” Bowler said. “He has a passion for the game and he just loves hockey. He was excited and this was something he wanted.”
Versatile Player
Whelan figures to play centre at the OHL level, but, in his excitement, closed no doors for where the Spitfires might use him.
“I can play forward or defence,” Whelan said. “I’ll play anywhere.”
With the loss of Jack Nesbitt and Ethan Belchetz to the NCAA, looking up front was a natural choice for the Spitfires. Bowler believes, in time, that Whelan’s skill set will shine through.
“He’s an exciting player with offensive instincts, but he takes care of his responsibilities in all three zones,” Bowler said. “He’s an elite player, a great player and just his flair for the game, skating and offence.”
Local Connections
The Cobourg native lives near 500 kilometres away from Windsor, but it’s a couple of former Spitfires that made him fall in love with the city he’ll call his junior hockey home.
“J.C. Lemieux and Ethan Miedema are two guys I’ve grown up with,” Whelan said. “Ethan was my next door neighbour and J.C.’s a Quinte guy and we workout together.
“Those are two guys I’ve had the best advice from and they told me (Windsor’s) the best city and best organization in the league and I have heard anything else.”
