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 Saginaw Spirit

Saginaw Spirit Prepare for 2018 NHL Draft

June 20, 2018 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Saginaw Spirit News Release


Saginaw, Michigan - 13 Saginaw Spirit players hope to have their dreams realized and hear their names called at the 2018 NHL Draft taking place in Dallas, Texas on June 22-23 at the American Airlines Center, home of the NHL's Dallas Stars.

Since the franchise's move from North Bay to Saginaw prior to the 2002-03 season, the Spirit have had 52 players selected in the NHL Draft, including two current players taken in 2017. Reilly Webb was taken in the sixth round, 164th overall and Brady Gilmour was selected in the seventh round, 193rd overall, both by the Detroit Red Wings.

In the franchise's 17-year history, the most Spirit players to have been taken in a single NHL Draft was five. The franchise accomplished this feat four times, including back-to-back-to-back seasons from 2004-2006.

Historically, the Detroit Red Wings have selected the most Saginaw Spirit players of any other team in the National Hockey League. The Wings called on Tyler Haskins (2004), Jan Mursak (2006), Zack Torquato (2007), Jake Paterson (2012), Filip Hronek (2016), and Brady Gilmour (2017). Reilly Webb is also a Detroit Red Wings pick in 2017, but was not traded to the Spirit until later in the 2017-18 season.

At least one Saginaw Spirit player has been picked in each of the last 16 NHL Drafts.

In the 2011 NHL Draft, the Dallas Stars selected Jamie Oleksiak in the first round, 14th overall making him the highest Spirit draft pick in franchise history.

This season, 13 Spirit players are eligible to hear their named called at the NHL Draft including Blade Jenkins (26), Caleb Everett (84), Albert Michnac (151), Damien Giroux (190), Max Grondin, Jake Goldowski, D.J. Busdeker, Danny Katic, Ben Badalamenti, Chet Phillips, Cole Coskey, Keaton Middleton, and Cameron Lamour. Four players were listed on the final rankings of the NHL Central Scouting list.

Blade Jenkins is the highest rated Saginaw Spirit player at 26th among North American Skaters on the final rankings of the NHL Central Scouting List.

The first round of the 2018 NHL Draft will be broadcast on the NBC Sports Network (NBCSN) on Friday, June 22nd from 7:30 - 11:00 p.m. (ET). The NHL Network will carry round two-through-seven on Saturday, June 23rd from 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. In Canada, Sportsnet will televise the entire 2018 NHL Draft.

The Spirit's own Joey Battaino and Charley Porter will be traveling to Dallas this year to keep #SpiritNation up to date on all the happenings at the 2018 NHL Draft. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for all the coverage.

For tickets and more information:

Reserve your seat at The Dow Event Center by calling (989) 497-7747 or visit www.saginawspirit.com for more information. YOUR Region. YOUR team. YOU'RE invited.


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