USHL Sioux Falls Stampede

Six Stampede Players Named to USHL/NHL Top Prospects Game

December 6, 2018 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Sioux Falls Stampede News Release


Sioux Falls, S.D. - The United States Hockey League (USHL) and NHL Central Scouting announced Thursday that six Sioux Falls Stampede players will compete at the 2019 USHL/NHL Top Prospects Game. The game will take place at the Ice Box in Lincoln, Neb. on Jan. 8, 2019. Sioux Falls will have the most players represented of any team in the league for the first time in the showcase's history.

The players include defensemen Ryan Johnson and forwards Jami Krannila (Yah-ME KRAN-nil-la), Andre Lee, Ethan Phillips, Anthony Romano (Row-MAN-oh) and Austen Swankler. All players will represent the Western Conference in the contest.

Johnson, a six-foot-four, 162-pound defenseman, has played in 18 games this season with eight points (1g, 7a). A native of Irvine, Calif., Johnson ranks fourth among USHL rookie defensemen in scoring this season and was recently selected to compete with Team USA at the World Jr. A Challenge. He currently holds a B-rated skater ranking from NHL Central Scouting, meaning he has the potential to be drafted in rounds two or three of the 2019 NHL Draft.

Krannila, a five-foot-nine, 159-pound forward and native of Pori, Finland, has played in all 19 games this season with 14 points (6g, 8a). He is committed to play collegiate hockey at St. Cloud State University. Krannila holds a C-rated skater ranking with the potential to be draft between rounds four and seven.

Lee, a native of Karlstad, Sweden and University of Mass-Lowell commit, has played in 18 games with 10 points (7g, 3a). His seven goals are the most on the team. He was recently given a C-rated skater rating on the NHL Central Scouting Players to Watch list.

Phillips has played in seven games with 11 points (2g, 9a). He has tallied a point in every game played thus far, including four multi-point games. He also leads all rookie forwards in points scored per game with 1.57. Phillips began the season with the Selects Academy 18U squad, registering 19 points (9g, 10a) in 21 games. He holds a C-rated skater rating and is committed to Boston University.

Romano, a five-foot-ten, 188-pound forward, has skated in 19 games this season with 12 points (6g, 6a). A native of Vaughn, Ontario, Romano is committed to play collegiate hockey at Clarkson University. He is a B-rated skater.

Swankler, who recently joined the team in a trade with the Waterloo Black Hawks, has played in 19 games, four with the Stampede, and has registered 12 points (3g, 9a). Swankler has a B-rated skater rating and is committed to the University of Michigan.

The USHL/NHL Top Prospects game is an annual showcase of the top NHL draft eligible prospects in the USHL selected by NHL general managers and scouts, NHL Central Scouting and USHL general managers. Sioux Falls recently hosted the contest in 2017.

The Stampede return to action on Saturday against the Sioux City Musketeers at the Tyson Events Center with puck drop scheduled at 7:05 p.m. Fans can listen live at Kelo.com (1320 AM, 107.9 FM) or stream at HockeyTV.com.

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United States Hockey League Stories from December 6, 2018


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