Rockford selects four players in dispersal draft
June 6, 2006 - International Hockey League 2 (IHL 2)
Rockford IceHogs News Release
Detroit- The United Hockey League held its 2006-07 Dispersal Draft and Expansion Draft on Tuesday in Detroit. The IceHogs picked up the rights to four players in the five-round draft. Players were available from the Missouri River Otters, Motor City Mechanics and Roanoke Valley Vipers, all of which ceased operations following the 2005-06 season.
The IceHogs selected three former Mechanics in the first three rounds of the Dispersal Draft. In the first round, the Hogs selected winger and defenseman Mike Burgoyne. Burgoyne played in four games with the IceHogs during the 2004-05 season and appeared in 76 contests last season with the Mechanics, netting 14g-24a-38pts.
With its second pick, Rockford chose Motor City defenseman Ryan Van Buskirk. The d-man was twice selected in the National Hockey League Entry Draft (#100 overall in 1998 by the Phoenix Coyotes and #121 overall in the 2000 draft by the Washington Capitals) and split last season, his first in the UHL, with the Richmond RiverDogs and Mechanics. In 59 overall contests, Van Buskirk accumulated 2g-11a-13pts and 269 PIM's from the blueline.
High scoring winger Vlad Serov was selected with Rockford's third pick in the Dispersal Draft. The former Mechanic netted 20g-13a-33pts in 50 games in '05-06. Last season was Serov's third in the UHL with his best campaign coming during the 2000-01 season with the Quad City Mallards when he scored 33 goals in just 29 games and had 12 tallies in 12 postseason affairs.
Rockford's final pick in the Dispersal Draft was Roanoke Valley right winger Mark Scott. The veteran winger played in 53 games with the Vipers last year, which was his first in the UHL, and racked up 19g-28a-47pts, third most on the Vipers, and the most points by a skater in Roanoke who spent the entire season there.
The UHL also held its Expansion Draft, as the Bloomington Prairie Thunder will make its debut during the 2006-07 season. The only IceHogs skater selected was defenseman Steve Pelletier, who was picked in the 11th and final round of the Draft. Pelletier just completed his second season with Rockford and is the current IceHogs' ironman, playing in a club record 156 straight games in a Hogs uniform.
Season Tickets Now Available: The Rockford IceHogs just wrapped up its most successful campaign in club history and we want you along for the ride in 2006-07. Season ticket packages are now available for the Hogs' 8th season in Rockford by calling (815) 986-6465. Ticket packages start as low as $95!
International Hockey League 2 Stories from June 6, 2006
- Mallards Take Part in UHL Dispersal and Expansion Drafts - Quad City Mallards
- Gretzky & Co. Join Jackals Via Dispersal Draft - Elmira Jackals
- Rockford selects four players in dispersal draft - Rockford IceHogs
- UHL conducts dispersal draft - IHL 2
- UHL expansion draft completed - IHL 2
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