Stampede Go on the Offensive During USHL Phase II Draft
May 2, 2017 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Sioux Falls Stampede News Release
Sioux Falls, SD-The Sioux Falls Stampede went on the offensive during the 2017 USHL Phase II Draft on Tuesday, selecting 9 forwards, 2 defenseman and 2 goaltenders. All 13 players will be invited to Stampede tryout camp on June 10-13 at the Scheels IcePlex. Prior to making selections, each USHL team was required to submit a protected list of players from last year's team as well as players held on their affiliate list and those taken in the Phase I draft on Monday. Each team selected players until their roster totaled 45 players.
"Overall, we were very happy with how the draft played out," stated Stampede Head Coach/GM Scott Owens. "Nick Oliver and Rylan Galiardi did a great job at both addressing our immediate needs for this season and our long term outlook. We can't wait to get these players onto the ice at camp on June 10th and get started with the 2017-18 season," added Owens.
The Stampede traded their first round selection (3rd overall) and forward Regen Cavanagh to the Bloomington Thunder in exchange for forward Mitchell Mattson. Click here for the full release.
With the third overall pick of the second round (19th overall) the Stampede selected forward Carson Dimoff of Scottsdale, Arizona. He is currently skating with the Aberdeen Wings of the North American Hockey League (NAHL) where he finished third on the team in scoring with 51 points (19g, 32a) during the regular season. The 5-foot-10-inch, 183-pound left winger has posted 5 points (2g, 3a) in 6 playoff games with the Wings. Aberdeen is currently in the NAHL playoffs where they are tied 1-1 in a best-of-five second-round series with the Minnesota Wilderness. He has already committed to play collegiate hockey at St. Lawrence University for the 2018-19 season.
With their second selection of the second round (34th overall) the Stampede grabbed forward Lucas Breault (BRO). The 17-year-old from Woodbridge, Ontario just completed his second season with the St. Michael's Buzzers of the Ontario Junior Hockey League (OJHL) where he tallied 54 points (14g, 40a) in 47 games during the regular season and added 7 points in 7 games during the postseason. The right-winger has already committed to Union College for the 2019-20 season.
Sioux Falls had three picks in the third round. With their first selection (35th overall), the Stampede took forward Matt Thomson from Reading, Massachusetts. The 6-foot-1-inch, 194-pound winger spent last season skating in the United States Premier Hockey League (USPHL) for the Islanders Hockey Club where he posted 53 points (27g, 26a) in 40 games. He tallied 7 points in 6 playoff games.
With their second pick of the third round (39th overall), the Herd selected forward Alex Adams. He finished third in scoring with Minot of the NAHL with 48 points (29g, 19a) in 58 games this past season. Six of his goals were game winners and nine came on the power play. The Grand Rapids, Minnesota native stands at 6 feet 1 inches and 200 pounds. He is committed to the Air Force Academy.
The Stampede then selected Finnish forward Aarne Talvitie with the 47th overall pick. Talvitie spent this past season with the Espoo Blues Jr., the same team that defenseman Kasper Kotkansalo played with prior to joining the Stampede. The 5-foot-10-inch, 198-pound centerman registered 37 points (13g, 24a) in 46 games this past season. He also skated with Team Finland at the 2017 U18 World Championships where he posted 7 points in 7 games.
In the fourth round (51st overall), the Stampede nabbed defenseman Ryan Sidorski from Williamsville, New York. The 6-foot-2-inch, 170-pound, right-handed shot posted 9 assists in 41 games with the Buffalo Jr. Sabres this past season. A Union College recruit, Sidorski racked up 74 penalty minutes in his second season with the Jr. Sabres program.
The Stampede held the first selection in the fifth round (65th overall) and picked center Steven Ipri from Broadview Heights, Ohio. The 19-year-old forward recorded 40 points (18g, 22a) in 59 games with Amarillo of the NAHL this past season. Prior to playing in Amarillo, Ipri skated with the Selects Hockey Academy 18U of the USPHL where he tallied 27 points on 25 games.
Twenty picks later, the Herd selected their first goaltender Jaxon Stauber of Plymouth, Minnesota in the sixth round (85th overall). He protected the net for Detroit Victory Honda U18 last season, posting a 2.36 GAA and .922 save percentage over 18 games. Stauber is the son of former University of Minnesota and Los Angeles Kings goaltender Robb Stauber.
In the seventh round (105th overall), Sioux Falls selected Canadian forward Reid Stefanson. The 6-foot, left-handed shooter led the Minot Minotauros (NAHL) with 53 points (21g, 32a) in 54 games and is committed to University of Massachusetts, Lowell. During the 2013-14 season, Stefanson led his Winnipeg Wild Midget AAA club to a Manitoba Midget Hockey League (MMHL) Championship.
The Stampede stayed with the Canadian theme by selecting 6-foot, 176-pound forward Alex DiBaolo in the 10th round (150th overall), who is committed to University of Massachusetts, Amherst. DiBaolo competed with Salisbury High School last season, tallying 32 points (7g, 25a). The 17-year-old forward hails from Oakville, Ontario.
In round 11, the Herd selected forward Benjamin Ward. Hailing from Monticello, Minnesota, Ward starred for Monticello/Annandale/Maple Lake high school for the past two seasons. The 5-foot-9 team captain scored 89 points (36g, 53a) in 49 games and tallied 7 points (2g, 5a) in three games during the 2016-17 Minnesota high school playoffs. He helped lead the Moose to a second place finish in their first ever trip to the Minnesota State "A" High School Hockey Tournament.
The Herd used their 12th round (182nd overall) selection to take Finnish defenseman Antti Virtanen. Virtanen skated for the Karpat Oulu Jr. squad last season, recording 25 points (7g, 18a) in 48 games.
With their final pick of the draft in the 13th round (198th overall), the Stampede selected goaltender Jere Huhtamaa. The 6-foot-1, 181-pound native netminder posted a 2.25 GAA and .931 save percentage for the HIFK - Helsinki this past season.
Stampede tryout camp is set for June 10-13 at the Scheels IcePlex in Sioux Falls. The camp will consist of players selected in the Phase I and Phase II Drafts, protected roster players from last season, affiliate roster skaters and invite free agent players who are not protected by any other USHL teams. The Herd will be required to submit a 30-man protected roster by July 10th to the league along with an 18-man affiliate list. All USHL teams will have to trim their rosters to 23 players prior to the start of the 2017-18 regular season in early October.
Season tickets for the upcoming 2017-18 season are on sale now through the Stampede office. For more information on tickets or corporate partnership opportunities, contact the Stampede office at 336-6060.
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United States Hockey League Stories from May 2, 2017
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- Fighting Saints Close out Draft with 23 Selections - Dubuque Fighting Saints
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- Stampede Go on the Offensive During USHL Phase II Draft - Sioux Falls Stampede
- Lancers Round out Roster in Phase Two - Omaha Lancers
- Storm Solidifies Net and Adds Offense in Phase II Draft - Tri-City Storm
- USA Hockey 8U Participation Surges to Record High in 2016-17 - U.S. National Team
- Stampede Acquire Power Forward Mattson from Bloomington on Draft Day - Sioux Falls Stampede
- Steel Select 12 Players in 2017 USHL Phase I Draft - Chicago Steel
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