Big moves ahead for local hockey player

Roger Varley

Sixteen-year-old Kyle Lauder hopes to be drafted by the Ontario Hockey League next month. Photo credit: RCAH Sports

Kyler Lauder is a five-foot-10, 160-pound scoring machine who expects to be showing off his talents in the OHA soon.

Lauder, 16, was a forward with the Central Ontario Wolves U16 AAA last season, scoring 35 goals and 34 assists in 32 regular games and adding another 16 points in 10 playoff games, making him the highest scoring player in the OMHA. As a result, he was named the OMHA East player of the year.

Now, Lauder is awaiting the OHL draft to be held in Kingston next month. He said he expects to be in the top 10 selected by OHL teams.

Lauder, an Uxbridge Secondary School student who also played for the Tigers, said he would prefer to be selected by a Michigan-based team, but added "I love to play anywhere."

His mother said that playing in the OHL has been her son's dream for the last eight years.

He started playing hockey on a backyard rink when he was four and began competitive hockey when he was nine. When he moved to the OMHA, the Wolves were the only team he played for.

Basically, wherever he goes to play, he will be billeted away from home. His father said the family has no problem with that.

"We stand behind him," the father said. "He's worked hard for this."