Livonia's Max Lappan was one of 21 hockey players born in 2010 from the Michigan area who were selected in the two-day Ontario Hockey League Draft, which wrapped up on Saturday.
The 6-foot-1, 224-pound defenseman from Detroit HoneyBaked was drafted ninth overall in the first round by the Niagara IceDogs on Friday night.
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Lappan had 22 goals and 93 assists for 115 points in 77 games with the HoneyBaked U15 team this year.
“He (Lappan) is a well-rounded, two-way defenseman," IceDogs scout Sean Lafortune told chl.ca. “He’s incredibly smart and incredibly effective at both ends of the ice. He’ll be a No. 1 minute eater for a long time in the league.”
“It was such a great honor to be drafted by Niagara,” Lappan said. “My first instinct was to go hug my parents because they do everything for me. … I just want to thank my family, God and my agency.”
Lappan was also the highest-drafted local player since HoneyBaked's Maxim Namestnikov of Wolverine Lake was taken third overall by the Sarnia Sting in 2020.
“I’m gonna bring my defensive ability to Niagara," Lappan said. "I’m gonna be closing plays off before the blueline, and I’m gonna be going fast up in transition and trying to score as many goals as possible.”
Lappan joins the IceDogs along with University of Michigan commit Ryerson Edgar, who was selected 10th overall in last year's OHL Draft.
Edgar was named to the OHL second all-rookie team with 23 goals and 26 assists in 64 games.
Oakland Township's Aiden Kelly was also drafted on Friday with the 20th and last pick of the first round.
The 5-11, 169-pound center from Little Caesars was selected by the Brantford Bulldogs. Kelly had 14 goals and 21 assists in 20 games with the Little Caesars U15 team this year.
Little Caesars had 11 players taken followed by Detroit HoneyBaked (seven), Fox Motors HC (two) and BioSteel Sports Academy (one).
The 21 players were the most local players taken in the OHL Draft in six years.
HoneyBaked (7)
▶ First round/No. 9 overall: Max Lappan (Livonia), D, 6-1, 224, Niagara
▶ 2nd/25: Ivan Belikov (Parkland, Florida), D, 6-3, 205, Sudbury
▶ 4th/69: Jake LaMontagne (New Hudson), D, 6-3, 198, Windsor
▶ 6th/115: Liam Weaver (Pinckney), D, 6-4 194, Oshawa
▶ 7th/135: Cash McElmurry (Royal Oak), C, 5-10, 179, London
▶ 8th/145: Dylan Degado (Weston, Florida), G, 6-0, 149, Peterborough
▶ 11th/209: Austin Hall (Livonia), LW, 5-8, 164, Owen Sound
Little Caesars (11)
▶ 1st/20: Aiden Kelly (Oakland Township), C, 5-11, 169, Brantford
▶ 2nd/27: Ryker Kesler (West Bloomfield), C, 6-2, 157, London
▶ 4th/71: Griffin Carver (Flat Rock), D, 5-11, 182, Saginaw
▶ 5th/84: John Montanino (Sarnia), D, 6-0, 200, Brampton
▶ 5th/99: Ben Slavick (Westland), LW, 6-2, 186, Ottawa
▶ 7th/137: Jack Trupiano (St. Clair Shores), C, 5-11, 183, Windsor
▶ 8th/150: Aiden Ali (Vernon Hills, Illinois), D, 6-1, 196, Niagara
▶ 8th/148: Alexander Moore (Northville), LW, 6-1, 172, Guelph
▶ 9th 158: Luke Pietila (Howell) RW, 5-9, 176, Barrie
▶ 13/261: Cole Sipotz (Saline), D, 6-0, 167, Erie
▶ 14/262: Stephen Knight (Troy), D, 5-11, 176, Oshawa
Fox Motors Hockey Club (2)
▶ 6th/118: Ryan Teuscher (Wyoming), C, 5-7, 171, Brampton
▶ 8th/147: Mason Martin (Byron), G, 6-0, 141, Saginaw
BioSteel Sports Academy (1)
▶ 4th/67: Garrett Sutton (Livonia), D, 6-3, 210, Sudbury
History of Michigan players drafted in the OHL
▶ 2026: 21
▶ 2025: 17
▶ 2024: 11
▶ 2023: 16
▶ 2022: 12
▶ 2021: 15
▶ 2020: 36
▶ 2019: 32
▶ 2018: 21
▶ 2017: 17
▶ 2016: 22
▶ 2015: 22
▶ 2014: 16
▶ 2013: 20
▶ 2012: 12
▶ 2011: 19
▶ 2010: 23
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Max Lappan, HoneyBaked defenseman, selected 9th overall in OHL Draft