Everett Silvertips right wing Cameron Abney and center Byron Froese were selected at the 2009 NHL Entry Draft, held at the Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec on Friday and Saturday. It was the fourth consecutive year at least one player was chosen from Everett's roster.Abney, of Aldergrove, British Columbia, was selected by the Edmonton Oilers in the third round, 82nd overall. The 6'4, 195 pound right wing finished with one goal and three assists for four points along with 103 penalty minutes while playing in 48 games as a Silvertip rookie in 2008-09. He appeared in four games as a 16 year old in 2007-08 before his ascdance to the team for the entire 2008-09 season. Acknowledged as one of the league's most promising fighters, Abney endeared himself to Silvertips fans in his rookie season through the steadfast defense of his teammates.
Froese, of Winkler, Manitoba, was selected by the Chicago Blackhawks in the fourth round, 119th overall. The center becomes the tenth player in Silvertip history to be selected in the NHL Draft. Froese finished with 57 points while playing all 72 games as a Silvertip rookie in 2008-09, tallying 19 goals and 38 assists. The 6'0, 175 pound forward recently returned from the World Under-18 Championships in Fargo, North Dakota, where he tallied four goals and three assists for seven points in six games played. His four goals and +6 rating tied for second on the team while his hat trick on April 9 propelled Team Canada to an 11-2 victory over Germany. Froese enjoyed a breakout rookie campaign as a two-way center with extensive special teams experience in 2008-09. He recorded a hat trick in a 6-3 victory over the Red Deer Rebels on December 31, 2008 as part of fourteen multi-point games in his debut season.
Froese was also instrumental in the team's efforts around the community and was recognized for his appearances at schools and his work with children around Snohomish County when the club presented him with a Community Relations Award at the conclusion of the season. He received an Iron Man Award for appearing in all 72 games.
The ten Silvertips selected in the NHL Draft include Peter Mueller (Phoenix, 1st round - 2006), Leland Irving (Calgary, 1st - 2006), Ondrej Fiala (Minnesota, 2nd - 2006), Brady Calla (Florida, 3rd - 2006), Zach Hamill (Boston, 1st - 2007), Taylor Ellington (Vancouver, 2nd - 2007), Dan Gendur (Vancouver, 7th - 2007), Kyle Beach (Chicago, 1st - 2008), Cameron Abney (3rd - 2009) and Byron Froese (4th - 2009).
Beginning with the 1980 Entry Draft and continuing today, all 18, 19 and 20-year old North American and non-North American born players have been eligible to be drafted. In addition, non-North American players aged 21-years or older are eligible for claim. From 1987 to 1991, the selection of 18 and 19-year-old players was restricted to the first three rounds of the draft, unless the player met qualifying criteria that dealt with hockey experience in major junior, U.S. college and high school or European hockey. Starting with the 1992 Draft, those players were available in all rounds.
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