Bucs Complete 2025 USHL Draft
May 7, 2025 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Des Moines Buccaneers News Release
The Des Moines Buccaneers completed the 2025 USHL Phase I & II Drafts on May 5 & 6, 2025. The Phase I Draft consisted of only 2009-born players, while Phase II included any players with birth years between 2005-2008. The Bucs welcome a total of 31 selections to our organization to round out a 50-man protected list going into the 2025-26 season.
Des Moines relinquished their Phase I Round 1 pick to tender forward Ryland Rooney out of Gentry Academy. As a tendered player, Rooney will join the Bucs full-time for the 2025-26 season. Rooney finished the 2024-25 season at Gentry Academy with 69 points (33G, 36A) in 26GP and is sure to have an immediate impact in Des Moines. The Bucs made 16 selections (9F, 6D, 1G) in the Phase I Draft and look forward to watching these young players grow in the coming seasons.
"Our staff did an excellent job preparing for both drafts this year," Assistant Coach and Assistant General Manager Gaven Bickford said. "In Phase I we selected some great future Buccaneers and some players we believe we can help us right away, including our Tender Ryland Rooney. Phase II we addressed some immediate team needs and improved our options on our affiliate list. Overall, extremely happy with our staff and our draft selections and look forward to our upcoming camp."
The Bucs made 15 selections (7F, 6D, 2G) in Phase II, with a focus on selecting players who will fill much-needed roles on the team for the 2025-26 season. All Phase I and Phase II selections receive an invite to main camp in early June, where the Des Moines coaching staff will specify the roster and name affiliate players for the upcoming year.
"Very excited and pleased with our draft and our outlook," Head Coach and General Manager Matt Curley said. "The staff worked diligently on their preparation to execute the past two days, and I believe the picks we got demonstrate just that. It is an exciting time to be a Buc, and I am looking forward to what all our players and draft picks will do at main camp."
The Bucs selected three goaltenders in the 2025 USHL Draft: Kaeden Tate (Phase I, round 9) from Huntington Beach, Calif., Sebastian Gatto (Phase II, round 7) from Troy, Mich., and Ivans Kufterins (Phase II, round 11) from Latvia.
"We are very happy with the 3 goaltenders we selected in this year's draft process," Assistant and Goalie Coach Hank Johnson said. "We added a lot of size and athleticism to the current net and future net, as well as high character and fun personalities. Can't wait to start working with these guys and watching them compete."
Phase I Picks (2009s only):
Rd. 1 // Pick 3 // Ryland Rooney // Forward // Gentry Academy (tender)
Rd. 2 // Pick 18 // Becker Wenkus // Defense // Edina High (MN)
Rd. 3 // Pick 33 // Bradley Whang // Forward // Shattuck-St. Mary's
Rd. 4 // Pick 48 // Talen Aling // Forward // Chicago Mission AAA
Rd. 5 // Pick 63 // Camden Zaporzan // Forward // Shattuck-St. Mary's
Rd. 6 // Pick 78 // Jacoby Palmer // Defense // Long Island Gulls AAA
Rd. 7 // Pick 93 // Charlie Hunst // Defense // Lakeville South High (MN)
Rd. 8 // Pick 108 // Nash Paine // Forward // Edina Bantam AA
Rd. 9 // Pick 123 // Kaeden Tate // Goalie // Anaheim Jr. Ducks AAA
Rd. 10 // Pick 138 // Charlie Barnes // Forward // St. Louis AAA Blues
Rd. 11 // Pick 153 // Elias Ehrhardt // Forward // Madison Capitols AAA
Rd. 12 // Pick 168 // Miller Wenkus // Defense // Edina High (MN)
Rd. 13 // Pick 183 // Henry Fiske // Defense // Chicago Reapers AAA
Rd. 14 // Pick 197 // Beau Christy // Forward // Hermantown High (MN)
Rd. 14 // Pick 210 // Sarvir Jaworski // Forward // Little Caesars AAA
Rd. 15 // Pick 221 // Matthew Sweetland // Defense // Buffalo Jr. Sabres AAA
Phase II Picks (2005s-2008s):
Rd. 1 // Pick 3 // Nolan Caffey // 2006 // Forward // Shattuck-St. Mary's
Rd. 2 // Pick 18 // Garin Ludwig // 2006 // Defense // Nanaimo (BCHL)
Rd. 3 // Pick 33 // Jason Davenport // 2006 // Defense // Blackfalds (BCHL)
Rd. 3 // Pick 43 // Henry Peterson // 2007 // Defense // Hermantown High (MN) & Chippewa (NAHL)
Rd. 5 // Pick 68 // Matic Percic // 2006 // Forward // Chippewa (NAHL)
Rd. 6 // Pick 91 // Owen King // 2005 // Forward // Rochester (NAHL)
Rd. 6 // Pick 98 // Wyatt Kuznik // 2008 // Forward // Maple Grove High (MN)
Rd. 6 // Pick 104 // Dominic Pajkic // 2008 // Defense // Oakland Jr. Grizzlies AAA
Rd. 7 // Pick 115 // Sebastian Gatto // 2006 // Goalie // Chilliwack (BCHL)
Rd. 8 // Pick 130 // Michal Capos // 2007 // Defense // Nove Zamky (SVK)
Rd. 9 // Pick 145 // Trace Frieden // 2007 // Forward // Cowichan Valley (BCHL)
Rd. 10 // Pick 160 // Justin Vlassis // 2007 // Forward // Pittsburgh Penguins Elite
Rd. 11 // Pick 175 // Ivans Kufterins // 2007 // Goalie // Riga (LAT)
Rd. 12 // Pick 190 // Easton Rooney // 2006 // Forward // Sioux Falls Power AAA
Rd. 13 // Pick 205 // Max Holland // 2006 // Defense // Culver Military Academy
United States Hockey League Stories from May 7, 2025
- Bucs Complete 2025 USHL Draft - Des Moines Buccaneers
- 2025 Phase I Draft Recap - Omaha Lancers
- Hawks Draft Junior Hockey Experience - Waterloo Black Hawks
- Allen Named USHL Scholar-Athlete of the Year - Dubuque Fighting Saints
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