USHL Sioux Falls Stampede

Stampede have Five players listed on final Central Scouting List

Published on April 26, 2007 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Sioux Falls Stampede News Release


Sioux Falls, SD- Only five South Dakota college football players have been drafted into the National Football League (NFL) since 1993, the Stampede could potentially have five players drafted into the NHL this June. Five current Stampede players are listed on the NHL's Central Scouting final rankings which were released yesterday. Brad Malone, Jake Hansen, Corey Tropp, Jordy Christian and Jeff Foss are all ranked on the final list. In addition, former Stampede goaltender John Murray is one of 30 North American goaltenders listed. In all, Central Scouting ranks the top 210 players and 30 goaltenders eligible for the 2007 NHL Draft, June 22 and 23 in Columbus, OH.

In the Stampede's eight year history, the club has had three players chosen in the first round of the draft. Thomas Vanek was taken 5th overall in 2003 by the Buffalo Sabres. T.J. Oshie went 24th overall to the St. Louis Blues in 2005 and Joe Finley went 27th overall to the Washington Capitals in 2005 as well. Overall, the Stampede have had 17 players drafted by an NHL club and over 20 are players currently playing professional hockey.

Here is a look at the Stampede players listed and where they rank:

Brad Malone (57th overall):

Malone is in his first season with the Herd, posting 33 points (14g, 19a) in 57 regular season games. The Miramichi, New Brunswick native has two points (1g, 1a) in four playoff games this postseason. Malone, who will play collegiate hockey next season at the University of North Dakota, was ranked 53rd overall in the mid-term rankings in January.

Jake Hansen (65th overall):

The White Bear Lake, MN native has had little trouble adjusting to life in the USHL after leading White Bear Lake High School in scoring with 71 points (28g, 43a) in 28 games this season. In 15 regular season games with the Stampede, Hansen recorded 8 points (4g, 4a). He was ranked 80th overall in the mid-term rankings and has already committed to the University of Minnesota for the 2008-09 season.

Corey Tropp (114th overall)

The Stampede's leading scorer during the regular season with 62 points (26g, 36a), Tropp has had a solid second year with the club. He also leads the team in scoring in the playoffs with eight points (2g, 6a) and is a plus-3. He has already committed to Michigan State University for next season.

Jordy Christian (118th overall)

Christian led the Moorhead Spuds in scoring this season with 65 points (28g, 37a) in 26 games. He appeared in 13 regular season games with the Herd, posting five points (3g, 2a) and a plus-1 rating. Christian was ranked 122nd in the mid-term rankings and has committed to St. Cloud State University for the 2008-09 season.

Jeff Foss (132nd overall)

Foss joined the Stampede in mid-March after finishing out his high school season at Moorhead with Christian. While in Moorhead, Foss led the Spuds defensemen in scoring with 46 points (15g, 31a) in 26 games. He appeared in 11 games with the Herd during the regular season, recording one assist and a plus-1 rating. So far in three postseason games, Foss has tallied one assist.

John Murray (15th overall amongst goaltenders)

Murray had a stellar season in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) with the Kitchener Rangers. Murray ranked third amongst goaltenders in the league with a 40-9-1-2 record, a 2.58 GAA and a .909 save percentage. Earlier in the year, Murray was named to the OHL All-Star Game and was recently voted team MVP by the Rangers.

Murray spent two seasons in Sioux Falls (2004-06) and holds Stampede records for best save percentage in a season (.930), best goals-against-average in a season (2.14) and best goals-against-average in a career (2.57). Murray was ranked 15th during the mid-term rankings as well.

VANEK SCORES TWICE TO HELP LIFT SABRES PAST RANGERS

Former Stampede star Thomas Vanek was the key to victory last night for the Buffalo Sabres in their 5-2 victory over the New York Rangers in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference semi-final series.

Vanek scored twice in the second period as the Sabres climbed out to a 3-0 lead after two. In the third, the Sabres closed things out with goals from Jason Pominville and former North Dakota standout Drew Stafford. Vanek leads the Sabres in scoring during the postseason with six points (4g, 2a) and is a plus-1 in six games. Vanek was an NHL best plus-47 during the regular season.

Vanek and the Sabres continue their best-of-seven series with the Rangers Friday in Buffalo. The Sabres were 4-0-0 against the Rangers during the regular season.

Check out the Sioux Falls Stampede Statistics

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United States Hockey League Stories from April 26, 2007


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