Indians Announce Draft Picks & Tenders
Published on May 20, 2004 under North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Soo Indians News Release
(Sault Ste. Marie, MI) The Soo Kewadin Casinos Indians announce the signing of seven tenders and four draft choices for next season, which includes two local athletes. Signing tenders for the 2004-05 campaign were Ray Kaunisto, Marty Gurnoe, Anthony McIntyre, Logon Wolosek, Dan Wirgau, Craig Vardy, and Joe Greener. The Indians four draft picks selected in Tuesday's NAHL Draft consisted of Nick Sellers, Greg Costa, Tom Gerken, and Matt Jones.
Kaunisto, Gurnoe, and Greener are products of the Indians Midget AAA program. Kaunisto, a 6'-3" forward, was impressive in eight games last season with the Junior club. He has already verbally committed to play hockey at Northern Michigan University. Gurnoe, a 6'-2" defenseman, also from Sault Ste. Marie is a smooth skater, who enjoys the rough stuff. Greener, who was placed on the Indians Midget team by Jr. A Head Coach Joe Shawhan, hails from Great Britain and is an aggressive forward. Greener is currently recovering from shoulder surgery and his recovery will determine whether he stays with the Junior team or returns to the Midget club this season.
Anthony McIntyre is a 6'-0", 200-lb forward, who led the Honeybaked AAA Midget team in goals last season with 37 and is predominately known as a goal scorer. Logon Wolosek, a 5'-10" forward, was an Wisconsin all-state performer and runner-up for the Mr. Hockey award. He scored 34-goals and added 30-assists in 25-games for the Wisconsin Rapids. Craig Vardy is a 6'-4" goaltender with two years of Junior experience. He comes to the Indians from Sioux Falls of the United States Hockey League. Dan Wirgau, who is a product of the Belle Tire Midget AAA club, is a rugged 6'-2", 200-lb defenseman, who skates well and plays it rough.
The Indians drafted in the first four rounds of the five round draft and selected all veteran players from the United States Hockey League. Coach Joe Shawhan will now work to entice this year's four draft picks to come to Sault Ste. Marie and wear an Indians jersey. Selected in the draft was forward Greg Costa, who played two seasons in Danville before being dealt to Sioux Falls last season. The Indians also selected defenseman Tom Gerken, who played last season in St. Louis of the USHL. St. Louis folded at the conclusion of the season and Des Moines currently own his rights if he chooses to play in the USHL. Coach Shawhan has pursued the former Compuware Midget standout for two seasons and will try again to lure him to the Indians. Matt Jones, a 6'-3" power forward, was a member of Shawhan's Michigan Select 17 Team last summer. Jones is a former teammate of current Indian Drew Satterley, and has a very visible presence on the ice with his size and rugged play. The Indians also selected Nick Sellers, who is a playmaking centerman that played last season for the Danville Wings of the USHL. Shawhan compares Sellers to an Adam Oates-type player, who possesses great vision and play making abilities. He was also on the Michigan Select 17 squad last summer.
Each NAHL team was granted ten tenders this season. Players who sign tenders with a specific team are considered protected players and are excluded from the annual NAHL Draft. The Indians will be entering their 10th season in the NAHL in September, after finishing first in the NAHL Northern Division last season with a record of 44-6-6. The Indians also announce their registration deadline for open tryouts held on June 18th-20th at the Chi Mukwa Community Recreation Center in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan has been extended to June 5, 2004.
North American Hockey League Stories from May 20, 2004
- Indians Announce Draft Picks & Tenders - Soo Indians
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