Editing Eric Staal (section)

===Early career===
Staal grew up playing minor hockey in Thunder Bay, played AAA for the Thunder Bay Kings organization and led his Bantam team to an All-Ontario Championship in the 1999–2000 season. After the season, Staal was selected in the first round, 13th overall, in the 2000 [[Ontario Hockey League]] (OHL) Priority Selection by the [[Peterborough Petes]].<ref>{{cite web |title=2000 Priority Selection |url=https://ontariohockeyleague.com/draft/2000 |website=Ontario Hockey League|date=February 28, 2024 }}</ref> While not even his father, Henry, thought he may have been ready for the OHL,<ref>{{cite web |last1=Berra |first1=Lindsay |title=Family Values |url=https://www.espn.com/espnmag/story?id=3723745 |website=ESPN |date=September 26, 2005 |access-date=September 26, 2005}}</ref> Staal finished his [[2000–01 OHL season|first season]] with 49 points in 63 games. His scoring totals increased the [[2001–02 OHL season|following season]] when he recorded 62 points.

In his draft year, Staal led the Petes in scoring with 39 goals and 98 points. He was named to the [[Canadian Hockey League]] (CHL) First All-Star Team as well as the OHL Second All-Star Team.<ref>{{cite web |title=OHL Announces 2002-03 All-Star Teams |url=https://ontariohockeyleague.com/ohl-announces-2002-03-all-star-teams/ |website=Ontario Hockey League |access-date=April 24, 2003}}</ref> Staal also skated in the [[CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game#2003 Home Hardware Top Prospects Game|CHL Top Prospects Game]], recording one assist.<ref>{{cite web |title=Fritsche goal caps Cherry comeback in Home Hardware CHL Top Prospects Game |url=https://chl.ca/fritsche-goal-caps-cherry-comeback-in-home-hardware-chl-top-prospects-game |website=Canadian Hockey League |date=January 22, 2003 |access-date=January 22, 2003}}</ref>