Jake Murray will never call Pano Fimis, Martin Misiak or Sam Alfano as Ontario Hockey League teammates.
That high-scoring trio for the Erie Otters, who combined for 96 goals and 229 points over their 2024-25 regular season, will graduate at the end of the franchise's current playoff appearance.
Murray, though, knows he'll be tasked with replacing a healthy portion of such production come this fall.
That's when the Meaford, Ontario, native will officially wear an Erie sweater for the first time. The Otters drafted the Huron-Perth Lakers center with their initial pick during Friday's first round of the OHL's priority selection draft.
"I know with those guys leaving, I'll have a bigger role to play," Murray said. "I'm looking forward to that, and I know some of the (returning players) will help me take to that role.
Murray, who spoke with Erie media during a Saturday teleconference, turned 16 on Feb. 26. He caught the attention of Otters general manager Dave Brown with his 29 goals and 35 assists over two seasons for Huron-Perth's under-16 AAA team.
Murray also augmented his draft case with eight goals and six assists during that team's just-completed postseason, plus two more goals during five OHL Cup appearances.
Vaughn Barr, Huron-Perth's goaltender, also was on the Otters' draft radar. They chose Murray's teammate on Saturday, when the league concluded its two days of selections.
Erie's 2025 draft picks
First round (12th overall): Jake Murray, center, Huron-Perth Lakers, U16 Alliance AAA
Second round (34th): Tyler Cooper, center, Chicago Reapers, U16 AAA
Third round: None.
Fourth round (74th): A.J. Gladman, defenseman, Vaughan Kings U16 AAA
Fourth round (81st from Windsor): Lyndon Cabral, forward, Don Mills Flyers U16 AAA
Fifth round (94th): Gage Hurst, goaltender, Oakland Junior Grizzlies 15s
Fifth round (99th from Barrie): Broden McArthur, defenseman, Dallas Stars Elite 16U
Sixth round: None.
Seventh round (134th): Mitchell Mars, center, Fox Motors 15s
Eighth round (154th overall): Solomon Wolf, defenseman, Buffalo Junior Sabres 15s
Ninth round (174th): Lucas Ward, defenseman, Halton Hurricanes U16 AAA
10th round (194th): Vaughn Barr, goaltender, Huron-Perth Lakers U16 AAA
11th round (214th): Cayden Jackman, center, St. Louis Blues 15s AAA
12th round (234th): Anthony Valenti, defenseman, Detroit HoneyBaked 15s
13th round (254th): ...
