Forward Matt Gellatly, a junior at Enloe High School and a Raleigh native, has become the first player in the Carolina Hurricanes' junior system to be selected in the prestigious Ontario Hockey League draft.

The 17-year-old Gellatly, a 5-foot-10, 180-pounder, was picked by the Saginaw (Mich.) Spirit in the 2008 OHL Priority Selection. He was the 16th and final pick by the Spirit during the May 3 draft. Gellatly was selected in the 15th round, 286th overall.

The Canadian junior leagues historically have groomed many of the NHL's best prospects.

According to a news release by the Hurricanes, Gellatly was recommended for the draft by Junior Hurricanes coach Clay Cotie, a regional scout for the Red Deer Rebels of the Western Hockey League. Don Edwards, Saginaw's general manager, is a former Canes goalie coach.

With the Junior Hurricanes during the 2007-08 season, Gellatly had 19 goals and 17 assists in 36 games. Previously, he represented the Carolinas at the Quebec International Pee-Wee Tournament. He began playing the sport in 1996 as a player in the Raleigh Youth Hockey Association.

The OHL is comprised of two 10-team conferences. Saginaw, a member of the Western Conference, finished the '08 season with a 33-25-8-2 record.

Most first-year picks fail to land roster spots in the OHL, according to league spokesman Aaron Bell. The majority of the league's first-year picks don't actually play in the league until a year or two following the draft.

But once the roster barrier is cracked, OHL players have a decent chance of reaching the NHL. Bell said that roughly 20 percent of the NHL players in '08 put in some time in the OHL.

Current Hurricanes star Eric Staal is a former OHL player. His younger brother, 17-year-old Jarred, is a member of the OHL's Sudbury Wolves team.

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