Talent, Toughness Exhibited By Early Ice Draft Picks
May 13, 2009 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Indiana Ice News Release
INDIANAPOLIS - The Indiana Ice began building the next Clark Cup title contender today with the 2009 USHL Entry Draft. Over the course of the draft, the Ice selected 16 players from around the country to compete for a spot with the reigning Clark Cup Champions.
The Ice were forced to wait until the second round to make their selection, with their 2009 first round pick traded for Clark Cup Finals MVP Mike Cichy, but they made up for the delay by selecting d-man Justin Agosta out of the Berkshire School. Agosta, who is committed to the University of New Hampshire for his college puck, will join several returning blue-liners on the defensive end. Billy Fitzgerald, another prep school defensive product from Salisbury School and committed to Dartmouth for college, was selected third overall by the Ice.
Indiana mixed those picks with two veteran North American Hockey League skaters, forwards Bryon Paulazzo and Cory Thorson, who each bring with them a reputation as scorers. Paulazzo notched 85 points (27G, 58A) in two seasons in the NAHL, while Thorson picked up 48 points (28G, 20A) in his sole season in the league.
The Ice also added some toughness in forward Sean Logue from the Eastern Junior Hockey League. Logue scored 34 points (16G, 18A) while tallying 104 penalty minutes.
On the home front, the Ice selected forward Taylor Burden, a familiar face for the franchise as he played last season with the Ice's Tier 1 Midget AAA affiliate; the Indiana Jr. Ice. Burden, who attends Carmel High School, led the Jr. Ice with 75 points (30G, 45A) last season, and will join the other draft picks in June's main camp to compete for a spot on the Indiana Ice roster.
"We are excited to add these young men to the Indiana Ice organization and look forward to evaluating each player at our upcoming camp," Ice coach Jeff Blashill said.
United States Hockey League Stories from May 13, 2009
- USHL completes entry draft - USHL
- USHL Grants Indiana Ice Special Draft Pick - USHL
- Riders Draft Defenseman Zajac in First Round - Cedar Rapids RoughRiders
- Talent, Toughness Exhibited By Early Ice Draft Picks - Indiana Ice
- Waterloo Adds Prospects for 2009-2010 - Waterloo Black Hawks
- Stampede add scoring touch and veteran presence through USHL Draft - Sioux Falls Stampede
- Storm Makes "Big" Pick with Number-One Selection - USHL
- Fishers player Derek Zike selected by Ice - Indiana Ice
- Black Hawks Named Business of the Year - Waterloo Black Hawks
- Lancers Aquire Omaha Native Nick Oddo - Omaha Lancers
- Musketeers Update - Sioux City Musketeers
- USHL Entry Draft Provides Players Additional Opportunities - USHL
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