Colin Kennedy, whose family tree includes current Erie Otters assistant Chris Hartsburg, has joined that same franchise.
The Otters took the forward with the second overall pick for the Ontario Hockey League’s priority selection draft.
Erie chose Kennedy on June 12, the first day of the two-day event at Slush Puppie Place in Kingston, Ontario. The league returned to a live, in-person draft format for the first time since 2000.
The Erie Otters selected forward Colin Kennedy with the No. 2 overall pick during Friday’s Ontario Hockey League’s priority selection draft.
Kennedy, who turned 16 on March 11, discussed the Otters’ decision during the draft’s online broadcast.
“It feels amazing to be drafted by a first-class organization,” he said, “and to have Matthew Schaefer call your name is an unreal feeling.”
Erie selected Schaefer No. 1 overall for the league’s 2023 draft. The New York Islanders defenseman announced the pick one month he was named the latest Calder Memorial Trophy recipient as the NHL’s rookie of the year.
The Otters picked Kennedy minutes after the Oshawa Generals drafted center Kane Cloutier No. 1 overall. Dan Cloutier, his father, was an NHL goaltender between 1997-2008.
Only the first round of the OHL’s 15-round draft was held June 12. All remaining rounds will be completed after a 9 a.m. start on June 13.
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‘Guarantees misery’
Kennedy, who turned 16 on March 11, comes to the Otters after he appeared in 20 games for the 2025-26 Little Caesars U15 AAA team. The Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, native recorded 24 goals and 12 assists for that Detroit team, plus another five goals and two assists during that season’s OHL Cup.
Erie general manager Dave Brown, who introduced Schaefer as the formal announcer for the team’s first pick, spoke about Kennedy in a team news release.
“We (selected) a player who embodies throwback qualities,” Brown said. “Colin’s competitive drive and determination are world-class. He boasts an amazing skill set, defined by his elite speed, cutting ability and talent for creating havoc among opponents.
“Colin guarantees misery for anyone who visits Erie Insurance Arena.”
Sept. 26 marks the first home game there for the 2026-27 Otters.
Kennedy also will be the second family member who appears within Erie’s home box when that occurs. He’s the nephew of Chris Hartsburg, Erie’s coach from 2017-18 through his Nov. 11, 2021, dismissal.
The Otters rehired Hartsburg as a developmental skills assistant last season
Craig Kennedy, Colin’s father, played for the Windsor Spitfires throughout the late 1990s and early 2000s.
Craig Hartsburg, Colin’s grandfather, skated for the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds before a 10-season career (1979-89) with the former Minnesota North Stars.
Craig Hartsburg also experienced head coaching tenures with the NHL’s Chicago Blackhawks, Anaheim Ducks and Ottawa Senators.
Anniversary announcement
Kennedy was the more prominent of two June 12 additions to the 2026-27 Otters.
A 30th anniversary logo that the Erie Otters will occasionally wear during their 2026-27 Ontario Hockey League season.
A special 30th anniversary logo will be seen on the players’ uniforms and throughout the arena this season. It will include some details from the logo for Erie’s original 1996-97 team.
Two other logos will incorporate details of others displayed over those decades.
Contact Mike Copper at mcopper@timesnews.com. Follow him on X @ETNcopper.
This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Erie Otters choose Colin Kennedy with No. 2 pick for OHL draft