USHL Waterloo Black Hawks

First, Last Picks Grab Special Attention

Published on May 22, 2012 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Waterloo Black Hawks News Release


Waterloo, Iowa-Even on the eve of the season's biggest game, the Waterloo Black Hawks made picks capable of temporarily drawing discussion away from Game Five of the Clark Cup Championship series during the course of the 2012 United States Hockey League Entry Draft on Tuesday.

With the tenth overall selection during the opening round, the Hawks chose Chris Calnan of Noble and Greenough Prep in Massachusetts. The forward averaged two points per game for the Bulldogs and is committed to Boston College. His season also included an appearance during an outdoor game at Fenway Park in January. Calnan is likely to be drafted again next month; he was ranked 69th among eligible North American skaters in the final NHL Central Scouting pre-draft rankings, shooting up from 94th in January's midterm report.

Fifteen picks later, during the second round, Waterloo selected Eric Schurhamer of St. Thomas Academy in Minnesota. The blue-liner was named to the Minnesota Class A All-Tournament team as St. Thomas claimed the State Championship. Schurhamer is from the same Cadets' program which produced former Black Hawks forward Nick Larson.

The Hawks did not have a third round selection, but - as the result of trades - made three picks in the fourth round. Waterloo chose Minnesota forwards Blake Winiecki and Jack Ramsey in the 48th and 55th slots respectively. Sandwiched in between was Toronto defenseman Mark Friedman with the 53rd overall pick.

For the second consecutive year, the draft included a local product. The Black Hawks formally acquired 16-year-old defenseman Rhodes Dolan with the 295th pick. A member of the 2012 State Champion Waterloo Warriors, Dolan was a familiar face around the Hawks' locker room throughout the season. He follows in the footsteps of goalie and Cedar Valley native Cal Petersen, who was selected during the 2011 Draft and appeared several times for Waterloo off of the Hawks' affiliate list in 2011-2012, and those of his father, Scott Dolan, an All-Star and the Black Hawks' captain during the 1984-1985 season.

In all, the Black Hawks drafted 14 players who will have the opportunity to compete for a 2012-2013 roster spot, or a place on Waterloo's affiliate list, which is comprised of players expected to join the team during a future season. The 2011 USHL Entry Draft yielded four players who were regulars in the Hawks' lineup during 2011-2012 (Eddie Wittchow, Mike Huntebrinker, Mark Naclerio, and Josh Nenadal), plus three affiliates who made brief appearances (Petersen, Jake Horton, and Kyle Schmidt).

Waterloo's complete draft list follows:

Player Round/Overall Pick Position Previous Team

Chris Calnan 1/10 Forward Noble and Greenough Prep (MA)

Eric Schurhamer 2/25 Defense St. Thomas Academy (MN)

Blake Winiecki 4/48 Forward Lakeville North High School (MN)

Mark Friedman 4/53 Defense North York Rangers

Jack Ramsey 4/55 Forward Minnetonka High School (MN)

Alec Vanko 6/85 Defense Oregon High School (WI)

John Wiitala 7/100 Forward Lakeville South High School (MN)

Chris Sitler 15/218 Forward Springfield Jr. Blues (NAHL)

Mitchell DeMario 15/220 Defense Milwaukee Jr. Admirals (Midget Major)

Hunter Warner 16/235 Defense Eden Prairie High School (MN)

Ryan Cloonan 17/250 Forward Boston Advantage (Midget Major)

Ryan Gotelaere 18/265 Defense Duluth Marshall High School (MN)

Robert Click 19/280 Defense Stillwater High School (MN)

Rhodes Dolan 20/295 Defense Waterloo Warriors (MHSL)

With the USHL Entry Draft completed, the Hawks' full focus now returns to the fifth and deciding game of the Clark Cup Championship series. Waterloo visits the Green Bay Gamblers for the matchup Wednesday evening at the Resch Center, beginning at 7:05.

Check out the Waterloo Black Hawks Statistics

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United States Hockey League Stories from May 22, 2012


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