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Two OJHL players, Matthew Cairns (pictured at 2016 NHL Draft after being selected by the Edmonton Oilers - photo credit: Dan Hickling/Hickling Images) and Patrick Kudla, lead a charge of 73 OJHL Alumni that are chasing their NHL dreams by attending NHL Development Camps this summer.

Matthew Cairns - Toronto Patriots/Georgetown Raiders, 2014-16
Edmonton Oilers - 3rd Round, 84th overall - 2016 NHL Draft
The 18-year old joined the Raiders this season after capturing an OJHL Championship as a rookie with the Toronto Patriots last season.  Standing at 6'2", while also possessing speed and mobility, has made the scouts take notice and Cairns has continued to add to his hockey repertoire throughout his sophomore campaign.

"Matthew is an offensive puck-moving defenceman who possesses good size and is a strong, mobile skater," said Director of NHL Central Scouting Dan Marr.  "He has good offensive instincts and a good first pass game; totaled 24 assists this year. Cairns makes good decisions under pressure and is a very good size/strength and one-on-one defender. Capable to play in any situation and can pass and shoot with authority. He has used his time in the OJHL to develop his overall game and prepare himself for the next stage of his hockey career."

Cairns' championship experience was counted on by the Raiders in all situations this season as he more than tripled his career offensive-highs with 9 goals, 24 assists and 33 points in 46 games played to lead the club's defensive corps in scoring, as well as rank 12th, 16th and 18th respectively among all league rearguards.  Manning the point for Georgetown on both special teams units, Cairns led all OJHL defencemen with two shorthanded goals and registered 15 power play points to rank third on the Raiders, while also notching two game-winning goals during the season.  His play helped the club captured the OJHL West Division and South-West Conference Regular Season title this season.

Other highlights of Cairns' impressive sophomore campaign included being named a member of Team OJHL Nieuwendyk for the 2015 Eastern Canada Cup All-Star Challenge that was held in Cornwall, Ontario.  His efforts throughout the season and the All-Star tournament ultimately helped him also earn a spot on Team Canada East at the 2015 World Junior 'A' Challenge that was held in Cobourg and Whitby, Ontario.  In January, Cairns received another pair of accolades as he was first listed tops among OJHL players, 93rd overall among North American skaters, by NHL Central Scouting in their Mid-Term Rankings for the 2016 NHL Draft, and then was named to Team East for the 2016 CJHL Prospects Game held in Surrey, B.C.  Cairns is committed to join the Cornell University Raiders beginning with the 2017-18 ECAC season.