USHL Muskegon Lumberjacks

Lumberjacks Focus on Offense to Finish 2015 USHL Draft in Phase II Portion

Published on May 5, 2015 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Muskegon Lumberjacks News Release


MUSKEGON, Michigan (May 5th) - Before the organization's camp takes place from May 21st-25th at the L.C. Walker Arena, the Muskegon Lumberjacks capped off the 2015 USHL Draft selecting 20 players during the Phase II Draft to reach the league-mandated required number of 45 players on their Initial Protected List. The Phase II Draft featured the Lumberjacks picking 15 forwards, 3 defensemen, and 2 goaltenders that includes seven already having Division I NCAA commitments following their respective junior careers.

The Lumberjacks, who did not have a first round pick in this year's Phase II Draft, used its first selection of the draft in the second round at 26th overall on Danny DiGrande from Macomb, Michigan. The forward spent this season with the Oakland Jr. Grizzlies Midget Major team totaling 10 goals and 18 assists in 32 games.

The third round at 42nd overall saw Muskegon pick its first defenseman in Bryan Nelson from Upton, Massachusetts. The Harvard commit skated for the Walpole Express in the Eastern Hockey League (EHL) this season recording 8 goals and 16 assists in 39 games.

In the fourth round, the Lumberjacks had back-to-back picks at the 57th and 58th overall and used them on two more forwards in Alex Esposito and Luke Morgan, respectively. Esposito, the West Haven, Connecticut native and Vermont commit, played for Loomis Chaffee (Connecticut) Public School amassing 21 goals and 16 assists in 27 games during the 2014-15 season. Morgan, the Brighton, Michigan native and Lake Superior State commit, appeared in 24 games for the Little Caesars Midget Major team this season tallying 4 goals and 21 assists.

The fifth round was the busiest for Muskegon having three picks at 70th, 75th, and 78th overall and began the round by choosing Coale Norris at 70th overall from Oxford, Michigan. The forward skated in 33 games for the Oakland Jr. Grizzlies Midget Major team this season totaling 14 goals and 16 assists. With the second fifth round selection, the Lumberjacks picked Nathaniel Kallen from San Diego, California. The defenseman played with the Belle Tire Midget Major team in 2014-15 registering 5 goals and 12 assists in 33 games. To round out the fifth, Muskegon went back up front selecting Keegan Miller at 78th overall from Kalamazoo, Michigan. The forward appeared in 58 games for the Soo Eagles out of the North American Hockey League (NAHL) accumulating 17 goals and 22 assists.

The Lumberjacks went on to use their sixth round selection at 92nd overall on a netminder in William Ulrich from Bloomfield, Hills Michigan. Ulrich played for the Chicago Young Americans Midget Major squad this season appearing in 15 contests and posting a 3.17 goals-against average and .896 save percentage.

After having no picks in the seventh round, Muskegon went back to work in the eighth round at 125th overall in nabbing Lucas Finner from Elmurst, Illinois. The forward and Ferris State commit played in 25 games this season for the Chicago Mission Midget Major team notching 8 goals and 14 assists.

In the ninth round at 141st overall, the Lumberjacks selected John Curran from Niagara Falls, Ontario. The forward and Western Michigan commit skated in the Ontario Junior Hockey League (OJHL) with the Aurora Tigers this season totaling 28 goals and 37 assists in 52 games played.

Following no selections in the tenth round, Muskegon had a pair of picks in the 11th round at 164th and 173rd overall and occupied them with Forward Cullen Munson and Defenseman Matthew Cairns, respectively. Munson, the Edina, Minnesota native and Army commit, played in 66 games this season with the Janesville Jets out of the NAHL recording 15 goals and 20 assists. Cairns, the Mississauga, Ontario native, skated for the Toronto Patriots in OJHL this season distributing a goal plus nine assists in 53 games.

The 12th round at 189th overall consisted of the Lumberjacks sticking close to home picking Brendan VanSweden from Kentwood, Michigan. The forward played a few seasons with his hometown East Kentwood (Michigan) High School followed by skating this season with the Michigan Nationals Midget Major squad.

Muskegon set their sights back on Loomis Chaffee Public School during the 13th round at 205th overall in selecting Eric Benshadle out of Getzville, New York. The forward recorded 8 goals and 22 assists in 26 games played this season.

In the 14th round at 221st overall, the Lumberjacks steered back to the OJHL taking Joey Molinaro out of Mississauga, Ontario. The forward skated for the Mississauga Chargers this season tallying 25 goals and 42 assists in 53 games.

The team's last backstop of this year's draft was taken during the 15th round at 237th overall in Corbin Kaczperski out of China Township, Michigan. The netminder played for the Belle Tire Midget Major team this year appearing in 18 games compiling an 11-6 record to go with a 2.45 goals-against average and .919 save percentage.

Muskegon used its last four selections of the Phase II Draft on forwards in rounds 16-19 beginning at 253rd overall on Austin McIlmurray from Coral Springs, Florida. The Sacred Heart commit played for the Selects Hockey Academy (Connecticut) this year posting 26 goals and 15 assists in 30 games.

At 269th overall, the Lumberjacks chose Jack Phibbs out of Cayuga, Ontario, who played for the South Tier Admirals AAA Midget Minor team this season notching 24 goals and 24 assists in 35 games.

Justin Misiak was picked at 285th overall by Muskegon out of St. Clair Shores, Michigan and recently skated for the Little Caesars Midget Major team compiling 13 goals and 12 assists in 25 games. To cap off the day, Jakov Novak was the team's final pick at 301st overall from Riverside, Ontario, who played for the Windsor Jr. Spitfires Midget Major team this season recording 33 goals and 25 assists in 42 games played.

Check out the Muskegon Lumberjacks Statistics

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