IceHawks' Draft Heavy on Local Flavor

Published on March 12, 2003 under United Hockey League (UHL)
Adirondack Frostbite News Release


Glens Falls, NY – The Adirondack IceHawks of the United Hockey League (UHL) today announced their selections from Tuesday's 2003 UHL North American Amateur Draft. The IceHawks selected three forwards and three defensemen during the six-round draft. The club chose center Brendon Hodge from Plattsburgh State (SUNYAC) with their top pick. Adirondack also selected Union College (ECAC) defensemen Randy Dagenais and Jason Kean in the third and fifth rounds respectively.

Drafted players are eligible to sign with and play for the IceHawks this season. The team is allowed to add as many as four of their draft selections to their playoff roster. Up to two players drafted can play for the IceHawks in the playoffs without meeting the normal six-game eligibility requirement for post-season participation.

Hodge, selected with Adirondack's first-round pick (eighth overall), leads Plattsburgh in scoring this season with 42 points on 21 goals and 21 assists in 28 games. The forward leads the SUNYAC in scoring with 25 points (13g, 12a) in 14 conference match-ups during the current campaign. Hodge has been among Plattsburgh's top three scorers during each of his four collegiate seasons. He earned Division III Second Team All-American honors and was named First Team ALL-SUNYAC for his performance as a sophomore during the 2000-01 campaign. Following his freshman season of 1999-00, Hodge was named SUNYAC Rookie of the Year. He earned Second Team All-Conference honors last season.

The 6'2", 194-pound center is the son of former NHL great Ken Hodge who posted 800 points (328g, 472a) during his 14-year career with the Chicago Blackhawks, Boston Bruins, and New York Rangers. Brendon's brother Dan is a defenseman with the Kalamazoo Wings, whom the IceHawks face at the Glens Falls Civic Center tonight. Another brother, Ken Hodge Jr., played 142 NHL games and scored 30 goals for Boston during the 1990-91 season.

The IceHawks selected center Chris St. Jacques with the 18th overall pick in the second round. St. Jacques leads Medicine Hat of the Western Hockey League (WHL) in scoring this season with 95 points (31 g, 64a) in 67 games. He ranks fourth in the WHL in points. The 20-year-old is a cousin of former IceHawks forward Kevin St. Jacques.

Dagenais, the 28th overall selection in the draft, leads Union defensemen in scoring this season with 19 points (2g, 17a) in 35 games. The native of Valrita, Ontario paced Dutchmen blueliners in points last season with 22 points (6g, 16a).

Adirondack chose defenseman Niko Tuomi from Guelph of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) in the fourth round (38th overall). The 20-year-old has collected 37 points (9g, 28a) and 112 penalty minutes in 66 games between two clubs this season. Tuomi was re-aquired by Guelph in a trade with Sault. Ste. Marie on December 13th. The blueliner was originally selected by Guelph with the fourth overall pick in the OHL's 1999 Bantam Draft before being dealt to Sault Ste. Marie on September 11th, 2001.

Kean, the IceHawks' fifth-round selection (48th overall), has posted nine points including seven assists for Union this campaign. The senior defenseman is an alternate captain with the Dutchmen who rank sixth in the ECAC standings this season.

The IceHawks selected forward Marty Goulet from Bemidji State (CHA) with their final pick in the sixth round (58th overall). Goulet leads the Beavers in scoring this season with 29 points (15g, 14a) and ranks eighth in the CHA with 21 points (10g, 11a) in 17 conference games. The Banff, Alberta native led Bemidji State in scoring last season with 38 points (16g, 22a) while setting a single-season school record for shots on goal with 112. He earned First-Team All-Conference honors for his performance last season.

The IceHawks look to extend their current winning streak to six games as the club hosts the Port Huron Beacons at the Glens Falls Civic Center on Thursday. Game time is 7:00 p.m.

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United Hockey League Stories from March 12, 2003


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