WIIKWEMKOONG—Jack Nesbitt of Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory was drafted 20th overall by the Windsor Spitfires in the first round of the recent Ontario Hockey League (OHL) priority selection draft.
The 16-year-old Mr. Nesbitt, who lives in Sarnia (and whose mother is from Wiikwemkoong) was a centre on the Lambton Jr. Sting’s AAA under 16 team this past season. He was the captain and leading scorer with the team this year, scoring 20 goals and garnering 20 assists in 28 games.
Lambton Jr. Sting coach Brad Riley described Jack, who is 6’4” and 180 pounds, as being “skilled to the nines.”
“He’s gifted,” Mr. Riley told the Sarnia Journal April 21. “When he’s on the ice, you know he’s a special player, that’s for sure.
Bill Bowler, general manager of the Windsor Spitfires told The Windsor Star April 21 that Jack is “just a complete hockey player. He can play in any situation and any type of game. He has the offensive ability and is physical. He has a lot of potential at that size and frame, and we’re excited and thrilled to get him at 20 (in the draft).”
Jack told the Star being drafted, “feels great and amazing.”
He was a member of Team Ontario’s gold-medal winning team at this year’s Canada Winter games along with Dustin Peltier, a coach on the team (who also is a Wiikwemkoong band member and lives in Little Current) and helped the Jr. Sting reach a wildcard game at the OHL Cup.
