USHL Prepares for the Future with 2013 Draft
Published on April 29, 2013 under United States Hockey League (USHL) News Release
Chicago, IL - The United States Hockey League Clark Cups Playoffs are in full swing with a champion to be determined in May, but USHL Member Clubs will also be taking a major next step in building for the future this spring when the League conducts the much-anticipated 2013 USHL Draft next Monday and Tuesday, May 6-7th.
With an average of more than 200 players annually graduating to play NCAA Division 1 hockey, USHL teams are looking for the next wave of talent to fill rosters for the 2013-14 season and beyond.
The first step in the two-part draft process will be the 2013 USHL Draft: Phase 1 which will take place on Monday, May 6th beginning at 6:00 PM (CDT), and will be broadcast live and free via FASTHockey, the USHL's exclusive digital video network. Formerly referred to as the "USHL Futures Draft", the USHL Draft: Phase 1 will consist of eight (8) rounds as USHL teams select players from the 1997 birth year. This single-age portion of the USHL Draft allows teams to choose players who are traditionally not ready to play in the USHL the following season, but will continue to develop at lower levels of hockey in preparation for USHL play in future seasons. While not yet USHL full-timers, a number of those players will see game action in the coming season.
Last year, the Omaha Lancers selected forward Shane Gersich with the first overall pick in the USHL Futures Draft. He spent the season playing high school hockey in Minnesota, but did suit up for six games for the Lancers and scored his first USHL goal during his time there. In fact, several players selected in the 2012 Futures Draft saw significant time in the USHL this season, including forward Dylan Gambrell who was the first-round selection (11th overall) of the Dubuque Fighting Saints and scored 27 points (9g, 18a) in 58 games with the team in 2012-13. Forward Michael Booth was a second-round selection (29th overall) of the Fargo Force and also appeared in 58 regular season games for the team, scoring 14 points (6g, 8a). Both are now regulars on teams competing in the 2013 USHL Clark Cup Playoffs.
For the second consecutive year, the USHL tender process allows teams to sign up to two 1997 birth year players prior to the 2013 USHL Draft. A "tender" is the equivalent of a first or second-round draft pick, which teams can use to sign players in advance of the USHL Draft. The first tender for a team would take the place of a first-round pick in Phase 1 of the USHL Draft, and if the team tenders a second player, that would take the place of its second-round selection in Phase 1. Both the Green Bay Gamblers and Indiana Ice have tendered two players for the 2013-14 season while the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders, Fargo Force, Muskegon Lumberjacks, Omaha Lancers, and Tri-City Storm have each tendered one player. All tendered players will be on their respective teams' roster next season and will play at least 50% of their teams' regular season games.
The selection order for the USHL Draft: Phase 1 is based on the reverse order of the 2012-13 final standings, meaning the Indiana Ice hold the first pick in each round of the 2013 USHL Draft, followed by the Tri-City Storm and Des Moines Buccaneers. The Anderson Cup champion Dubuque Fighting Saints will select last in each round. Trades made by teams prior to the draft will affect selections in specific rounds, but this draft order will maintain throughout each round of Phase 1 and continue with Phase 2 of the 2013 USHL Draft.
2013 USHL Draft Order
1. Indiana Ice
2. Tri-City Storm
3. Des Moines Buccaneers
4. Sioux City Musketeers
5. Cedar Rapids RoughRiders
6. Chicago Steel
7. Omaha Lancers
8. Muskegon Lumberjacks
9. Youngstown Phantoms
10. Green Bay Gamblers
11. Lincoln Stars
12. Waterloo Black Hawks
13. Fargo Force
14. Sioux Falls Stampede
15. Dubuque Fighting Saints
Team USA does not participate in the USHL Draft as they hold a separate selection process of players that is completed in cooperation with the other 15 USHL Member Clubs.
The USHL Draft: Phase 2 is scheduled for Tuesday, May 7th beginning at 4:00 PM (CDT), and all selections will be posted in real-time at www.USHL.com. Previously known as the "USHL Entry Draft", Phase 2 of the Draft consists of players from multiple birth years as USHL teams look to fill their protected lists with players who will compete for roster spots for the 2013-14 season.
Phase 2 of the USHL Draft will continue until all USHL teams have 45 players on their Initial Protected List. That list includes affiliate players from the 2012-13 season and players selected in Phase 1 of the 2013 USHL Draft.
Last year, the Sioux Falls Stampede selected forward Tony Calderone with the first overall selection of the Entry Draft and he went on to play all 64 games during the regular season, finishing second on the team with 29 goals. The Muskegon Lumberjacks selected forward Adam Gilmour with the second overall pick and the Chicago Steel chose Mackenzie MacEachern fourth overall. Both players would later be selected in the 2012 NHL Draft - Gilmour to the Minnesota Wild (98th overall) and MacEachern to the St. Louis Blues (67th overall) - before playing significant roles with their USHL teams in 2012-13.
United States Hockey League Stories from April 29, 2013
- Phantoms Score Three in Third to Earn 4-3 Comeback Win Monday - Dubuque Fighting Saints
- USHL Prepares for the Future with 2013 Draft - USHL
- Read Added to Team Canada - Des Moines Buccaneers
- Stampede Return Home for Games 3 & 4 of Western Conference Finals - Sioux Falls Stampede
- Fargo Force Fan Bus to Sioux Falls May 5 has Limites Spots - Fargo Force
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
