Battalion's Draft Week Begins
North Bay Battalion Kicks Off Draft Week, Selects Wyatt Marks and Grady Dale in OHL-U18 Selection
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The North Bay Battalion kicked off draft week Monday by making two picks in the 10th annual OHL U18 Priority Selection — a process held every year before the main OHL Priority Selection. In the first round, the Battalion took left winger Grady Dale 11th overall. In the second round, they added right winger Wyatt Marks from the Waterloo Wolves U18s. BayToday.ca reported both picks were made online on the evening of June 8.
The No. 1 overall pick went to the Oshawa Generals, who selected centre Ethan Cava of the Seventh Fire Secondary School Eagles U18 — making him the first player from that program ever taken first overall in the U18 draft, according to OHL Official.
Grady Dale Brings Local Ties and Big Offensive Numbers
Dale is no stranger to North Bay. He played for the North Bay Trappers U16s before moving on to the BioSteel Academy. His stats turned heads: 28 goals and 45 assists for 73 points in 50 games, with just 12 penalty minutes. That point total is one of the strongest offensive outputs by any U18 pick the Battalion has made in recent years, according to BayToday.ca.
His father, Andrew Dale, was a Los Angeles Kings draft pick, giving Grady a deep hockey pedigree. Local media described the pick as something of a homecoming. BayToday.ca noted that Dale's clean, high-scoring style made him one of the most offensively ready players available in the 2026 U18 draft.
Wyatt Marks Selected Despite Missing Time to Shoulder Surgery
Marks is viewed as a calculated risk. He missed significant playing time last season due to shoulder surgery. At 156 lbs, he also still has physical development ahead of him. But Battalion general manager John Winstanley likes what he sees. Winstanley said Marks has "talent, determination and commitment to getting better every day," according to North Bay News.
Winstanley added that Marks "embodies the culture we're building." The GM praised his hockey IQ and his drive to improve. If Marks is not fully healthy by training camp in late August, he could be sent to the Powassan VooDoos — the Battalion's Junior A affiliate — to continue his development, per BayToday.ca.
What the U18 Draft Is and Why the Battalion Uses It
The OHL U18 Priority Selection started in 2017. It was created to give a second chance to players who were overlooked in the main U16 draft. Many of these players peak physically or skill-wise at 17 or 18 — later than most top prospects. The draft involves all 20 OHL teams and runs three rounds, according to BayToday.ca.
The Battalion has used the process every year since it began. North Bay picked two skaters this year instead of a goaltender. Choosing a goalie would have earned them a third pick. That decision signals the team wanted immediate wing depth rather than filling out the roster with a backup option, per Brantford Expositor.
Eyes Now Turn to the Main OHL Priority Selection Friday
With the U18 selections done, the Battalion now prepares for the main OHL Priority Selection, scheduled for Friday, June 12 and Saturday, June 13. That draft targets 16-year-old prospects and is the bigger event in terms of roster building. The order of picks in the main draft follows the results of the U18 draft and a weighted lottery held earlier this spring, according to CHL.ca.
Training camp is expected to open at Memorial Gardens on August 31. Dale and Marks will compete there alongside U16 picks for roster spots. For Dale especially, the camp will be a chance to show North Bay fans that the hometown connection comes with real OHL-level talent.
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