NASHVILLE AWAITS PATRICK JARRETT

Sault Ste. Marie native Patrick Jarrett was selected in the fifth round of Sunday's National Hockey League draft. The 18-year old centre was picked by the Nashville Predators from the OHL Owen Sound Attack. Jarrett, the no. 1 pick at the 2000 OHL draft, was acquired by Owen Sound midway through last season in a trade with the Mississauga IceDogs. A broken leg and a slow recovery from the injury limited Jarrett to just six goals last season. Meanwhile, two members of the OHL Soo Greyhounds were among the top 43 players selected through part one of the annual NHL draft which began Saturday. Centre Petr Taticek had his named called by the Florida Panthers in the first round, ninth overall. As a rookie last season, Taticek had 21 goals and 63 points in 59 games with the Hounds. Then, in the second round, 43rd overall, the Dallas Stars, using a pick acquired in a trade with the Washington Capitals, snared Hound defenceman Trevor Daley. Daley had nine goals and 48 points in just 47 games with the Hounds last season. Both Taticek and Daley are 19-years old and will return to the Greyhounds for another OHL season in the fall. Two other players with Sault area ties were taken by NHL teams. Defenceman Jeremy Swanson -- the Hounds' first-round pick at the 2000 OHL draft -- was taken by Florida in the sixth round. Swanson was dealt by the Hounds to the Barrie Colts for winger Dean Byvelds prior to the start of last season. And in the eighth round, the Vancouver Canucks snared goalie Matt Violin, who was a freshman with the Lake Superior State Lakers of the Central Collegiate Hockey Association last season. Meanwhile, the Greyhounds on Saturday did what SooToday.com said it would in previous stories, completing a trade with Owen Sound that sends 18-year old defenceman Patrick Sutton to the Attack for a fourth-round pick at the 2003 OHL draft. And in other OHL news, the Saginaw Spirit (formerly the North Bay Centennials) has hired Dan Halliburton as its director of player development. Halliburton spent the past two seasons with Owen Sound as its general manager. Owen Sound, on the look for a new coach after the resignation of Frank Carnevale last month, is said to be leaning towards hiring Geoff Ward as its new bench boss. Ward previously coached in the OHL with the Kitchener Rangers, Guelph Storm and (for a nine-game stint), the Mississauga IceDogs. Owen Sound hired Mike Futa as its GM last month, replacing the respected Halliburton, who, as noted, has landed on his feet in Saginaw.