IceHogs Pick Six
June 19, 2002 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Rockford IceHogs News Release
Rockford, Ill.- The Rockford IceHogs Wednesday announced their six selections from the recently held United Hockey League dispersal draft. The draft, held last week in conjunction with the league's annual Board of Governors meetings in Las Vegas, Nev., included players from the final rosters of the B.C. Icemen, the New Haven Knights, and the Port Huron Border Cats. All three UHL clubs will not be fielding teams for the 2002-03 season.
The IceHogs held the number two pick in all six rounds of the draft. The Canton IcePatrol, which plans to return to league play this fall, held the number one selection in all six rounds. The IcePatrol, formerly known as the Saginaw/Ohio Gears and the Arctic Xpress, last played in the UHL during the 1999-00 season.
The IceHogs secured the UHL rights to four defensemen, one forward, and one goaltender with their six picks.
Rockford selected Kenzie Homer with their first pick. The 6-foot-4, 225-pound defenseman from Grand Marais, Manitoba, collected 22 goals, 31 points and 235 penalty minutes in 73 games with the Knights last season. The veteran of three professional seasons also totaled 14 power play goals.
Erasmo Saltarelli, a native of Montreal, Quebec, was selected by the IceHogs in round two. The standout goalie posted 16 wins, a 2.34 goals against average, and a .933 save percentage with the Icemen in 2001-02. The 5-foot-10, 185-pound Saltarelli is a veteran of four professional seasons.
The IceHogs selected defenseman Mark Jerant and his 6-foot-6, 230-pound frame in round three. A native of Windsor, Ontario, Jerant posted four goals, 10 points and 154 penalty minutes in 57 games during his rookie season with the Border Cats.
Rockford picked Jerant's teammate, Rick Judson, in round four. Judson, a 5-foot-10, 205-pound winger from Toledo, Ohio, registered 20 goals and 32 points in 53 games with the Border Cats last season. Judson, a former draft pick of the defending Stanley Cup champion Detroit Red Wings, is a veteran of 10 professional seasons.
The IceHogs very defensive draft concluded with the selections of New Haven's Bob Ferraris and Port Huron's Mike Bondy in rounds five and six. Ferraris, a blueliner from Falmouth, Mass., totaled five goals and 23 points in 56 games with the Knights last season. The 6-foot-3, 215-pound veteran of five professional seasons also finished with a plus/minus rating of +5. Bondy, a 6-foot, 185-pound blueliner from Ailsa Craig, Ontario, collected three goals and 16 points in 36 games with the Border Cats in 2001-02. Bondy is also a veteran of five professional seasons.
Season ticket packages for the 2002-03 IceHogs are now available, starting at just $98. Contact the IceHogs office at (815) 986-6465 for more details.
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