USHL Sioux Falls Stampede

Five Stampede Players Taken in NHL Draft

Published on June 23, 2007 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Sioux Falls Stampede News Release


Jake Hansen, Ryan Thang, Corey Tropp, Brad Malone and Scott Kishel became the 18th, 19th, 20th, 21st and 22nd Stampede players to be drafted into the NHL Saturday morning during the 2007 NHL Draft in Columbus, OH.

Hansen was selected in the third round (68th overall) by the NHL draft host, Columbus Blue Jackets. The White Bear Lake, MN native posted eight points (4g, 4a) in just 12 regular season games with the Herd. He went on to add two assists in the post season to help lead the Herd to their first ever Clark Cup Championship. Prior to joining the Stampede, Hansen led the White Bear Lake Bears in scoring with 71 points (28g, 43a) in 28 games. During that time, he recorded at least one point in all, but one game. He has already committed to the University of Minnesota for the 2008-09 season and will return to Sioux Falls for the upcoming season.

Thang was taken in the third round (81st overall) by the Nashville Predators. Thang played in Sioux Falls from 2004 to 2006, posting 53 points (17g, 36a) in 90 careers games. Last season, Thang had an outstanding freshman season at the University of Notre Dame where he finished second overall in scoring with 41 points and was named to the CCHA All-Rookie Team.

Thang told team sources that Nashville spent a lot of time talking to him and he was not surprised that they selected him. Thang did not attend the NHL combine nor did he workout for any teams, but did spend a significant amount of time talking to the Predators.

Tropp was also selected in the third round (89th overall) by the Buffalo Sabres. Tropp was the leading scorer for the Herd last season, posting 62 points (26g, 36a) in 54 games. He also led the Herd in playoff scoring with 13 points (4g, 9a) in eight games while leading the Stampede to their first ever Clark Cup Championship. The Grosse Pointe, MI native appeared in 100 career games with the Stampede, posting 77 points. He becomes the second Stampede player to be drafted by the Herd, the other being NHL superstar, Thomas Vanek.

Tropp did not attend the NHL combine, but did meet with several NHL clubs earlier in the week in Columbus. He was surprised to be drafted by Buffalo because they did not give him much attention, but it was one of the teams he was hoping would select him. He told team sources he only met with only one member of the Sabres earlier in the week, but was very excited to be selected by Buffalo. He will attend Michigan State University this fall.

Malone was taken in the fourth round (105th overall) by the Colorado Avalanche. He was a key member of the Herd's Clark Cup Championship run, posting 33 points (14g, 19a) in 57 games. The Miramichi, New Brunswick native tallied four points (3g, 1a) in eight playoff games, including the overtime winner against Tri-City.

"Colorado was interested, but I didn't really know where I was going to go," said Malone. "I talked to a lot of teams over the past few weeks, so I wasn't really sure where I was going to end up, but things worked out for the best. Colorado is a great organization and have a great history of bringing college players up to their system so that is exciting for me," added Malone.

Malone will attend the University of North Dakota this fall.

Defenseman, Scott Kishel was the final Stampede player taken in the 2007 NHL Draft Saturday. Kishel, a native of Virginia, MN was taken in the seventh round (192nd overall) by the Montreal Canadiens. Kishel will suite up for the Stampede for the upcoming 2007-08 season. Last year, he posted 45 points (14g, 31a) in just 25 games with Virginia/Mountain Iron-Buhl in Minnesota State High School hockey.

With Hansen and Kishel on the Stampede's roster for the upcoming season, it will mark first time in franchise history the Herd will have two drafted players on their roster when they begin the season. The only other player to have already been drafted while playing for the Herd was Chris Peluso who was taken by the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2004.

Overall, it was very successful draft for the Stampede and the USHL as a whole. The USHL had four players drafted in the first round, Sioux City's Sam Gagner and Max Pacioretty went 6th and 22nd overall to Edmonton and Montreal while, Tri-Cities Patrick White went 25th overall to Vancouver and Omaha's Nick Petrecki went 28th overall to San Jose.

The Stampede's 25-man roster for training camp in September will be released on Monday, July 2nd. The Herd will take those players into camp and pre-season games before trimming their roster to 23 players after the USHL Fall Classic in Sioux City.

Check out the Sioux Falls Stampede Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



United States Hockey League Stories from June 23, 2007


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central