Aaron Ekblad is a Canadian major junior ice hockey player for the Barrie Colts

Barrie Colts

The Barrie Colts are a junior ice hockey team in Ontario Hockey League, based in Barrie, Ontario, Canada. There were two previous Barrie Colts team which played Junior A & B hockey in the Ontario Hockey Association, one from 1907 until 1910 and another from the 1920s to 1940s.-Original Colts:The...

 of the Ontario Hockey League

Ontario Hockey League

The Ontario Hockey League is one of the three Major Junior ice hockey leagues which constitute the Canadian Hockey League. The league is for players aged 15-20.The OHL also operates under the Ontario Hockey Federation of Hockey Canada....

 (OHL). He was selected first overall in the 2011 OHL Entry Draft.

Playing career

In 2010-11, Ekblad competed for the Sun County Panthers minor midget AAA team in southwestern Ontario. He had 34 points in 30 regular season games and added 21 points in 18 playoff games.

OHL

Ekblad’s application to be the only player born in 1996 in the draft was approved unanimously, after a six week review by Hockey Canada. With the approval, Ekblad became the first defenceman ever granted "exceptional player" status. The status allows him to compete in the Canadian Hockey League a year earlier than his eligible age. The only other player given such eligibility was John Tavares in 2005.

Personal

His brother, Darien, a goaltender was drafted by the London Knights

London Knights

The London Knights are a junior ice hockey team from London, Ontario, Canada, playing in the Ontario Hockey League, one of the leagues of the Canadian Hockey League.-Early days–1968:...

. Currently, he is playing Junior B for the Leamington Flyers

Leamington Flyers

The Leamington Flyers are a Canadian junior ice hockey team based in Leamington, Ontario, Canada. They play in the Western division of the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League.-History:...

. His OHL rights are currently owned by the Plymouth Whalers

Plymouth Whalers

The Plymouth Whalers are a major junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey League. They play out of Compuware Arena in Plymouth, Michigan, USA.-History:...

Awards and honours

• Awarded the 2011 Jack Ferguson Award
  Jack Ferguson Award
  The Jack Ferguson Award, or "Fergie", is awarded each year to the top draft pick in the Ontario Hockey League Priority Selection Draft. The trophy is named in honour of Jack Ferguson, a former director of OHL Central Scouting.-Winners:...
  
   which the OHL presents annually to the player picked first overall in the OHL Priority Selection.

External links