Generals sign 3rd Rounder

Press Release

The Oshawa Generals continue signing up their draft picks for the 2009-10 Ontario Hockey League season.

General Manager/Coach Chris DePiero announced Tuesday the signing of defenseman Kyle Hope, the club's second 3rd round selection in May's Ontario Hockey League Priority Selection.

Hope played last season for the Chatham-Kent Cyclones Minor Midgets last season and is considered a solid prospect. He was taken 45th overall, right after Collin Sullentrop, who committed to the club recently along with first round selection Boone Jenner.

An offensive defenseman with very good skating and puck-handling skills, Hope will get every chance to show what he can do at the Generals training camp this fasll, according to DePiero.

"We're delighted that Kyle has committed to our hockey team for this coming season," DePiero said. "Our scouts identified him as a tremendous prospect and young man and we felt fortunate to get him when we did in the draft.

"Kyle is a smooth skater with a lot of offensive upside and we feel he's going to be a very solid OHL player for us for the next few seasons. We certainly welcome him and his family to our Generals family."

Hope had two goals and 15 assists for 17 points in 27 games last season with the Cyclones, along with 30 penalty minutes. He's 6-foot-2, 165 pounds and is a strong physical presence along with being a talented puck-moving rearguard.

"We're looking for certain kind of individuals to play in our organization and we're confident that Kyle is the kind of young man that is a great fit for us both off and on the ice," DePiero added.

The Generals also recently signed Jimmy McDowell, who played last season for the Detroit Little Caesars Under-16 team. The 12th round draft pick in May’s OHL Priority Selection turned in a strong season with the Little Caesars team and the promising young defenceman had a scholarship opportunity to go to Michigan State, but instead decided to join the Generals and will also report to the team's training camp next month.

(Nathan also is a writer for Maineiacs Post to Post and the Maine Hockey Journal. He can be reached at fourniern@students.nescom.edu)