THUNDER BAY – A centre who calls Thunder Bay his second home has been taken as the No. 2 pick in the Ontario Hockey League’s Priority Selection Draft.
Jaakko Wycisk is the son of former Lakehead Thunderwolves player Austin Wycisk and the nephew of Thunder Bay’s Journi Kuokkanen, who spent time overseas before wrapping up his playing days with the Thunderwolves.
The 16-year-old centre, who put up 61 points in 30 games with the Sun County Panthers U16 team, scoring once in a single appearance with the Ontario Junior Hockey League’s Leamington Flyers, was taken by the Guelph Storm.
Braeside, Ont.’s Kaden McGregor was the first overall pick, drafted by the Peterborough Petes.
Wycisk’s mother, Janna, is from Thunder Bay and he’s spent plenty of time in the city, including helping lead the 2009 FHC AAA team to a Stars and Stripes championship in 2023.
He told the Windsor Star the thought of being a high draft pick to the OHL is a special feeling.
“It’s super cool,” Wycisk said. “Windsor’s kind of a spot that people overlook for talent, but it produces a lot of high-end players and this year there are a lot of great players coming from Windsor. It’s super cool coming from a smaller town.”
Wycisk, whose father spent two seasons at Lakehead before embarking on a 12-season pro career in Europe, was the captain of the Panthers and was the first player from his hometown region named Alliance player of the year since 2018.
Wycisk told the Star that where he landed didn’t really matter, he was just happy to be in the conversation of possible No. 1 picks.
It’s not something I’m thinking about and anywhere I go would be amazing,” Wycisk said. “It (being the first overall pick) is a possibility, but I’m just looking forward to draft night.
“It’s an exciting time for all payers, not just me, and I’m looking forward to it. I can’t control anything, and we’ll see what happens.”
The youngster has also gotten advice from former Thunder Bay NHLer Trevor Letowski, currently an assistant coach with the Montreal Canadiens.
The teenager said both Windsor and Thunder Bay have forged his love of the game and helped him develop into the player he is today.
“Wherever hockey takes me, Windsor and Thunder Bay will always be home,” he told the Star.
Wycisk wasn’t the only player with local ties to hear his name called in the draft.
Thunder Bay’s Jake Ritson, who this season played for the Rink H.A. Winnipeg U18 Prep team, was taken in the fifth round, 88th overall, by the London Knights.
The 16-year-old centre had 20 goals and 57 points in 36 appearances in 2024-25.
Goaltender Charlie Weiss, who spent time with the Thunder Bay Kings before moving on to Oakville, was taken 100th overall, also by the Knights. Weiss was 13-3-0 with five shutouts and a 1.23 goals against average this past season with the Oakville Rangers U16 team.
Forward Pacey Adduono, who has committed to play hockey at the University of Massachusetts, was taken in the 10th round, 184th overall, by the Peterborough Petes. The 16-year-old from Thunder Bay had 128 points in 56 games playing for Iowa's Oakmoor Academy.
