OHL In The System: Winnipeg JetsThe latest instalment of OHL In The System takes a closer look at the Winnipeg Jets.
This 32-part series spotlights OHL players who are either signed to an NHL or AHL contract or are recently drafted, and are 25 years old or younger with 50 or fewer NHL games played.
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Kevin He (LW) – Niagara IceDogs (2022-24)Selected: 109th overall, 2024 NHL DraftOHL Career Stats: 130 Games Played | 52 Goals | 35 Assists | 87 PointsAge: 18Selected by the Winnipeg Jets in the fourth round of the 2024 NHL Draft, Kevin he became the highest Chinese-born player ever drafted into the National Hockey League. Chosen by the Niagara IceDogs in the second round of the 2022 OHL Priority Selection, the 18-year-old forward has registered 87 points in 130 games played over two seasons in Niagara.
Kieron Walton (LW) – Sudbury Wolves (2022-24)Selected: 187th overall, 2024 NHL DraftOHL Career Stats: 111 Games Played | 26 Goals | 30 Assists | 56 PointsAge: 18The second OHL player to hear their name called by the Jets at the 2024 NHL Draft, Kieron Walton was selected by Winnipeg in the sixth round, 187th overall. Drafted to the Sudbury Wolves in the second round of the 2022 OHL Priority Selection, the Toronto, Ont. native has tallied 56 points in 111 games played over two OHL seasons. The 18-year-old forward has added one assist in 11 playoff contests.
Dom DiVincentiis (G) – North Bay Battalion (2021-24)Signed: July 5, 2023OHL Career Stats: 117 Games Played | 2.68 GAA | 0.907 SV% | 77-26-6-2 Record | 6 ShutoutsAge: 20The Winnipeg Jets seventh round pick at the 2022 NHL Draft, Dom DiVincentiis signed a three-year entry-level contract with the club on July 5, 2023. Backstopping the North Bay Battalion to three consecutive Eastern Conference Finals, Dom DiVincentiis has appeared in 117 regular season contests, playing to a 77-26-6-2 record along with a 2.68 goals-against average and 0.907 save percentage over his three-year OHL tenure. Additionally, the 20-year-old netminder has played to a 14-9-4-0 playoff record. At the conclusion of the 2022-23 season, DiVincentiis was awarded OHL Goaltender of the Year honours, and was named to the OHL’s First All-Star Team and the CHL’s Second All-Star Team. He posted the most shutouts by any OHL goaltender during that season (5).
Colby Barlow (LW) – Owen Sound Attack (2021-24)Signed: September 21, 2023OHL Career Stats: 168 Games Played | 116 Goals | 68 Assists | 184 PointsAge: 19Selected 18th overall by the Winnipeg Jets at the 2023 NHL Draft, Colby Barlow signed a three-year entry-level contract with the team on September 21, 2023. Chosen eighth overall by the Owen Sound Attack in the 2021 OHL Priority Selection, the 19-year-old forward has played three seasons in the OHL, tallying 184 points in 168 regular season contests. Barlow has additionally recorded 12 points in 15 post-season matchups. The Orillia, Ont. native has had a decorated OHL career, being named to the OHL First All-Rookie Team in 2021-22, and the OHL First All-Star Team in 2022-23. He was awarded OHL and CHL Scholastic Player of the Year honours in 2022-23. Barlow has also found success on the international stage, winning a gold medal with Team Canada at the 2023 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, and a bronze medal at the 2023 U18 IIHF World Junior Championship.
Jacob Julien (C) – London Knights (2022-24)Selected: 146th overall, 2023 NHL DraftOHL Career Stats: 107 Games Played | 38 Goals | 56 Assists | 94 PointsAge: 19Selected by the London Knights in the third round of the 2021 U18 OHL Priority Selection, Jacob Julien has proven himself as a dominant force in the League. Helping the Knights hoist the J. Ross Robertson Cup as OHL champions this past season, the 19-year-old forward registered 78 points in 67 games played, along with 18 points in 18 playoff contests. Over his two seasons with the Knights, Julien has totaled 94 points in 107 regular season matchups, along with 25 points in 38 post-season contests. The London, Ont. native was chosen by the Winnipeg Jets in the fifth round of the 2023 NHL Draft.
Danny Zhilkin (C) – Guelph Storm (2019-23), Kitchener Rangers (2022-23)Signed: December 30, 2022OHL Career Stats: 186 Games Played | 59 Goals | 67 Assists | 126 PointsAge: 20Chosen in the third round of the 2022 NHL Draft, Danny Zhilkin signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Winnipeg Jets on December 30, 2022. The 20-year-old forward spent the 2023-24 season with the AHL’s Manitoba Moose, recording seven points in 44 games played. Selected by the Guelph Storm in the first round of the 2019 OHL Priority Selection, the Mississauga, Ont. native played three seasons in the OHL between the Storm and the Kitchener Rangers, tallying 126 points in 186 regular season games played. He added seven points in 13 playoff contests. Zhilkin won a gold medal with Team Canada at the 2021 U18 IIHF World Junior Championships.
Dmitry Kuzmin (D) – Flint Firebirds (2021-23)Signed: August 15, 2021OHL Career Stats: 122 Games Played | 32 Goals | 71 Assists | 103 PointsAge: 21Selected by the Jets in the third round of the 2021 NHL Draft, Dmitry Kuzmin signed a three-year entry-level contract with Winnipeg on August 15, 2021. He appeared in 18 AHL games with the Manitoba Moose last season, tallying three points in 18 games played. He spent the majority of 2023-24 with the ECHL’s Norfolk Admirals, registering nine points in 24 contests. Chosen by the Flint Firebirds in the 2020 CHL Import Draft, the 21-year-old blueliner played two seasons in the OHL from 2021-23, recording 103 points in 122 games played. The Kholstovo, Belarus native helped the Firebirds reach the Western Conference Finals in 2022, tallying 13 points in 19 playoff contests. Kuzmin won a gold medal with Team Belarus at the 2022 U20 WJC (D1A) tournament.
Monday’s edition of In The System, features the Carolina Hurricanes organization!
