Lancers Tab Six Players in Phase 1 of 2013 USHL Draft
May 6, 2013 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Omaha Lancers News Release
Ralston, Neb. - The Omaha Lancers of the United States Hockey League (USHL) are pleased to announce they have selected six players this evening in Phase 1 of the 2013 USHL Draft. The six skaters chosen by the Lancers were among 112 total players tabbed by USHL teams from the 1997 birth year age group.
The Lancers did not control a pick in either the first or second rounds after moving the team's first round selection to the Muskegon Lumberjacks last season in a trade for defenseman Niklas Folin and then surrendering the squad's second round pick by tendering forward Jake Henderson from the St. Louis AAA Blues.
With the team's first pick in Phase 1 of the 2013 USHL Draft and the 37th selection overall, Omaha tabbed defenseman Jakub Zboril out of Brno, Czech Republic. A 6'0", 180 pound blueliner, Zboril recorded four goals, five assists and nine points to go along with 70 penalty minutes in 27 games for HC Kometa Brno U18 last year.
"Jakub is a very highly regarded defenseman from the HC Kometa Brno program," said Associate Head Coach/Director of Recruiting Leigh Mendelson. "He possesses good mobility and puck skills and incorporates a physical edge into his game."
In Round 4, with the 52nd overall pick, the Lancers claimed goaltender Zach Driscoll out of Minnesota's Eastview High School. A 5'11", 185-pound netminder from Apple Valley, Minnesota, Driscoll earned a 16-6-1 overall mark in 30 appearances at Eastview last year while compiling a 2.04 goals-against average coupled with a .934 save percentage.
"Zach is an athletic, technically sound goaltender from Eastview High School and we're excited to select him," Mendelson said.
With the 67th overall selection and the team's fifth round pick, Omaha tabbed defenseman Jake Gingell out of Gregory, Michigan. A 6'0", 185-pound blueliner, Gingell spent last season with Compuware's U16 team where he recorded one goal, 10 assists and 11 points to go along with 44 penalty minutes in just 25 games.
"Jake is a strong, steady positional defenseman with good mobility," Mendelson said. "He's also extremely hard to play against."
In Round 6, with the 82nd overall pick, the Lancers then selected Gingell's defensive teammate Grant Gabriele from Brighton, Michigan. A 6'0", 150-pound defenseman, Gabriele was part of Compuware U16's blue line last season alongside Gingell where he registered five goals and six points in 24 games.
"Gabriele is a solid, steady defensive defenseman with a big upside," Mendelson said. "He possesses good puck skills along with a great defensive sense."
With the 97th overall selection in Phase 1 and Omaha's seventh round pick, the Lancers claimed their first forward of the draft when the club selected JC MacLean out of Basking Ridge, New Jersey. A 6'2", 200-pound forward, MacLean recorded 10 goals, 15 assists and 25 points at Delbarton School last season.
"JC is a prototypical power forward with a good north/south game," Mendelson said. "He has good hands, a good shot and is strong on the puck."
Finally, in Round 8 and with the 112th overall selection, the Lancers grabbed forward Cole Chatham, the younger brother of current Lancers forward Connor Chatham. A 6'0", 180-pound native of Shiloh, Illinois, Chatham spent last season with the St. Louis AAA Blues where he was teammates with the recently tendered Henderson. In 38 games with the Blues this past year, Chatham registered 20 goals, 17 assists and 37 points to go along with 30 penalty minutes.
"Cole is another solid power forward with a strong work ethic and great skills," Mendelson said. "He's a tenacious worker who plays in all the hard areas on the ice."
Phase 2 of the 2013 USHL Draft will take place tomorrow beginning at 4 PM CDT.
"I would like to thank Assistant Coach Brian Kaufman and the entire scouting staff of the Lancers for all the hard work they put into the first phase of the draft," Mendelson said. "We're looking forward to another exciting day tomorrow."
United States Hockey League Stories from May 6, 2013
- Stampede Get Defensive in USHL Draft: Phase 1 - Sioux Falls Stampede
- Phantoms Stock up During Phase 1 of USHL Draft - Youngstown Phantoms
- Storm Add Scoring Prowess in Phase 1 of Draft - Tri-City Storm
- Ice Stack D-Corps in 2013 USHL Futures Draft - Indiana Ice
- Lancers Tab Six Players in Phase 1 of 2013 USHL Draft - Omaha Lancers
- Lumberjacks Draft Eight New Prospects Including One Tender - Muskegon Lumberjacks
- Saints Select Eight During Phase 1 of USHL Draft Monday - Dubuque Fighting Saints
- Buccaneers Select Eight on Opening Day of USHL Draft - Des Moines Buccaneers
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