Spirit GM Dave Drinkill announces signing of 2016 pick Caleb Everett to OHL standard player agreement

Many thought Everett would be playing NCAA hockey after he played with Compuware in the HPHL and Muskegon in the USHL last year, however, like Blade Jenkins he decided on the OHL.....

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Saginaw Spirit

Jason Marcoux

Jason Marcoux

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At a press conference on Tuesday afternoon, Saginaw Spirit GM Dave Drinkill announced the team had signed 2016 sixth round draft pick Caleb Everett to an Ontario Hockey League standard player agreement.

“When I took the job here (in Saginaw) I was a big believer in drafting and developing properly,” Drinkill said at the press conference. “Meeting these families and meeting these players and being able to see that they are raised properly, how they view the game, and how they push themselves, Caleb was a fit right away. We are thrilled to welcome him to the Spirit family.”

The 6-foot-2, 185-pound defenseman from Pleasant Lake, MI (near Jackson) helped the Compuware under-16 team win the 2016-17 High Performance Hockey League championship last season before spending two regular season games and 1 playoff game with the Muskegon Lumberjacks of the United States Hockey League where he had an assist.

Everett seemed to have been leaning toward the NCAA, which is likely why he had fallen to the sixth round of the 2016 Ontario Hockey League priority selection draft. Even as recently as a few weeks ago, Everett was ranked No. 6 on SB Nation's list of the top 50 uncommitted 2000-born U.S. hockey players.

Joining a growing list of American born players on the Spirit roster, Everett is excited to finally have a home for the next few years where he can start putting in the work with fellow Jackson area native Blade Jenkins, along with D.J. Busdeker who both played in the Compuware program.

“I am excited to get this decision behind my and focus my attention on the season,” Everett said. “I am happy with the decision I made (to join the Spirit) and excited for next year with this group.”

Everett is known for his physical play, however, he did score 2-goals and an assist in his three games at the Spirit Prospect Camp back in the first week of May.

Losing 3 of the 5 top defensemen from last season following the departure of Detroit Red Wings prospect Filip Hronek, Edmonton Oilers prospect Markus Niemelainen, and C.J. Garcia, the Spirit will welcome Everett's physical presence as he joins Toronto Maple Leafs draft pick Keaton Middleton, Marcus Crawford, along with fellow American defenseman Brock Hill (Gurnee, IL.) holding down the blue line for the Spirit next season.

Training camp for the 2017-18 season is set for August, 28 at the Dow Event Center where Everett willl finally get to go to work with Spirit head coach Spencer Carbery and his staff preparing for his first OHL season.

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