harvey no ordinary fifth-round pick as talented american signs with spitfires
caden harvey is no ordinary fifth-round pick. a year ag...
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after weighing his options, talented american forward caden harvey has signed with the windsor spitfires.
jim parker
/
the windsor star
caden harvey is no ordinary fifth-round pick.
a year ago, harvey would never have considered playing in the ontario hockey league and was bypassed in the draft before committing to penn state university in the summer.
but a few months later, the ncaa changed its rules regarding player eligibility for those competing in junior hockey. in april, the windsor spitfires swung a trade with the sarnia sting for a fifth-round draft pick and promptly scooped up harvey, who is from beaver, pa.
on wednesday, harvey, who was also being recruited by waterloo in the united states hockey league, made his decision to join the spitfires.
“i’m very excited and definitely relieved,” the 17-year-old harvey said. “there was a lot of pressure to find out what was best for me and i think windsor’s the best option for me.”
the six-foot-one, 175-pound harvey was a points machine for the pittsburgh penguins elite 16u team. he posted 41 goals and 95 points in 53 games. he also got into four games and scored two goals in the ushl for waterloo. harvey, who can play centre or the right side, also spent time with the united states national team development program.
“this is a great signing,” spitfires’ general manager bill bowler said. “sure, you see the points, but we see a very versatile player. he’s not just a points guy, but with his size, skating and being a right shot, which was a need for us, he just checks so many boxes.”
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harvey attended the spitfires’ development camp last month and left with a good impression.
“i got a chance to see the city, the rink and the people in the organization,” harvey said. “just looking at the history of the team and the ohl, it played a big role in my decision.”
caden harvey adds to an already talented core of 2008-born players with the windsor spitfires.
dan hickling/ohl images
harvey’s addition adds another piece to a strong core of 2008-born players that saw action with the spitfires last season in ethan belchetz and carter hicks, who were both ohl rookie all-stars, as well as j.c. lemieux, ethan garden, andrew robinson, max brocklehurst, jake windbiel and grady spicer, which will likely make the wfcu centre a must stop next season with the majority of that group heading into their nhl draft season.
“i think windsor’s the best option to help me get me drafted higher and it’s nice to know that the team’s going to be competitive with the time i’ll be there,” harvey said.
harvey was scheduled to join penn state university for the 2027-28 season and said he has spoken with team officials.
“they said it’s my timeline when i want to come in,” said harvey, who could push his enrolment back a year.
by joining the spitfires, harvey will get a chance to adjust to playing older and bigger players and he’s anxious to get to showcase his abilities.
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“i’m just going to continue to play the game i’m used to playing,” harvey said. “just a high compete and i think my speed will be as good as any. the more games i play, as the year goes on, i’ll get used to the play. i think, no matter where i was going to play, that my skills would come out and i’ll make the most of the my role as it comes.”
jpparker@postmedia.com
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