Sports stats



USHL Sioux Falls Stampede

Stampede Complete Successful Draft

May 15, 2007 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Sioux Falls Stampede News Release


The Sioux Falls Stampede added 17 players to their protected list today in the 2007 USHL Draft. All the players will be invited to the Stampede's tryout camp, June 1-4 at Ridder Arena in Minneapolis. The camp will consist of these drafted players along with 13 players who were protected prior to the draft and several other invitees. In all, the Stampede will have 60 players at their camp.

Here is a look at who the Stampede selected:

With their first pick (7th overall) the Stampede selected Jack Connolly from Duluth, MN. Connolly spent this past season playing at Duluth Marshall High School where he led team in scoring with 60 points (32g, 28a) in 25 games. The 5'8", 160-pound center led the Hilltoppers to the Minnesota Class "A" championship game where they fell 4-1 to Hermantown. He has already committed to the University of Minnesota-Duluth for the 2009-10 season meaning he will be a two-year player with the club.

With their second pick, 19th overall, the Stampede selected defenseman Gabe Guentzel. Gabe is the brother of former Stampede forward, Ryan. Gabe spent this past season playing for the Southern Minnesota Express of the North American League (NAHL) where he finished the season with 23 points (3g, 20a) while leading the Express to a second place finish in the Central Division and a third place finish in the Robertson Cup. He recorded seven points (3g, 4a) in 12 playoff games this season.

Director of Player Personnel, Craig Sarner says that Guentzel is a skilled defenseman who plays with an edge and will see time on the powerplay.

With the first pick in the third round (25th overall) the Stampede selected Michael Juoula (U-oh-la) from Lake Forest, CA. Juola, a 5'11", 175-pound forward, spent last season playing Midget "AAA" hockey with the L.A. Jr. Kings. He finished the season as the club's top scorer with 76 points (18g, 58a). Sarner says Juoula (2/27/89) has great hands, is a great skater and can score.

With the 31st pick overall, the Stampede selected Tom Healy (9/9/88), a forward from Rolling Meadows, IL. Healy (6'0", 195-pounds) was the leading scorer for Team Illinois "AAA" midget team which was the top ranked team in the nation for most the 2006-07 season. Healy finished the season with 27 points (17g, 10a) in 26 games. Sarner calls him a fast, tough and strong winger.

In the fifth round and the 51st overall pick (acquired from Green Bay in the Channing Boe trade), the Stampede selected forward Jordan Singer (10/25/88) of Lino Lakes, MN. Singer (6'0", 185-pounds) spent last season playing at Centennial High School in Minnesota where he led the team in scoring with 42 points (22g, 20a).

In the fifth round (55th overall), the Stampede selected defenseman Augie Hoffmann (6'3", 190-pounds). A native of Lake Forest, IL, Hoffman spent last year with the Valley Jr. Warriors of the Eastern Junior Hockey League (EJHL) where he posted 16 points (2g, 14a) and 107 penalty minutes in 40 games. Hoffmann (1/28/88) is a left handed shot who has a good shot and plays with an edge.

With the 56th overall pick (acquired in the Joe Miller trade with Lincoln), the Stampede selected forward Terry Broadhurst. Broadhurst, a left winger, spent this past season playing with the Chicago Chill "AAA" midget team where he finished the season as the club's top scorer. Sarner says Healy has great speed and compares him to David Solway.

In the sixth round (65th overall) the Stampede selected defenseman Sean Escobedo (Es-ka-bado) from Bayside, NY. Escobedo (6'0", 180-pounds) spent last season playing for Apple Core of the EJHL where he recorded 13 points (2g, 11a) in 32 games. Sarner calls Escobedo (10/27/90), a steady, stay at home defenseman.

In the seventh round (72nd overall), the Stampede selected forward Garrett Chumley of Cambridge-Isanti High School. Chumley (11/21/88) led the Blue Jackets and the Twin Cities metro area in scoring with 74 points (46g, 28a) in 30 games. Sarner feels he is a guy that may have fallen under the radar. He played very well in the Minnesota Elite League and has great speed and is hard worker.

In the eighth round (79th overall), the Stampede selected defenseman Kristof Reinthaler of Graz, Austria. Reinthaler is no stranger to the Stampede, having participated in their last two tryout camps. Reinthaler spent this past season playing with futures draft pick Eric Hartzell and the Dallas Stars "AAA" midget team in Dallas, TX. Sarner says Reinthaler has gotten bigger and stronger and is a solid defenseman.

In the 11th round (91st overall) the Stampede selected forward Tedd Falk of Mequon, WI. Falk (6'2", 195-pounds) spent this past season playing with Team Wisconsin in the Upper Midwest Elite League. Sarner says he has raw talent and is big and strong.

In the 12th round (103rd overall), Sioux Falls selected forward Jeff Rohrkemper from Grosse Pointe, MI. Rohrkemper (6'0", 175-pounds), was ranked the second best player in Michigan high school hockey and played for the Stampede's Michigan scout, Scott Lock. Sarner describes Rohrkemper as a skilled forward who also plays very well defensively and can play wing or center.

In the 13th round (115th overall), the Herd selected forward Britton Smith from Minneapolis, MN. Smith spent this past season playing high school hockey for Holy Angels who were the #1 rated team in class "AA" for the majority of the season. He finished the season with 54 points (30g, 24a) in 28 games. Sarner says he was surprised he was still on the board and that Smith is a very smart player who is strong in the corners.

In the 14th round (127th overall), the Stampede selected defenseman Milan Luziach (Lu-say-ich) from Eden Prairie, MN. Luzaich (6'4", 195-pounds) spent last year with the Rocky Mountain Wranglers "AAA" midget team where he posted 17 points (9g, 8a) in 37 games. This was Luziach's (3/29/88) first season on defense, meaning he could play forward or defense. Sarner calls him a phenomenal skater and a solid defenseman.

In the 15th round (139th overall), the Herd took forward Tony McDonald from New Brighton, MN. McDonald (5'10", 170-pounds) played this past season at Totino-Grace High School where he led the team in scoring with 51 points (15g, 36a) in 28 games. He is a three-sport athlete (hockey, football and soccer) whose speed is compared to that of Dan Sexton.

In the 16th round (151st overall), Sioux Falls selected defenseman Joey Brehm of Edina, MN. Brehm (6'2, 190-pounds) spent last season with Edina High School where he posted 25 points (4g, 21a) in 31 games. Sarner calls him a big, skilled defenseman who played forward prior to this season.

In the 17th round (163rd overall) the Stampede selected forward Jason Silvia of Burlington, MA. Silvia spent the past year playing for Belmont Hill Prep School in Massachusetts where he helped lead his team to the New England Prep League championship game. Silvia (6'2", 205-pounds) is a big, strong centerman who owns the front of the net according to Sarner.

"We are very happy with our draft results," said . "This should be one of the most competitive camps we have had since I've been here," added Sarner. The Stampede can protect up to 30 players after tryout camp, but must trim their roster to 25 by July 1st. The Herd will then have to set their roster to 23 men after the USHL Fall Classic (formerly the Buc Bowl) in late September.

Check out the Sioux Falls Stampede Statistics



United States Hockey League Stories from May 15, 2007


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central