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The first-round playoff series between the Windsor Spitfires and Sarnia Sting could have a whole different look had the 2019 Ontario Hockey League Draft played out a little differently.
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Windsor center grabbed Wyatt Johnston with the sixth overall pick in the first round and he became the first Spitfire to win an outright league scoring title in a quarter century this season while helping the club to the top spot in the Western Conference.
One pick later, Sarnia made goalie Ben Gaudreau the first goalie drafted in the first round since 2012. The seventh overall pick that year, Gaudreau has been the glue to the youthful Sting’s march to a playoff spot.
However, former Spitfire general manager Warren Rychel admitted this week that he was very close to making Gaudreau Windsor’s top pick that season.
“Really close, especially after losing Mikey (DiPietro),” Rychel said. “I wanted a goalie.”
DiPietro was a rock in net for parts of four seasons with the Spitfires and backstopped the club to a Memorial Cup title in 2017 before graduating in 2019. Rychel thought Gaudreau might provide the club another rock in net for four more seasons, but on draft day opted for Johnston.
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“Changed my mind on the morning of the draft,” Rychel said. “(Johnston was) just the best all-around player.”
A draft pick of the NHL’s San Jose Sharks, Gaudreau admits there were plenty of conversations with the Spitfires.
“I remember the draft vividly,” the 19-year-old Gaudreau said. “I had quite a few (conversations) with (the Spitfires). It’s always a nice arena to play in, but I was definitely excited for anybody to take me.”
He called Rychel’s comparisons to DiPietro a compliment.
“It’s definitely a compliment,” Gaudreau said. “I remember watching DiPietro. He was pretty awesome. Hearing the rumors I might go there was really cool.”
Before being selected by the Spitfires, Johnston said he had been approached by the Sting.
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“They were one of the teams that I talked to a bunch of times,” said the 18-year-old Johnston, who was a first-round NHL Draft pick of the Dallas Stars last year. “I think that was one of the teams on my radar.”
While he has become one of the league’s top goaltenders with the Sting, Gaudreau admits there’s always a little motivation playing a team that passed on him in the draft.
“Like any other guy, you want to prove to anyone that they didn’t take you that they were wrong,” Gaudreau said. “It’s interesting to see how things happen and one of those decisions that can shape a franchise.”
Neither franchise should have any draft remorse from their respective selection and Gaudreau and Johnston have actually become close friends.
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“I’ve got a few buddies on Windsor,” Gaudreau said. “Wyatt’s one of my best friends in the league.”
The two became close last year in helping Canada to the gold medal at the World Under-18 Hockey Championship in Texas.
“Wyatt and I sat close to each other in (dressing) room and he’s a great guy,” Gaudreau said. “I’ve gotten to know him and even over the summer we continue to talk.”
When the two clubs met for the final time in the regular season last month in Sarnia, Gaudreau took the unusual step of seeking out a few members of the Spitfires on the ice at the end of the game to wish them well down the stretch. At the time, he had no idea two teams would meet in the playoffs.
“It’s one of those things where you wish good luck going forward not knowing what was going to happen,” Gaudreau said. “There’s a lot of guys in this league that are friends and I’ve had it texted to me from a few guys. It’s just a respect thing from the players.”
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