USHL Dubuque Fighting Saints

Gambrell Highlights 2016 NHL Draft Class

June 25, 2016 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Dubuque Fighting Saints News Release


BUFFALO, N.Y. - The 2016 NHL Draft will be one for the record books in terms of USHL success, but also for the Dubuque Fighting Saints organization, who saw four players with ties to the organization selected by NHL teams. Dylan Gambrell, Casey Staum, Patrick Kudla and Blake Hillman all got the call throughout Friday and Saturday's event at the First Niagara Center in Buffalo.

With the 60th selection in the 2016 NHL Draft, the San Jose Sharks selected Gambrell in the second round. The speedy forward, who spent last season as a freshman at the University of Denver under head coach Jim Montgomery, was the first Dubuque player selected in the draft.

As a member of the Saints, Gambrell was a consistent scorer, and a dynamic player. He reached the summit of the USHL in his first season under Montgomery, capturing the 2013 Clark Cup championship in a three-game sweep over the Fargo Force. He also posted a career-high 43 points in 60 games with Dubuque in 2013-14, and, in his final season, he served as an alternate captain.

Gambrell's draft stock soared after a tremendous season at Denver. The Pioneers rallied behind his 47 points, which was the 12th-highest freshman scoring total in school history. He captured the NCHC Rookie of the Week award five times, and was a finalist for NCHC Rookie of the Year. The Bonney Lake, Wash. native won Denver's Barry Sharp Award, given to the Pioneers' top rookie. The Pioneers reached the NCAA National Championship, only to fall to the University of North Dakota.

Staum, a Minnesotan defenseman, was drafted by the Montreal Canadiens in the fifth round, 124th overall. He spent last season at the high school ranks, but shot up the ranked skater rankings during the latter part of the campaign. Staum is a Nebraska-Omaha commit that could factor into the 2016-17 Fighting Saints lineup.

Kudla's whirlwind summer of 2016 continued with a selection by the Arizona Coyotes in the 6th round, 158th overall. Just one month ago, the Guelph native was chosen by the Saints in the first round of the USHL's Phase II Draft. The converted forward has shown flashes of elite puck-moving ability as a defenseman, garnering the distinction of the OJHL's top blueliner in 2015-16.

Hillman, taken by the Chicago Blackhawks in the 6th round, 173rd overall, completed his first season at the University of Denver, also under the tutelage of Montgomery, who has churned out many drafted players that have worn the red and white. As a Pioneer, he earned Most Outstanding Player honors at the NCAA West Regional after notching four points, including the game-winning goal against Saint Paul on March 27.

Once a 16th-round selection in 2013's Phase II Draft by Dubuque, Hillman continued to showcase a reliable style that allowed him to put up points, and stay out of the penalty box in the process. In his 112-game USHL career, he only racked up 42 penalty minutes. Hillman finished his USHL career with the Waterloo Black Hawks.

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