Sudbury native Max McCue has committed to the London Knights, signing an OHL Standard Player's Agreement last week.

A long-time product of the Sudbury Minor Hockey Association and forward with the Sudbury Minor Midget "AAA" Wolves in 2018-2019, McCue was selected in the second round of the 2019 OHL draft by the Knights, 34th overall, after registering 14 goals and 27 assists in 24 games with the Wolves.

Standing 6'0" and weighing in at 154 pounds (according to the London media release), the grade ten student at Lo-Ellen Park Secondary School was also captain of Team NOHA at the OHL Cup, in April, in Toronto.

"Heading into the draft, my options were open between either going to school (NCAA) or going to the OHL," said McCue. "In the end, getting drafted by London, which I think is one of the top organizations in the CHL, that was a huge advantage for me."

Still, like most first year players, McCue is going to have to adjust. The transition from being a star on your team through almost the entirety of a minor hockey career, to suddenly being back near the bottom of the totem pole, is not always one that is easily made.

"Over the past few years, I've been one of the go to guys, whether we needed a goal late, or shut them down late," said McCue. "I think with Mark (Hunter) and Dale (Hunter) talking to me, giving me tips on how to get better, that helps."

"And I've been talking a lot with (Sudbury native) Billy Moskal, with what he went through, and he's going to be a really big mentor. I'll be talking to him a lot."

"I think I have a lot of people around me who are all pieces of the puzzle in helping me to become one of their top guys, later on in my career, when I get bigger, older, stronger, more used to the league."

As for his summer plans now that pen has been put to paper, McCue suggested that there are at least a couple of areas of development that are likely more critical than others, before he leaves for his first OHL camp.

"For me, personally, I'm going to have to work on everything," he said. "But I think I am going to have to gain some weight this summer, so my nutrition is going to have to be huge for that. Eating right, what times to eat, Cal McGibbon and my trainers will help me with that."

"And I'm training with (St Lawrence University commit) Chase Lammi - he really pushes me," McCue added. "We go five times a wekk, in the gym, and it's really beneficial. He's older, a little bit stronger, so it pushes me to compete with him in the gym."

"I think that's going to help a lot, preparing me to compete with older guys and those puck battles in the corner and all over the ice."