Ivan Lodnia – Erie Otters – Player Profile

Height: 5’10”

Weight: 180 pounds

Date of birth: August 31, 1999

Hometown: Novi, MI

Position: Right Wing

Shoots: Right

OHL Draft: Round 1, 20^th overall, 2015 Priority Selection

After playing the 2014-2015 season with Detroit Honeybaked U16 squad, where he scored 15 goals and 14 assists in 26 games, the Erie Otters selected Ivan Lodnia in the first round, 20^th overall at the Ontario Hockey League’s Priority Selection in 2015.

Last season, Lodnia made a quick and easy adjustment to the OHL. He appeared in 62 games and scored 16 goals and 23 assists while seeing his role change from game-to-game and shift-to-shift. He would often be moved up and down the lineup, fitting in any role almost seamlessly. Lodnia would also appear in five games for the U.S. National U-17 Team scoring twice.

In August, Lodnia would play for team USA at the Ivan Hlinka Tournament. He scored 3 goals and added an assist in 4 games for the Americans.

This season, Lodnia’s role has been reduced somewhat, but it’s not for lack of ability. The Otters loaded up at trade deadline for a legit chance to capture the OHL Championship and Memorial Cup. “Dropping” Lodnia down give the Otters exceptional depth and a scoring threat wherever he plays.

The first concern you have with Lodnia is his size. But he has grown some and is probably closer to 5’11” now then the listed 5’10’ and still has room to grow. Despite that, Lodnia is surprisingly strong with an exceptional work ethic with a willingness to battle for pucks.

Lodnia is not an explosive skater – both in terms of first step and overall speed. But he is strong on his skates and uses his edges extremely well. When combined with his puck skills and determination, his skating is just good enough to beat defenders one-on-one or drive straight to the net with the puck.

Offensively, Lodnia can produce in so many ways. He is excellent in close – there are not many better. He has superb vision and can set up players with relative ease. His hockey sense is also extremely high and he knows how to get into position without the puck and making himself an option for his teammates.

There are those in hockey circles concerned with his point production. But I’m willing to look at the big picture in Erie and take everything into consideration – including the role he sometimes plays.

Lodnia was ranked 37^th among North American skaters on NHL Central Scouting’s mid-term rankings in January.

Ivan Lodnia

This is the profile page of Ivan Lodnia at http://www.eliteprospects.com