USHL Sioux Falls Stampede

Stampede Draft Nine Futures in Phase I of USHL Draft

Published on May 2, 2023 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Sioux Falls Stampede News Release


SIOUX FALLS, S.D.-The Sioux Falls Stampede Hockey Club has drafted nine athletes during Phase I of the 2023 USHL Futures Draft. The Phase I draft class includes four forwards, four defensemen, and one goaltender.

After tendering Matthew Grimes earlier this year, the Herd did not mark a first-round pick in Phase I. The Stampede draft board began with selecting defenseman Anthony Bongo from Ridgefield, Conn. The five-foot-eight defenseman, who previously played with the Mid Fairfield Jr. Rangers, was the 18th overall pick during the second round.

In round four, the Herd picked up left-winger Mason Kraft out of Moorhead, Minn. at pick number 48. The five-foot-seven forward was the first forward off the board for the Stampede. Finn De St. Hubert was selected in the fifth round at 63rd overall. The defenseman from Hopkins, Minn. previously played at Wayzata High School and marked one goal and 16 assists in 28 games.

During round six, the Stampede selected Sam Schulte from North Oaks, Minn. The right-handed defenseman previously played at Moundsview High School. Adding to the Herd's goaltending front, the Stampede chose tender Charles Menard out of Fairbanks, AK at the 93rd spot in the seventh round.

The Herd selected three forwards in a row between its three selections in the eighth and ninth rounds. Alex Donovan and Holden Pajor were the Stampede's eighth-round selections with Donovan at 108 and Pajor at 119. The third forward brought a familiar name to the Herd's locker room with Jack McDonough, younger brother of current Stampede forward Will McDonough, being selected with the 123rd pick during the ninth round.

Rounding out Phase I, the Stampede added defenseman John Alex Banks from Secaucus, New Jersey. The five-foot-six defenseman previously saw time with the North Jersey Avalanche and was selected in the tenth round at pick number 138.

"We could not be more pleased about the work our staff did to prepare for this phase of this year's draft," said Stampede General Manager, Tony Gasparini. "We added a bunch of talent that will help us down the road in the effort to become a successful organization."

The second phase of the 2023 USHL Draft begins at 11 a.m. Wednesday and is open to any athletes born between 2003 and 2007 who are not already claimed by a USHL member organization. Fans can follow along via the Stampede's social media channels and the USHL live draft board on the USHL website.

Check out the Sioux Falls Stampede Statistics

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