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Wolves sign centre Nathan Villeneuve, making him OHL’s 3rd overall draft pick

Also drafted by the Wolves were left winger Kieron Walton and goaltender Andrew Gaulton
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Nathan VIlleneuve has signed with the Sudbury Wolves.

The Sudbury Wolves has announced that Nathan Villeneuve has committed to the hockey club. The 6-0, 183-pound centre was selected by the Wolves Friday night, third overall, in the 2022 OHL Priority Selection. 

The Orleans, Ont. native signed a standard player agreement with the Wolves following an exciting first draft day.

“I am honoured and humbled to be drafted by the Sudbury Wolves,” said Villeneuve, in a press release. “I am really looking forward to joining this historic franchise and am very excited to get started in Sudbury this fall. It’s been my dream to play in the OHL since I was young and I am really looking forward to meeting my new teammates and coaches.”

Villeneuve played the 2021-22 season for the Navan Grads U18AAA where he notched 26 goals and 41 assists for 67 points through 30 games, while also adding 79 penalty minutes.

“We just loved Nathan and his combination of speed, compete, and his relentlessness,” said Sudbury Wolves VP and General Manager Rob Papineau. 

“We felt he was one of the top players in this draft and for us to be able to pick him at number three is exceptional for our hockey team. For our fans, he would be the kind of guy that brings the speed of a David Goyette, relentlessness of a Kocha Delic and competitiveness of the Pilon twins. We just know our fans are going to love him here in Sudbury,” added Papineau.

Villeneuve is a highly skilled power forward with tremendous speed and hockey sense. He plays a complete 200-foot game. He is tenacious on the forecheck and on the backcheck. Physically dominant on the ice, possessing an elite hockey skillset with his pace, compete, and motor. Villeneuve can create momentum many ways for his team either by finishing a check, scoring a goal, or setting up a teammate.

He is a leader who is well respected in his locker room. When it comes to off-ice training Villeneuve is second to none, which translates to a relentless work ethic on ice, said a press release from the Wolves.

Villeneuve joins a group of highly skilled returning young players, including highly touted NHL draft eligible David Goyette and 2021 1st overall draft pick Quentin Musty.

Villeneuve was the first of three players selected by the Wolves on day one of the OHL Draft. Also drafted includes left winger Kieron Walton (28th) and goaltender Andrew Gaulton (43rd). The 2022 OHL Priority Selection concluded Saturday with rounds 4-15. Fans can check out all Wolves' draft selections at sudburywolves.com, or by following the team on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.


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