Thirty-three from USHL crack NHL Central Scouting rankings
Published on January 15, 2004 under United States Hockey League (USHL) News Release
The National Hockey League released its mid-season rankings from Central Scouting on Wednesday, featuring 33 players with roots in the USHL.
University of Notre Dame freshman Wes O'Neill (Green Bay) led the contingent of current and former USHL standouts, a group that outnumbered any other single American development program.
A former USHL All-Star while with the Gamblers in 2002-03, O'Neill was ranked No. 19 among domestic skaters.
The highest ranked skater currently in the USHL was River City forward Paul Stastny who occupied the No. 53 spot on the list. Stastny is the son of NHL Hall of Fame forward Peter Stastny and the brother of Yan Stastny who played with the Lancers in 2000-01 and currently skates with Nurenburg of the German Elite League.
Cedar Rapids' Joe Fallon, now in his third season in America's Tier I League, was the top ranked USHL goaltender on the list at No. 11 overall.
Other ranked players with USHL lineage included Geoff Paukovich (No. 48 - Tri-City Storm), Chris Zarb (No. 55 - Tri-City Storm), Blair Yaworski (No. 70 - Sioux City Musketeers), Victor Oreskovich (No. 76 - Green Bay Gamblers), Tom May (No. 84 - Des Moines Buccaneers), Sean Garrity (No. 98 - Green Bay Gamblers), Matthew Vokes (No. 99 - Cedar Rapids RoughRiders), Evan Rankin (No. 101 - Lincoln Stars), Nate Dey (No. 121 - Green Bay Gamblers), John Dingle (No. 125 - Tri-City Storm), Tom Pohl (No. 132 - Tri-City Storm), Nick Tuzzolino (No. 133 - Lincoln Stars), Derek Peltier (No. 135 - Cedar Rapids RoughRiders), Jacob Obermeyer (No. 136 - Tri-City Storm), Jim McKenzie (No. 139 - Sioux Falls Stampede), John Curry (No. 145 - Sioux City Musketeers), Kyle Klubertanz (No. 149 - Green Bay Gamblers), Matthew McIlvane (No. 155 - Chicago Steel), Jeff Hazelwood (No. 159 - Green Bay Gamblers), Derek Patrosso (No. 166 - Danville Wings), Matt Fornataro (No. 167 - Waterloo Black Hawks), Jack Hillen (No. 175 - Tri-City Storm), Luke Beaverson (No. 191 - Green Bay Gamblers), Matt Jones (No. 214 - Green Bay Gamblers), Jon Globke (No. 218 - Sioux Falls Stampede), Tomas Sinisalo (No. 219 - Green Bay Gamblers) and Dustin Molle (No. 239 - Waterloo Black Hawks).
Among goaltenders, Jimmy Spratt (No. 14 - Sioux City Musketeers) followed Fallon as did Peter Mannino (No. 18 - Tri-City Storm) and Adam D'Alba (No. 20 - Chicago Steel.)
United States Hockey League Stories from January 15, 2004
- Thirty-three from USHL crack NHL Central Scouting rankings - USHL
- Five Storm Players on Latest Central Scouting List - Tri-City Storm
- McKenzie named to All-Star Roster - Sioux Falls Stampede
- Prosser Shines in First Game with Stampede - Sioux Falls Stampede
- Black Hawks Head into Busy Weekend - Waterloo Black Hawks
- Storm has Seven Chosen for All-Star Game - Tri-City Storm
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