Merrimack recruit Steven LaForme has been traded to the Ottawa 67’s in the OHL and according to a press release by the team, will enter training camp for the 2020-21 season. If he signs with the 67’s, LaForme would forgo his NCAA eligibility.
It would seem likely that a signing is in the works, considering Ottawa’s willingness to trade for the forward.
“LaForme is an offensively gifted forward,” said NZ scouts at the GOJHL Top Prospects Game.
“He was able to create offensively with limited time and space. He showed off his skill level carrying the puck and distributing off the rush. He is dangerous as both a passer and a shooter. In the offensive end, he was very tough to knock off pucks and did a great job working through checks and keeping his feet moving. His cycle game was strong and it allowed him to dominate shifts at times. He was strong on pucks and threw his weight around when he needed to. We liked his effort level when his team went down early; he still drove hard to the net and battled for every puck. His vision as a passer was evident throughout as he finished with four assists.”
The 67’s acquired LaForme from the North Bay Battalion. In exchange, the 67’s will send one of their three fourth-round picks in 2021 to the Battalion.
LaForme was drafted by North Bay in the fifth round, 91st overall, of the 2019 OHL Priority Selection Draft. The Hagersville, Ontario, native spent all of last season with the Hamilton Kilty B’s of the GOJHL, scoring 11 goals and putting up 45 assists for 56 points in 50 games. In his 2018-2019 OHL draft season, the six-foot tall, 183 pound forward had 18 goals and 28 assists for 46 points in 33 games with the U16 AAA Brantford 99ers.
LaForme had committed to Merrimack this past January.
“Steven is an intelligent playmaker who is coming off a successful season with the Hamilton Kilty Bee’s organization. Steven’s size and skill complements our existing group of forwards,” said 67’s General Manager, James Boyd.
