USHL Sioux Falls Stampede

Stampede future looks bright after draft

Published on October 14, 2008 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Sioux Falls Stampede News Release


The Sioux Falls Stampede added eight high profiled players to their affiliates list late Tuesday afternoon during the 2008 Futures Draft. An affiliate list is a list of 12 players a team is allowed to protect in addition to their 23-man roster. The Stampede already had four players protected prior to the draft. All players taken on Thursday are added to the Stampede's protected list and cannot be drafted by any other USHL team. All players taken during the draft were either 16 or 17 years-old.

The first four rounds of the draft were exclusively for players with 1992 birthdates while the next four rounds were for players born in 1991. For more information on how the Futures Draft works, click here.

Below is a summary of the players drafted by the Stampede on Tuesday:

With their first pick (4th overall), the Stampede selected forward Brent Darnell (6'0, 175-pounds). A junior at Detroit Cathedral in Michigan, Darnell is a skilled, well rounded center-man who is being highly recruited by colleges in the Midwest. Darnell made the 16 year-old USA National Team that competed in Slovakia. He was the leading goal scorer on the team and also was praised by his coaches as being the best penalty killing forward on the team as well. Head Coach Kevin Hartzell says he has well rounded skill sets and is a pure center.

In the second round, the Herd selected forward Christian Isackson (5'11" 175-pounds), a junior at St. Thomas Academy in Minnesota. As a sophomore, scored like few can, tallying 67 points on 33 goals and 34 assists in only 30 games. Coach Hartzell calls him another pure center-man who sees the ice well. "He is hard to knock off the puck and finds an open teammate," said Hartzell. "We feel he is a great pick for the second round."

In the third round, the Stampede selected forward Kyle Rau. Kyle has yet to play a high school game. "Our staff believes he was the best ninth grader in the state of Minnesota where he scored over 100 goals," said Hartzell. His brother, Chad, played in the USHL for Des Moines where he led their team in scoring and is currently playing at Colorado College. "Many feel that Kyle could end up being every bit as good if not better than his older brother," said Hartzell.

In the fourth round, the Stampede took defenseman Clark Cristofoli Cristofoli is a left handed, skilled defenseman who currently plays midget hockey (high school aged club team) for the Ohio Jr. Blue Jackets. "He is a skilled player who moves well and distributes the puck like a seasoned hockey player," said Hartzell. "He is a very good skater who is just physical maturity away from being a solid player."

In the fifth round, the Stampede started to select those with 1991 birthdates. With their first pick the Stampede selected forward Dominic Zombo, Zombo is currently playing midget hockey for the St. Louis Jr. Blues. "Dominic is a player we believe will come in and contribute immediately," said Hartzell. "This kid is skilled, tough and well rounded. He can play wing or center and no matter what the position, he makes those around him better."

His father, Rick, was a star defenseman for the North Dakota Fighting Sioux and also played several years in the NHL with the Detroit, St. Louis and Boston. He also played in the USHL with the Austin Mavericks and coached in the league during the 2003-04 season with the St. Louis Heartland Eagles. "If this kid is anything like his dad, we have a very good hockey player coming," added Hartzell.

With their second pick from the 1992 birthdates, the Stampede took defenseman Richard Coyne. Coyne currently plays for the PF Changs Midget team out of Phoenix. Coyne stands at 6'2" and is very mobile. "Big guys who can skate are always a step ahead," said Hartzell. "He has good puck skills and is very smart. His coach at the USA Summer festival said he would have been their captain. When you add in his leadership qualities, he has a good chance to be an impact player in the USHL."

With their final two picks in the 1992 category, the Stampede selected a pair of twins who attended their tryout camp this past summer. Ryan Reilly is a left handed forward who plays for Holy Angels High School in Minnesota. He was outstanding in the Stampede try-out camp last year. "Ryan is a gifted player who lacks only in that he is just starting to grow," stated Hartzell. "He is not yet 150 pounds, but as he grows he is only going to be that much better as he is already a fine player."

Connor Reilly-Twin brother of Ryan Reilly, is also a left handed forward who plays for Holy Angels High School in Minnesota. He was also outstanding in the Stampede try-out camp last year and has a great hockey IQ. Connor recorded 63 points on 28 goals and 35 assists as a sophomore at Holy Angels.

The following were players already on the Stampede's affiliate list prior to the start of the draft:

Doug Marshall (D) - Syracuse Stars

Connor Allen (D) - Team Illinois

Travis Belhorad (F) - Colorado Outlaws

Matt Wiggesmansen (F) - Team Illinois

Check out the Sioux Falls Stampede Statistics

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United States Hockey League Stories from October 14, 2008


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