USHL Sioux Falls Stampede

2008 USHL Draft a Success For Stampede

Published on May 14, 2008 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Sioux Falls Stampede News Release


Sioux Falls, SD- The Sioux Falls Stampede added 16 players to their protected list today during the 2008 USHL Draft. All the players drafted will be invited to the Stampede's tryout camp, May 30-June 2nd at Ridder Arena in Minneapolis. The camp will consist of the 16 players drafted along with the 14 players on the Herd's protected list as well as several other invitees. In all, the Stampede will have 60 players in their camp.

"We drafted kids with a winning character, skill and toughness," said Stampede head coach Kevin Hartzell. "There are always going to be guys you wish you could have selected, but overall we are very pleased with how the draft went."

Below is a complete list of the Stampede's draft choices followed by a recap of the draft:

RD. Player Height Weight DOB Previous Team

1 David Donnellan (D) 6'0 185 2/23/90 Team Wisconsin

2 Connor Allen (D) 6'3 200 1/31/90 Team Illinois

3 David Eddy (F) 5'11" 180 12/10/89 Woodbury HS

4 Ryan Kesti (F) 6'2 190 8/2/89 Red Wing HS

5 Chris Rumble (D) 6'2 195 4/16/90 NE Jr. Falcons

6 Clay Witt (G) 6'1 180 8/24/91 Boston Jr. Bruins

7 Doug Marshall (D) 6'2 200 2/6/90 Syracuse Stars

8 Victor Anilane (F) 6'1 200 6/8/89 Rogle J20 (Sweden Elite)

9 Adam Mitchell (F) 6'2 190 5/9/90 Texas Tornado (NAHL)

12 Duncan McKellar (F) 6'2 185 3/16/90 P.F. Chang's Midget AAA

13 Ben Nelson (F) 5'9" 170 7/11/89 Roseau HS

14 Josh Holmstrom (F) 6'0 170 9/5/89 Colorado Rampage

15 Zach Miller (F) 5'10 180 2/28/89 Bismarck Bobcats (NAHL)

16 Chad Ruhwedel (D) 6'0 180 5/7/90 L.A. Jr. Kings

17 Berkley Scott (F) 6'2 195 11/8/90 Anoka HS

18 Trent Frey (F) 6'0 190 8/1/89 River Falls HS

With their first pick (8th overall) in the 2008 USHL Draft, the Stampede selected defenseman David Donnellan from Eau Claire, WI. "He is a steady, stay at home defenseman," said head coach Kevin Hartzell on the 6'0" 185-pound defenseman. "His game is much similar to Chris Berenguer and will compliment the skilled defensemen we have returning."

With their second pick in the draft (18th overall) the Stampede selected defenseman Connor Allen from Chicago, IL. The 6'3", 200-pound defenseman spent last season playing for Team Illinois. "He is a very good skater with good skills," said Hartzell. "He has raw talent, incredible size and is big and strong with a tough streak to him." Hartzell also added that Allen has only played defense for the last two years so he has some things to work on, but has great potential.

He posted eight points (4g, 4a) and 76 penalty minutes in 23 games with Team Illinois this past year.

In the third round (28th overall) the Stampede selected forward David Eddy from Woodbury, MN. The 5'11", 180-pound forward has already committed to play collegiate hockey at St. Cloud State University who have indicated to the Stampede he will be a two year player. Coach Hartzell describes Eddy as a tremendous three-sport athlete who also plays football and baseball. He led Woodbury High School to their first two state tournaments and is described by many as a true "winner." This past season, Eddy tallied 64 points (31g, 33a) in 29 games with the Royals.

In the fourth round (41st overall) the Herd took forward Ryan Kesti of Red Wing, MN. Kesti posted 48 points (19g, 29a) in 27 games with Red Wing High School last year, second best on the club. He was an honorable mention on the 2008 Associated Press All-State Boy's Hockey Team.

Director of Player Personnel Jim Hillman describes Kesti as a power forward who plays a North, South type of game on the ice.

In the fifth round (53rd overall) the Stampede selected defenseman Chris Rumble of East Long Meadow, MA. Chris' father is former NHL defenseman Darren Rumble who was first round draft pick (20th overall) in the 1987 NHL Draft and won a Stanley Cup with the Tampa Bay Lightning during the 2003-04 season.

Chris (4/16/90) stands at 6"2", 190-pounds and spent last season playing for the New England Jr. Falcons in the EJHL. Rumble posted seven points (3g, 4a) in 35 games with the Falcons this season, posting 57 points. Hartzell describes Rumble as a big, raw, tough defenseman who was made for playing junior hockey.

In the sixth round (60th overall) the Stampede selected goaltender Clay Witt (8/24/91) from Brandon, FL. Witt, 6'2", 190-pounds, spent this past season with the Jr. Bruins, posting an impressive 44-5-3 record with a 1.92 GAA and a .920 save percentage. "He was a goalie we originally wanted to take in the futures draft last year, but Ohio took him," said Hartzell. "He is young, developing goalie that we were glad to get."

In the seventh round (67th) the Stampede selected defenseman Doug Marshall (6'2", 200-pounds) from Garnet Valley, PA. Marshall (2/6/90) posted six points (2g, 4a) in 44 games with the Syracuse Stars of the Eastern Junior Hockey League.

In the eighth round (72nd overall) the Herd selected forward Victor Anilane (6/8/89) of Gothenberg, Sweden. He spent last season playing with the Rogle J20 team in the Super Elite League in Sweden where he posted two goals in 19 games. Stampede head coach Kevin Hartzell says he wants to pursue a college career and potential NHL career. There are already several schools interested in signing Anilane. "Our scouts view him as a no miss player for this league," said Hartzell on the 6'1", 200-pound forward.

In the ninth round (77th overall) the Stampede selected forward Adam Mitchell of Crofton, MD. Mitchell (6'2", 190-pounds) spent last season in the North American Hockey League (NAHL) with the Texas Tornado where he recorded 12 points (7g, 5a) in 52 games. He is described as a big forward who can skate and developed very well at the end of the season, playing on the Tornado's top line.

At this point in the draft the Stampede had 23 players (including the 14 protected prior to the draft) and had to wait until all teams in the league reached 23 players before they could select anyone else.

In the second session of the draft, 12th round (91st overall), the Stampede took forward Duncan McKellar of Phoenix, AZ. McKellar (6'2", 185-pounds) spent last season playing for P.F. Chang's Midget AAA U18 team in Scottsdale, AZ, coached by former Duluth Bulldog standout and NHL'er Jim Johnson. "He has tremendous skill, great size and moves the puck very well," said Hillman.

In the 13th round (103rd overall), the Stampede selected Ben Nelson of Roseau, MN. The 5'9", 170-pound forward was the second leading scorer last year for the Roseau Rams with 69 points (23g, 46a) in 31 games, helping lead the Rams to a second place finish in the Minnesota State "AA" High School Hockey Tournament. "Ben is a crafty right hander who makes plays and has exceptional vision on the ice," said Hillman.

In the 14th round (115th overall) the Herd took forward Josh Holmstrom of the Colorado Rampage. Josh is the brother of former Stampede forward Ben Holmstrom and has been at the Stampede's tryout camp the past two seasons. This past year, Holmstrom led the Rampage in scoring with 58 points (25g, 33a) in 53 games while helping them to their third straight Colorado State Championship. "He plays a lot like his brother Benny and competes very hard," said Hartzell.

In the 15th round (126th overall) Sioux Falls selected forward Zach Miller (2/28/89) of Grafton, ND. Miller spent this past season with the Bismarck Bobcats (NAHL) where he posted five points (2g, 3a) in 36 games. Miller ("5'10," 180-pounds) is described by Jim Hillman as a big, power forward with good junior experience.

In the 16th round (139th overall) the Stampede selected defenseman Chad Ruhwedel of the L.A. Jr. Kings. A native of San Diego, CA, Ruhwedel (6'0," 180-pounds) posted 22 points (5g, 17a) in 61 games with the Kings. "He is a skilled, playmaking defenseman," said Stampede assistant coach Andy Jones.

In the 17th round (151st overall) the Stampede picked forward Berkley Scott (11/8/90) of Anoka High School. The Anoka, MN native tied for the team lead in points last season with 51 (24g, 27a) in 28 games with the Tornados.

With their final pick in the 2008 USHL Draft (163rd overall) the Stampede selected forward Trent Frey of River Falls, WI. Frey spent the past season playing for River Falls High School where he averaged almost 2.5 points per-game, posting 54 points (32g, 22a) in just 23 games. The 6'0", 190-pound forward was named to the Big Rivers 2nd All-Conference Team.

Check out the Sioux Falls Stampede Statistics

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United States Hockey League Stories from May 14, 2008


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