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Muskegon Lumberjacks

Lumberjacks Select Eight Players in USHL Phase One Draft

May 2, 2016 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Muskegon Lumberjacks News Release


MUSKEGON, MI - It was a long evening, but the Muskegon Lumberjacks added eight more players to the organization today during the USHL Phase One Draft. Led by their tender Andrei Svechnikov, the Lumberjacks added skaters from all over the United States, however still stayed close to their local ties with four of their eight draft picks hailing from the state of Michigan.

"We are a Michigan based team that thinks highly of Michigan based players, and they have a track record of being very successful at all levels," said John Vanbiesbrouck, General Manager for the Muskegon Lumberjacks.

Starting with a local product from the state of Michigan, the Lumberjacks selected Caleb Everett from Honeybaked U16 with the 23rd overall pick. Everett is a big bodied defenseman standing at 6'2" and will add size and depth to the blue line. He had two points in twelve games this past season.

"He's a stay at home, physical, smart puck moving defenseman," said Todd Krygier, Head Coach of the Muskegon Lumberjacks.

Another player a part of the Honeybaked program is goaltender Zach Borgiel. Borgiel played in nine games for the U15 program and had a lasting impact among the Lumberjacks staff, who selected him in the 9th round, with the 134th overall pick. Borgiel posted a 1.18 goals against average, and .915 save percentage in his nine appearances this past season.

Two other local skaters are Grand Blanc native Matt Studacher and Canton, Michigan native, Donny Borgula. Studacher, although from the state of Michigan, has spent the last two seasons with the historic Shattuck St. Mary's program. During his time with Shattuck, the defenseman has played in 107 games, totaling 49 points. Studacher was selected in the fifth round with 69th overall pick.

Borgula, a forward on Compuware U16 was selected by the Lumberjacks in the eighth round, with the 118th overall pick. In 23 games last season, Borgula scored five goals and collected five assists.

In the fourth round of the USHL Phase One Draft, the Muskegon Lumberjacks selected forward Bryan Lockner from the Colorado Thunderbirds. "Ryan will add some size and depth to our forwards, while also applying some grit and depth to the roster," said Assistant Coach Josh Shields. The strong skating right winger posted two points in eight games, and was the 55th overall pick in the draft.

The Lumberjacks also drafted a forward from the lone star state in Owen Farris. Farris played for the Dallas Stars U16 program, registering 15 points in 31 games. The 70th overall pick is a big bodied forward standing at 6'2" and weighing in at 183 lbs.

Finally, the Lumberjacks drafted a pair of high school products in forwards Connor Sweeney and Ryan Stevens. Sweeney, the Lumberjacks seventh round pick played for his Pingree High School during his freshman season, scoring nine goals and recording 11 assists in 29 games. Stevens, a small skilled forward, played for Duxbury High School last season, and was the Lumberjacks final pick of the 2016 Phase One Draft.

The Phase Two Draft will begin tomorrow at 9 a.m. Tuesday, May 3rd, and is open to players born between the years 1996 and 2000.

The Muskegon Lumberjacks are looking forward to celebrating their seventh season in the United States Hockey League. Our early bird season ticket specials and flex ticket packages are now available for the 2016-2017 Regular Season. Call the Lumberjacks sales office at (231) 724-5225 to take advantage of our early bird savings!

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