Spirit sign 2017 second round picks Aidan Prueter and Duncan Penman prior to this weekend's prospect camp

Saginaw Spirit General Manager Dave Drinkill announced the signing of forward Aidan Prueter (a second round pick, 24th overall) and defenseman Duncan Penman (a second round, 25th overall) a pair of second round picks from the 2017 Ontario Hockey League under-17 Priority Selection draft at a press conference inside the Dow Event Center this afternoon. 

 

Following the signing of 2016 No. 1 pick Blade Jenkins and 2017 No. 1 pick Nicholas Porco last week, the Spirit will now have 3 of its top 4 picks from the 2017 OHL priority selection draft (and Jenkins) in town for this weekend's Spirit prospect camp at Saginaw Bay Ice Arena. 

 

“Today was another big day for us, I couldn't be happier to welcome Aidan Prueter and Duncan Penman, along with their families, to our Spirit family,” Drinkill said. “This is a start to a really great weekend showcasing to our prospects what this team and community has to offer. Receiving commitments from Aidan and Duncan gets the weekend started off with a bang.”

 

Prueter, who will not turn 16 until Dec. 21, is a 5-foot-9, 165-pound left shooting center/forward from London, ON who played minor midget hockey for his hometown London Jr. Knights in the Minor Hockey Alliance of Ontario where he tallied 51-points (18-goals, 33-assists) in 33-games last season. 

 

“It's pretty surreal right now,” Prueter said. “What Dave (Drinkill) and Spencer (Carbery) are building here is pretty special. I am looking forward to camp and getting on the ice this weekend.”

 

Penman, who turns 16 this summer, is a 6-foot, 175-pound left-shooting defenseman from Oakville, ON who played minor midget hockey for the Mississauga Rebels AAA program in the Greater Toronto Hockey League where he posted 39-points (11-goals, 28-assists) in 76-games last season. He also suited up, playing 1-game for the Oakville Blades of the Ontario Junior Hockey League where he managed 10-penalty minutes in his 1 appearance last year. 

 

“It's a very special day for Aidan and myself,” Penman said. “This is a great organization with the coaches and what is being done behind the scenes with the construction of the brand new dressing room; it's crazy how awesome this next season is going to be for us.”

 

Prueter and Penman will join Jenkins and Porco, and another 29 Spirit prospects (33 in all) from the past two draft classes for three on-ice scrimmages at the 2017 Saginaw Spirit Prospect's Camp tomorrow and Sunday at Saginaw Bay Ice Arena in Saginaw Township. 

 

The prospect's will first take the ice at 10 am Saturday morning, then again at 6 pm Saturday evening before wrapping up camp with a final 10 am Sunday morning scimmage.