Steel Select 12 Players in 2016 USHL Phase I Draft
May 2, 2016 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Chicago Steel News Release
GENEVA, ILLINOIS - The Chicago Steel continued to build a successful foundation of future players Monday, selecting twelve players in the USHL Phase I Draft. Chicago selected seven forwards and five defensemen from the 2000 birth year over the course of the 10-round Draft.
"We're extremely happy with the way tonight went," said Steel General Manager Ryan Bennett. "We have a good mix of talent coming up the pipeline."
The first player selected by Chicago was highly-skilled center Blake McLaughlin (6th Overall) of Grand Rapids (Minn.) High School, a University of Minnesota commit who registered 11 goals and 38 assists in 49 total games played during the 2015-2016 season.
The Steel selected two top prospects in Round 2, including two-way defenseman Alec Regula (22nd Overall), who showed a smooth, big, poised presence for Cranbrook-Kingwood (Mich.) High School, and center Adam Robbins (32nd Overall) of the North Jersey Avalanche, an elite two-way player comfortable as a goal scorer, playmaker or shutdown defender.
Chicago made three consecutive selections in Round 3: highly skilled offensive defenseman Brandon Tabakin (37th Overall), center Samuel Stevens (38th), a smart two-way player, and defenseman Jérémie Bucheler (39th) who has been noted for his offensive skills from the blue line.
The Steel took defenseman Xan Gurney (53rd Overall) in Round 4, known for his strong play for Detroit Little Caesars 16U. Chicago then took three skaters who spent the 2015-2016 season in Canada, selecting playmaking center Marek Wazny (86th Overall), powerful forward Braydon Leeking (102nd Overall) and goal-scoring winger Anderson McDonald (118th Overall).
In Round 9, Chicago selected forward Nicholas Seitz (134th Overall), an elite playmaker and top five all-time points scorer in AYHL Bantams. The Steel rounded out the Phase 1 Draft by selecting Jared McIsaac (150th Overall), a talented defenseman from Nova Scotia.
"Ryan Bennett and our scouting staff did a terrific job in identifying players for this year's Phase I Draft," said Steel Head Coach Dan Muse. "I feel like we hit our goals going into the Draft and I can't wait to see these players in our upcoming tryout camp in June."
2016 USHL Phase I Draft
Chicago Steel Selections
Round 1
-6th Overall: Blake McLaughlin, C, Grand Rapids (USHS)
Round 2
-22nd: Alec Regula, D, Cranbrook-Kingswood (USHS)
-32nd: Adam Robbins, C, North Jersey Avalanche (T1EHL)
Round 3
-37th: Brandon Tabakin, D, North Jersey Avalanche (T1EHL)
-38th: Samuel Stevens, C, Shattuck St. Mary's (U16)
-39th: Jérémie Bucheler, D, Lac St-Louis Lions (QMAAA)
Round 4
-53rd: Xan Gurney, D, Little Caesars (HPHL)
Round 6
-86th: Marek Wazny, C, Toronto Jr. Canadiens (GTMMHL)
Round 7
-102nd: Braydon Leeking, C, Central Ontario Wolves (ETAMMHL)
Round 8
-Anderson MacDonald, LW, Saint John Vito's (NBPEIMMHL)
Round 9
-134th: Nicholas Seitz, LW, North Jersey Avalanche (T1EHL)
Round 10
-150th: Jared McIsaac, D, Cole Harbour (NSMMHL)
Chicago Steel 2016 USHL Phase I Draft Picks by the Numbers
Country
-USA: 8 (McLaughlin, Regula, Robbins, Tabakin, Gurney, Wazny, Leeking, Seitz)
-Canada: 4 (Stevens, Bucheler, MacDonald, McIsaac)
State/Province
-Michigan: 2 (Regula, Gurney)
-New York: 2 (Tabakin, Seitz)
-Quebec: 2 (Stevens, Bucheler)
-Minnesota: 1 (McLaughlin)
-New Brunswick: 1 (MacDonald)
-New Jersey: 1 (Robbins)
-Nova Scotia: 1 (McIsaac)
-Texas: 1 (Wazny)
-Wisconsin: 1 (Leeking)
The USHL Phase II Draft begins Tuesday, May 3 at 8:00 a.m. CDT. Phase II consists of players between the 1996 and 2000 birth years. Fans are encouraged to follow @ChicagoSteel on Twitter for live draft pick announcements and exclusive content. To tweet in the league-wide Draft conversation, use #USHLDraft.
Steel Season Ticket Plans are now on sale for the 2016-2017 season and start at just 5 games. Full Season Ticket Plans start at just $8 per game. The full 2016-2017 schedule, including a variety of promotional nights and special events, will be released this summer. Season Ticket Plans are available to purchase at the Steel Box Office at Fox Valley Ice Arena or by phone at 855-51-STEEL. For more information, visit ChicagoSteelHockeyTeam.com.
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United States Hockey League Stories from May 2, 2016
- Steel Select 12 Players in 2016 USHL Phase I Draft - Chicago Steel
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- USHL Phase I Draft Is Monday, May 2nd - Des Moines Buccaneers
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