Things could not have worked out any better for Justin Flora at the 2025 Ontario Hockey League Priority Selection.
The 16-year-old winger was hoping to be selected, but got to have his cake and it eat too when he was chosen by the Niagara IceDogs in ninth round (172nd overall).
“I didn’t really know where exactly when I was going to go but I always had the IceDogs as a team that I really wanted to go to,” he said. “I grew up watching them going to playoff games and seeing the experience. I always had a thought of going to that team, so hearing them call my name was something I was really excited about.
“It’s been a dream come true. I’ve been dreaming about this since I was a kid. So finally hearing my name being called is something I’ve been looking forward to. It’s just a surreal, surreal experience for me.”
IceDogs director of scouting Adam Henrich was thrilled to be able to select Flora.
“He’s a prolific goal scorer. He’s a little undersized, but competes and he’s growing,” Henrich said. “Maybe he’ll compete for a spot next year here. He moved to Toronto to play hockey and he carried that team on any given night.
“We’re really happy with him.”
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