For the Windsor Spitfires, it was no roll of the dice.

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For the Windsor Spitfires, it was no roll of the dice.

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Had he been healthy all season, John McLaughlin likely would not have been around when the Spitfires made their first-round selection in Friday OHL Draft.

“I think, if he had played all year, at the beginning of the year I probably would have had him in my top 10,” OHL director of central scouting Darrell Woodley said. 

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However, a knee injury ended McLaughlin’s season in October, but Spitfires’ general manager Bill Bowler did not hesitate with the 21st pick of the first round.

“The injury is probably what scared people away,” Bowler said. “This kid’s a hockey player and we think, at 21, we got a really good pick. He’s back skating and we’re not worried about (the injury) at all.”

McLaughlin had two goals in two games for the Lambton Jr. Sting minor midgets and had a goal and two points in a game with the Strathroy Rockets in the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League before he was shutdown.

“I don’t know when it happened,” the six-foot, 175-pound McLaughlin said. “It was a problem since September and I played through it through the middle of October and ended up getting (surgery) on Nov. 30. I’m back skating now.”

McLaughlin has worked out with current Spitfire Jack Nesbitt, who was Windsor’s first-round pick two years ago from the Lambton Jr. Sting and the 15-year-old McLaughlin said his goal is to reward the Spitfires for believing in him.

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“We really wanted to go anywhere, but it being Windsor might be the best spot in the OHL,” McLaughlin said. “I believe they got a steal and I’m going to work my butt off for Windsor.

“A lot of teams looked over me because of the injury and (the Spitfires) took me and I’m going to do whatever I can to help them win.”

McLaughlin was one of three selections made by the Spitfires during Friday’s first three rounds of the draft. All three play centre and all three players wore the captain’s C with their club last year including second-round pick Ian Inskip and third-round pick Ty Bergeron.

“As you move up, you look for people that compete on nightly basis and these three young men, their compete is evident and consistent and that shows in their attitude to the game and their teammates,” Bowler said.

The six-foot-two, 172-pound Inskip grew up in L’Original, which is halfway between Ottawa and Montreal, but played last season for the Mississauga Reps.

“Big, left shot centre,” Bowler said of Inskip. “Power forward that can us his strength and skill and has tremendous upside.”

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The 16-year-old Inskip had 17 goals and 28 points in 33 games last season along with 30 penalty minutes.

“It’s everything I’ve dreamed of,” Inskip said of the Windsor selection.“I’ve met with the Windsor squad quite a bit. This is a big, strong physical team and that is my game. I’m looking to get stronger, faster and better.”

Things are a little less clear with Bergeron, who played for Detroit Honeybaked last season. The 15-year-old attended the U.S. National Team Development Camp, but did not crack the squad and then signed a tender agreement on Thursday to play for the Muskegon Lumberjacks in the United States Hockey League.

“I appreciate it and I’m very flattered to be drafted,” Bergeron said of being selected by the Spitfires. “I’m surprised, but I’m going to take it one day at a time.”

The six-foot-one, 180-pound Bergeron put up 45 goals and 104 points in 67 games last season, but would not discuss his plans for next season.

“I want to go one day at a time and focus on my development,” said Bergeron, who is from Flat Rock, Mich.

The OHL Draft continues on Saturday with the Spitfires still with 12 more selections to make over the final 12 rounds.

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