Pierce Mbuyi. (image from @AttackOHL Twitter)
The Owen Sound Attack took forward Pierce Mbuyi with their first-round pick, seventh overall in the 2024 OHL Priority Selection Friday evening.
Mbuyi, 15, played for the Toronto Marlboros U16 AAA team in the Greater Toronto Hockey League during the 2023-24 season, scoring 29 goals and adding 30 assists in 35 games.
The five-foot-10, 145-pound Mississauga native then had an impressive showing at the OHL Cup, finishing tied for the tournament lead in scoring with 13 points (6-7–13) in five games.
“Lots of speed, lots of skill. He’s tenacious on the puck, works hard. There’s really little he doesn’t do. I know he’s going to grow. He’s got an older brother,” says Owen Sound Attack General Manager Dale DeGray. “But as far as players and skill, and what he can do, he’s right up there with anybody in this draft.”
“We watched him at the OHL Cup … there’s lots there,” continues DeGray. “He plays in the GTHL, in a highly, highly competitive league and he had a ton of points.”
Mbuyi was the first of four picks the Attack made Friday evening during the first three rounds of the 2024 OHL Priority Selection.
The Attack selected defenceman Mason Roy in the second round, 42nd overall. He’s from Campbellville and played with the Halton Hurricanes U16 AAA team in the Ontario Minor Hockey Association during the 2023-24 season, putting up 28 points (2-26–28) in 34 games.
Owen Sound took another player from the Halton Hurricanes program with its first pick of the third-round, 53rd overall, Ethan Kindree.
The five-foot-nine, 166-pound forward had 51 points (22-29–51) in 33 games with the Hurricanes during the 2023-24 season.
With their final pick on Friday evening, the Attack took defenceman Elliot Arnett, in the third-round, 62nd overall.
Arnett is from Alliston and played with the OMHA’s Barrie Junior Colts U16 team during the 2023-24 season. The 6-foot, 180-pound blueliner had 15 points and 59 penalty minutes in 31 games.