Detroit Ignition Select 16 Players in MISL Detroit Expansion Draft
Published on June 20, 2006 under Major Indoor Soccer League 2 (MISL 2) News Release
WESTPORT, Conn. (Tuesday, June 20, 2006) - The Detroit Ignition of the Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL) selected the playing rights to sixteen (16) players on Tuesday in preparation for the club's inaugural MISL season with the Detroit Ignition Expansion Draft. Third-year MISL goalkeeper Sanaldo, the winning goalkeeper in the 2005-06 MISL Championship Series Finals was selected first by the Ignition. Versatile talents Ricardinho and Hewerton Moreira followed, and the Ignition completed the first five selections of the draft with defender Matt Johnson and proven All-MISL playmaker Carlos "Chile" Farias.
"I am very pleased with the talent we acquired through this process," Ignition president Greg Bibb said. "That speaks to the level of talent we have in our players in the MISL. We hope to mesh that talent together in Detroit."
Adding a distinct Michigan flavor to the roster, the Ignition selected Detroit native and midfielder Ryan Mack with its 12th selection. Its 14th selection, defender Droo Callahan is a resident of Brighton, Mich., and formerly played three seasons with the League's Detroit Rockers through 2001.
Players hailing from eight countries were included in Detroit's selections.
Farias, the 2005-06 MISL assists leader, goalkeeper Jim Larkin, forward Don D'Ambra, and midfielder "Novi" Marojevic, have each been named MISL All-Stars over the past three seasons.
On June 6, the Ignition received Designation Lists from each of the active MISL teams. A maximum of nine (9) players were designated as "protected" for that team's roster (maximum of one (1) goalkeeper) for the 2006-07 MISL season. The players not designated as protected ("unprotected") were eligible for selection by the Ignition. Players selected in the 2006 MISL College Draft were excluded from the Detroit Ignition Expansion Draft. Current MISL teams that lost the maximum three (3) players during the Expansion Draft included Philadelphia, St. Louis, Milwaukee and Baltimore. Once a player was selected from an existing team, the team was allowed to return one (1) unprotected player to its protected Designation List.
"I'm very excited with the results," Ignition head coach Mark Pulisic said. "We got the guys we wanted and we needed. Now we have to start getting them in here to Detroit to prepare for our first season."
Under the leadership of investor-operator John Hantz, team president Greg Bibb, and head coach Mark Pulisic, the Detroit Ignition will play their inaugural season in 2006-07 at the Compuware Sports Arena, beginning in November. For more information on the Detroit Ignition, please visit www.detroitignition.com.
Major Indoor Soccer League Detroit Ignition Expansion Draft Results
Round Player Pos. MISL Exp. Birthplace MISL Rights Acquired From
1 Sanaldo GK 3 seasons Brazil Baltimore Blast (MISL)
2 Ricardinho M/F 3 seasons Brazil California Cougars (MISL)
3 Hewerton Moreira M/F 2 seasons Brazil Milwaukee Wave (MISL)
4 Matt Johnson D 4 seasons St. Paul, Minn. Chicago Storm (MISL)
5 Carlos "Chile" Farias M/F 5 seasons Chile St. Louis Steamers (MISL)
6 Joel Bailey F 3 seasons Trinidad Baltimore Blast (MISL)
7 Jonathan Greenfield D 2 seasons South Africa Milwaukee Wave (MISL)
8 Jim Larkin GK 7 seasons Toronto, Ont. California Cougars (MISL)
9 Joey Gjerston F none Tacoma, Wash. St. Louis Steamers (MISL)
10 Don D'Ambra F 12 seasons Philadelphia, Penn. Philadelphia KiXX (MISL)
11 Ze Roberto M 4 seasons Brazil Philadelphia KiXX (MISL)
12 Ryan Mack M 1 season Detroit, Mich. Philadelphia KiXX (MISL)
13 Novi Marojevic M 6 seasons Montenegro Chicago Storm (MISL)
14 Droo Callahan D 3 seasons *Brighton, Mich. St. Louis Steamers (MISL)
15 Kyt Selaidopoulos M 2 seasons Montreal, Que. Milwaukee Wave (MISL)
16 Carlos Garcia F 3 seasons Columbia Baltimore Blast (MISL)
* indicates current residence
Major Indoor Soccer League 2 Stories from June 20, 2006
- Detroit Ignition Select 16 Players in MISL Detroit Expansion Draft - MISL 2
- Ignition roster takes shape during MISL expansion draft - Detroit Ignition
- Three members of Wave selected in 2006 expansion draft - Milwaukee Wave
- Three KiXX Members Selected by Detroit Ignition in 2006 MISL Expansion Draft - Philadelphia KiXX
- Blast loses three players in expansion draft - Baltimore Blast
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