Steel Select 12 Players in 2017 USHL Phase I Draft
May 2, 2017 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Chicago Steel News Release
GENEVA, ILLINOIS - The Chicago Steel continued to build a successful foundation of future players Monday, selecting twelve players in the USHL Phase I Draft. Chicago chose eight forwards, three defensemen and one goaltender from the 2001 birth year over the course of the 10-round Draft. Players drafted hail from the United States (6), Canada (5), and the Czech Republic (1).
The Steel did not have a first-round selection, as highly-skilled top prospect center Robert Mastrosimone became the team's first-ever tender signee last month (April 17), taking the place of Chicago's first-round pick. The Boston University commit spent this past season with Shattuck-St. Mary's, registering 23 goals and 21 assists in 31 total games. As part of the tender agreement, Mastrosimone is guaranteed to appear in at least 55 percent of the Steel's 2017-2018 regular season games.
Chicago's first selection on draft day was Canadian center Brett Budgell. The St. John's, N.F., native was selected in the 2nd Round, 30th Overall. Budgell, a highly-skilled forward with a nose for the net, played this year for the London Knights Minor Midget AAA program, notching 58 (25+33) points in 32 regular season games, plus 15 (5+10) more in 11 playoff games en route to an Alliance Hockey Minor Midget Pavilion League (AHMMPL) Championship.
In the third round, the Steel looked to the crease, selecting St. Louis Blues AAA goaltender Jack Williams with the 46th Overall pick. A hardworking goalie with good size, Williams stands 6-foot-1 and weighs 153 pounds.
Chicago had a pair of picks in Round 4. With the 56th Overall selection, the Steel took two-way, hard skill power forward Dylan Holloway, a University of Wisconsin commit out of Bragg Creek, Alta., Canada. Six spots later, Matthew Gleason, a center from St. Paul, Minn., was selected. Gleason played with the Cretin/Derham Hall H.S. Raiders this season and is a speedy forward who can make plays up and down the rink.
Another Canadian was picked in the fifth round, as versatile forward Massimo Rizzo's name was called with the 78th Overall selection. The Burnaby, B.C., native followed up an MVP season with Burnaby Winter Club Prep in the CSSHL by joining the Penticton Vees, where he was part of a BCHL Championship squad.
The Steel selected Kyle Harris (106th Overall) in Round 7. Harris hails from the Buffalo, N.Y., area and spent this season across the border playing minor midget AAA hockey with the Toronto Marlboros. Later in Round 7, Chicago grabbed its lone European of Phase I, choosing Czech winger Peter Melcher, who plays in Slovakia for MHC Martin U18.
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- Steel Select 12 Players in 2017 USHL Phase I Draft - Chicago Steel
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