Des Moines Selects 10 Players in 2023 USHL Phase I Draft
Published on May 2, 2023 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Des Moines Buccaneers News Release
The Des Moines Buccaneers completed Phase I of the 2023 USHL Draft on on Tuesday, selecting a ten players from the 2007 birth year.
In the first round, Des Moines selected Ben Kevan (5'11.25 // 162 lbs.), a right-shot forward and native of Fairfield, California out of the Los Angeles Jr. Kings AAA program. In 71 games for the Kings 15U team, Kevan scored 58 goals and accrued 105 points.
Edison Engle was selected in the 2nd round, 20th overall. Engle (5'11 // 155 lbs.) is a left-shot defender from Arlington Heights, IL, who posted 6 goals and 25 points for the Chicago Reapers 15U team.
In the third round, the Buccaneers took Landon Cottingham (5'9 // 168 lbs.), a right-shot defender out of Woodbury, Minnesota. Cottingham played 31 games for Hill-Murray, scoring 8 goals and 22 points.
Des Moines' fourth round selection was Jakeb Lynch, a right-shot forward from Omaha, Nebraska that played for the Omaha Mastery AAA program. Lynch (5'5.5 // 135 lbs.)
In the fifth round, the Buccaneers added another member of the LA Jr. Kings, teammate of first round pick Ben Kevan, left-shot forward Luke Norcross. Norcoss (5'10.25 // 183 lbs.) is a Los Angeles native, who put up 90 points on 44 goals and 46 assists in 74 games.
Round 6 brought Gus Thorp to the Buccaneers. Thorp (6'0.25 // 173 lbs.) is a left-shot defender from Eau Claire, WI and played for both Chippewa Falls H.S. and Team Wisconsin last season. Thorp had 7 goals and 17 points in 38 games for Team Wisconsin's 15U team, and 8 goals, 28 points and was a plus-22 in 24 games for Chippewa Falls.
In the 7th round, Des Moines selected William Schneid, a right-shot forward from Syracuse, NY. Schneid (5'11 // 161 lbs.) played 40 games last year from the Rochester Coalition 15U team, scoring 46 goals and 95 points.
Aiden Grossklaus was drafted by Des Moines in the 8th round. The right-shot forward is the second pick of this draft by the Bucs, to hail from Woodbury, Minnesota. Grossklaus (5'9.25 // 148) played at Woodbury High School, scoring 36 points including 10 goals. Grossklaus and Cottingham both played for Blue Army 15U AAA.
In the 9th round, Miles Acree (6'0 // 150 lbs.) was taken with the 125th overall pick. The left-shot defender from St. Louis, MO and played for the Blues AAA program and Ladue Horton Watkins High School.
The final Des Moines pick in the Phase I draft was Onni Keltikangas from Seinajoki, Finland. Keltikangas is a left-shot defender playing for Ilves 16U junior team in Finland.
The draft will continue with Phase II on Wednesday, May 3 at 11:00 a.m. CT. Phase II is open to players of all ages who are eligible to play junior hockey and are not currently on one of the protected USHL rosters. The Phase II Draft continues until all member clubs have filled their Initial Protected List to a total of 45 players, including those who were previously protected from the team's affiliate list.
Season tickets are on sale now for the 2023-24 season! Early Bird savings deliver the best value on the maximum Buccaneers Hockey experience, but they only last until May 8, when full price rates apply. Renew or purchase your season tickets now!
United States Hockey League Stories from May 2, 2023
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- Des Moines Selects 10 Players in 2023 USHL Phase I Draft - Des Moines Buccaneers
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