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 Omaha Lancers

Lancers Tab Six Players in 2011 USHL Futures Draft

April 19, 2011 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Omaha Lancers News Release


OMAHA, NE - The Omaha Lancers of the United States Hockey League (USHL) are pleased to announce they have selected six players today in the 2011 Futures Draft. The six skaters chosen by the Lancers were among 90 total players tabbed by USHL teams today from the 1995 birth year.

With Omaha's first round selection, the Lancers landed forward Daniel Vanderwiel with the 15th overall pick. A 5'10", 198 pound forward from Island Lake, Illinois, Vanderwiel notched 10 goals and 21 points in 33 games for Team Illinois U16 this season.

"Vanderwiel was one of the hardest working players we scouted this season," Assistant Coach Michael Zucker said. "He hits extremely hard and competes with an unbelievable amount of intensity. He's going to create a lot of offense through his energy and hard work."

Eleven slots later, Omaha nabbed forward Tyler Moy in the second round with the 26th overall selection. A 5'11", 165 pound forward from San Diego California, Moy spent last season with the California Titans of the North American Prospects Hockey League (NAPHL).

"Moy has a great hockey sense and tremendous playmaking ability," Assistant Coach Mike Aikens said. "With just a little bit of added size and strength he's going to be an impact player in the USHL."

In Round 3, the Lancers landed their third forward of the draft selecting Drew Melanson with the 35th overall pick. A 5'10", 150 pound forward from Paramus, New Jersey, Melanson spent last season playing at Delbarton School based out of Morristown, New Jersey. He is already committed to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) when his junior career is complete.

The Lancers then got defensive in Round 4 when they selected blueliner Wiley Sherman with the 56th overall pick. A 6'2", 165 pound defenseman from Greenwich, Connecticut, Sherman spent last season playing at the Hotchkiss School in Lakeville, Connecticut.

"Sherman is a solid skater and shutdown defenseman," Zucker said. "He moves the puck extremely well and will help to generate offense from the back end with his passing and vision."

Omaha landed its fourth and final forward of the draft in Round 5 when the Lancers tabbed Anthony Louis with the 65th overall pick. A 5'6", 135 pound forward from Winfield, Illinois, Louis spent last season with Team Illinois U16 where he was teammates with Vanderwiel. Louis paced Illinois in scoring last season with 33 goals and 60 points in just 35 games and is already committed to Miami (OH) University.

"Louis is a highly gifted offensive player," Zucker said. "He's a dynamic playmaker and will be a tremendous difference maker for us after two seasons with the US National Team Developmental Program."

The Lancers then closed out their participation in the 2011 Futures Draft by selecting defenseman Richard Boyd in Round 6 with the 86th overall pick. A 6'1", 165 pound blueliner from Fort Meyers, Florida, Boyd spent this past season playing at Cushing Academy in Ashburnham, Massachusetts.

"Boyd is a big, tough defenseman," Zucker said. "He's a stay-at-home blueliner who controls the pace of the game extremely well."

Omaha returns to action tomorrow evening as the Lancers begin their run through the 2011 Clark Cup Playoffs with Game 1 of the Western Conference Semifinals against the Sioux Falls Stampede. Doors open at 6 PM tomorrow night at the Omaha Civic Auditorium with the puck drop scheduled for 7:05 PM. Tickets for Games 1 and 2 are currently on sale and can be purchased at the Qwest Center Box Office Monday - Friday, 10 AM - 6 PM, at the Omaha Civic Auditorium Box Office on game days only beginning at 10 AM or through www.ticketmaster.com .


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