NAHL Amarillo Bulls

Amarillo Bulls Busy at NAHL Draft

June 3, 2014 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Amarillo Bulls News Release


AMARILLO, TX - It was a busy day for the Amarillo Bulls at the 2014 North American Hockey League Draft on Tuesday afternoon.

The Bulls had 13 total picks during the draft and selected eight forwards, and five defensemen. Brady Crabtree, a forward from the St. Louis Blues U18 Team, was the Bulls first selection, 23rd overall in the first round.

Other players joining him are: Jack Suter (Forward, Colorado Rampage, Tier I Elite League); Mike Damien (Defenseman, Proctor High School, New Hampshire); Wayland Williams (Defenseman, Merritt Capitals, USHL); Kyle Hartman (Defenseman, TPH Thunder, Tier I Elite League); Kenny Shemanske (Forward, Chicago Young Americans, HPHL); Justin Misiak (Forward, Detroit Little Caesars, HPHL); Johnny Panvika (Forward Jefferson High School, Minnesota); Mike Sieckhaus (Defenseman, St. Louis Blues U18, Tier I Elite League); Will Harrison (Forward, Cleveland Barons 18U, Tier I Elite League); Corey Siwula (Defenseman, West Michigan, NAPHL); Matthew Goeree (Forward, Michigan Nationals, Ind); Riley Christensen (Forward, Northern Cyclones, EHL).

New Bulls Head Coach Jon Rogger says he is thrilled with the first pick of Brady Crabtree.

"I'm from St. Louis and I have known Brady for several years," he said. "He's a strong player who will be good in the South Division and you know what you are getting out of him every night."

Rogger said the team had to reload both offensively and defensively because there are very few players coming back.

"To win hockey games, you have to put pucks in the net and that's why we went with forwards for our first few picks," he said. "We also needed some veteran puck moving defenseman. We took a chance with some players that are currently USHL property, but that's where you hope to hit a homerun. I think it will be a waiting game as some of these players have been drafted by USHL teams. They will go to their camps so we will see how they'll do."

Among the defenseman the Bulls drafted were Mike Damien from Proctor High School and Wayland Williams who spent time in the USHL.

"We found some great defensemen like Damien who plays solid and we heavily recruited," Rogger said. "We watched Williams play a bit and I think he can be a power play guy for us. We have guys that have some experience who can step right in and play."

The Bulls also added a defenseman whose last name is very familiar to fans. Mike Sieckhaus, the younger brother of Matt Sieckhaus (who will play at Bentley University this fall), was chosen in the fifth round.

"I did some homework on the young man, and have known his family for a while," Rogger said. "I have gotten a lot of good feedback on him. There may have been little extra help that his brother did play here, but it didn't factor in the final decision."

The Amarillo Bulls will hold an Open Camp in Colorado Springs in June and then have their Main Camp in Michigan at the end of July.

The 5th anniversary season of the Amarillo Bulls faces off this September and fans can take advantage of both full and partial season ticket packages as well as 10 game Flex Packs. All three packages will save fans over walk-up prices and also have some terrific benefits. For further information please call the Bulls Office at 806-242-1122 or visit 301 South Polk in the Amarillo Building.

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North American Hockey League Stories from June 3, 2014


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