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Flyers top NHL draft pick commits to Penticton Vees

A first round pick in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft will play for the Penticton Vees this season
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A first round pick in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft has committed to playing with the Penticton Vees for the upcoming season.

Forward Jay O’Brien was the 19th overall pick in the 2018 draft by the Flyers and is coming to the Vees after spending last season with the Providence Friars in the NCAA.

Prior to heading to the NCAA, O’Brien was named the United States High School Hockey All-USA Player of the Year after his senior season at Thayer Academy in Braintree, Massachusetts.

READ MORE: Former NHL’ers son joins Penticton Vees

In 30 games that year, O’Brien scored 43 goals and added 37 assists for 80 points. The Flyers selected him in the draft after that season.

In four years of prep hockey, split between Thayer Academy and Dexter School in Brookline, Massachusetts, O’Brien scored 86 goals and 102 assists in 120 games. According to NHL.com, O’Brien was coached by former Flyers winger Tony Amonte — whose son Tristan Amonte (who also played at Thayer Academy) will suit up for the Vees as well for the upcoming season.

This past year, O’Brien was a member of Team USA at the World Junior Championships in Vancouver and Victoria helping Team USA to a silver medal.

The right-shot centre will spend his 20-year-old season with the Vees before returning to the NCAA ranks in 2020-21.

To report a typo, email: editor@pentictonwesternnews.com.

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