USHL Muskegon Lumberjacks

Pitlick Headlines Lumberjacks 2016 NHL Draft Class

June 25, 2016 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Muskegon Lumberjacks News Release


BUFFALO, NY - USHL Player of the Year, and Lumberjacks star forward Rem Pitlick headlines the 2016 Muskegon Lumberjacks NHL Draft Class that includes one of the top 2015-2016 USHL rookie forwards Collin Adams, and highly touted Canadian prospect, defenseman Matthew Cairns.

Pitlick was the first player Muskegon Lumberjacks player taken in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft. The Nashville Predators selected the USHL Player of the Year with the 76th overall pick following a breakout season. Pitlick led the league in scoring with 89 points, and obliterated the Lumberjacks single-season scoring record by 25 points in his second year in the USHL, and first with the Lumberjacks. The 5'9" forward plans on returning back to Muskegon for one more season in the USHL, before transitioning to play college hockey at the University of Minnesota.

Cairns become the second player taken in the NHL Entry Draft with Muskegon Lumberjacks ties after the Edmonton Oilers selected the defenseman with the 84th overall pick. Cairns is a Lumberjacks 2015 Phase Two pick from Mississauga, Canada. Last season, he played for the Georgetown Raiders in the OJHL, and Registered 33 points in 46 games. Following his junior hockey career, Cairns is committed to play collegiate hockey at Cornell University.

Adams, the Lumberjacks second leading scorer from the 2015-2016 campaign was selected by the New York Islanders with the 170th overall pick. The forward just completed a standout season in his first full year with the Muskegon Lumberjacks, and finished second in the USHL rookie scoring race after notching 61 points in 59 games last year. Adams is also expected to return to Muskegon for one more year, before advancing to play college hockey for the 2016 National Champions, University of North Dakota.

The 2016 NHL Entry Draft saw the USHL set more milestones as the top junior hockey league in the United States. A record ten players with USHL experience were selected in the first round of the draft, including the first overall pick Auston Matthews. Matthews became the first player with USHL experience to go first overall since Rick Dipietro was selected first in 2000. 26 players were selected directly from the USHL last season.

The Muskegon Lumberjacks are looking forward to celebrating their seventh season in the United States Hockey League. Our early bird season ticket specials and flex ticket packages are now available for the 2016-2017 Regular Season. Call the Lumberjacks sales office at (231) 724-5225 to take advantage of our early bird savings!

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United States Hockey League Stories from June 25, 2016


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