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USHL Muskegon Lumberjacks

Lumberjacks Do Heavy Lifting, Add Depth for Next Season to Conclude 2014 USHL Draft

May 6, 2014 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Muskegon Lumberjacks News Release


MUSKEGON, Michigan (May 6th) - In preparation for the upcoming 2014-15 season, the Muskegon Lumberjacks drafted 26 new players during the 2014 USHL Phase Two Draft to their initial draft list that will compete for a potential spot on next year's roster during the team's Tryout Camp beginning in mid-June. The Phase Two Draft was highlighted by the two first round picks in Ryker Killins and David Keefer, and in total, the organization selected 13 defensemen, 12 forwards, and 1 goaltender with 3 of them already committed to Division One colleges following their respective junior careers.

"We are pleased with the results from our Phase Two Draft as w e built a solid prospect pool that will come in (to camp) and compete for a potential roster spot on next year's team," said Lumberjacks Assistant General Manager and Assistant Coach Rich McKenna. "We are happy to have these 26 new players in our system, and we believe that all of them have the ability to play and contend at the USHL level."

With their first pick in the Phase Two Draft at 7th overall in the first round, the Lumberjacks selected Killins (Kincardine, Ontario), who played the previous two seasons from 2012-14 in the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League (GOJHL) with the Stratford Cullitons totaling 65 points (24 goals and 41 assists) in 63 games played. Killins is committed to the Bulldogs of Ferris State University following his junior career.

A few picks later at 10th overall that was obtained in the Connor Hurley deal with Green Bay, Muskegon used the pick on Keefer. The Brighton, Michigan native spent the 2013-14 season with the Honeybaked program recording 28 points (13 goals and 15 assists) in 26 games played and is committed to the Spartans of Michigan State University following his junior career.

At 25th overall in the second round, Muskegon selected their second defenseman of the day in Bo Hanson (Boise, Idaho), who spent this past season with the Colorado Rampage Under-16 Team accumulating 26 points (8 goals and 18 assists) in 36 games played.

After not having a selection in the third round, the Lumberjacks used their fourth round pick at 68th overall which they acquired from the Griffen Molino deal with Sioux Falls and picked Forward Josh Coyle (London, Ontario). During the 2013-14 season, Coyle tallied 37 points (9 goals and 28 assists) in 53 games played with the St. Thomas Stars in the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League (GOJHL).

In the fifth round at 80th overall, Muskegon went overseas and selected Defenseman David Trinkberger (Landshut, Germany), who spent the last five seasons playing in his homeland for the EV Landshut (Germany) junior program from 2009-14 registering 91 points (34 goals and 47 assists) in 155 games played.

The next pick for the Lumberjacks would happen in the 9th round at 142nd overall where they added another defenseman in Max Gottlieb (Old Bridge, New Jersey). Last season with the Boneyville Pontiacs in the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL), Gottlieb totaled 6 points (1 goal and 5 assists) in 15 games played.

The next round later at 158th overall, the Lumberjacks continued to build on their blue line adding Defenseman Spencer Kuhlman (Grand Forks, North Dakota). In his three years with the Shattuck St. Mary's program from 2011-14, Kuhlman recorded 49 points (11 goals and 38 assists) in 164 games played.

During the 11th round at 174th overall, Muskegon went back to the offensive side of the puck selecting Forward Garrett Hallford (McKinney, Texas), who spent the previous two seasons from 2012-14 with the Honeybaked program totaling 59 points (29 goals and 30 assists) in 54 games played. Hallford also played one game last season with the Port Huron Fighting Falcons of the North American Hockey League (NAHL) notching a goal.

Continuing on to the 12th round at 190th overall, the Lumberjacks continued to build their defensive core in drafting Defenseman Zachary Berzolla (Howell, New Jersey). Last season, Berzolla played for the New Jersey Devils Youth National squad totaling 12 points (4 goals and 8 assists) in 24 games played.

After not having a 13th round pick, Muskegon went on to the 14th round at 222nd overall and chose Forward Joseph Cipollone (Purchase, New York). Last season with the Selects Academy Under-16 Team, Cipollone recorded 45 points (17 goals and 28 assists) in 27 games played and is committed to the University of New Hampshire Wildcats following his junior career.

The Lumberjacks continued to strengthen their front line adding Forward Zach Zech (South Lyon, Michigan) in the 15th round at 238th overall. Zech spent the previous two seasons from 2012-14 with the Victory Honda program registering 51 points (26 goals and 25 assists) in 79 games played.

With their next pick in the 16th round at 254th overall, Muskegon picked their second consecutive player from the Victory Honda program in Marshall Moise (St. Clair Shores, Michigan), who notched 26 points (12 goals and 14 assists) in 36 games played.

The 17th round at 270th overall saw the Lumberjacks use the pick on Defenseman Joseph Rutkowski (Crystal Lake, Illinois), who spent the last two seasons from 2012-14 with the Chicago Mission program accumulating 23 points (3 goals and 20 assists) in 46 games played.

In the 18th round at 286th overall, the Lumberjacks continued to dive into the home state products selecting Forward Carter Woolley (Troy, Michigan), who registered 22 points (11 goals and 11 assists) in 68 games played with the Oakland Junior Grizzlies Under-16 Team the past two seasons from 2012-14.

Continuing the vast list of Michigan products is Forward Mike Maiden selected in the 19th round at 302nd overall by Muskegon as he spent the last two seasons from 2012-14 with the Belle Tire Under-18 Team totaling 60 points (26 points and 34 assists) in 82 games played.

The 20th round at 318th overall saw Muskegon snag Forward Alex Falconer (Kohler, Wisconsin), who played the last four years from 2010-14 with the Shattuck St. Mary's program tallying 167 points (69 goals and 98 assists) in 205 games played.

Next for the Lumberjacks in the 21st round at 334th overall was another Honeybaked product in Jacob Gammicchia (Shelby Township, Michigan), who recorded 21 points (9 goals and 12 assists) in 28 games played last season.

The 22nd round at 350th overall saw Muskegon grab Defenseman Joseph Maguire (Dix Hills, New York) from the New York Bobcats program as he registered 7 points (2 goals and 5 assists) in 33 games played this past season.

The late-round picks continued in the 23rd at 366th overall with the Lumberjacks continuing on the eastside picking Defenseman Andrew Cordssen-David (Washington Crossing, Pennsylvania), who played the previous two seasons from 2012-14 with the Shattuck St. Mary's program scoring 51 points (14 goals and 37 assists) in 101 games played.

Muskegon then drafted Forward Connor Sundquist (Glastonbury, Connecticut) in the 24th round at 382nd overall out of the Selects Academy Under-16 Team in which he recorded 42 points (16 goals and 26 assists) in 32 games played this past season.

The 25th round at 398th overall saw the Lumberjacks draft Forward Jake Smith (East Amherst, New York) out of Nichols (New York) High School. Last season, Smith notched 24 points (9 goals and 15 assists) in 18 games played for his high school team.

In the 26th round at 414th overall, Muskegon add Defenseman Andrew Barbeau (Sault St. Marie, Ontario), who spent last season with the Soo Indians Midget Major squad totaling 16 points (7 goals and 9 assists) in 51 games played last season.

With their final few picks left, the Lumberjacks started out at the 27th round (430th overall) by selecting Forward C.J. Young (Newtown, Pennsylvania). In the last two seasons with the Philadelphia Junior Flyers Midget Major team from 2012-14, Young scored 20 points (3 goals and 17 assists) in 74 games played .

The 28th round at 446th overall featured Muskegon selecting their first goaltender of the Phase Two Draft in Philippe-Alexandre Vinette (Victoriaville, Quebec). Vinette played the past two seasons with the Princeville Titans in the Quebec Junior AAA Hockey League (QJAAAHL) from 2012-14.

The Lumberjacks went back to the United States with their final two picks of the draft starting in the 29th round at 462nd overall and chose Forward Chris Gambardella (Staten Island, New York). Gambardella spent the last three seasons from 2011-14 with the New Jersey Rockets program tallying 99 points (55 goals and 44 assists) in 123 games played.

To conclude their 2014 Phase Two Draft, Muskegon went back to the home state and picked Defenseman Corey Siwula (Paw Paw, Michigan) from the West Michigan Hounds Under-18 Team. Last season with the Hounds, Siwula notched 15 points (5 goals and 10 assists) in 28 games played.

The Muskegon Lumberjacks are proud members of the United States Hockey League, the nation's only Tier I junior hockey league and the leading producer of NCAA players and National Hockey League draft picks in the United States. The Lumberjacks' organization prides itself on developing not just premier hockey talent, but also exceptional young men outside the arena of sports. For more information, visit www.muskegonlumberjacks.com.

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