Tomahawks Select 16 players in NAHL Draft
Published on June 7, 2016 under North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Johnstown Tomahawks News Release
JOHNSTOWN - The Johnstown Tomahawks wrapped up a busy 2016 North American Hockey League Draft Tuesday afternoon, selecting 16 players (11 forward, three defensemen and two goalies).
"We had a large draft class this year due to the amount of players we saw move on to the NCAA from our 2015-2016 season," head coach Mike Letizia said. "Overall, I think we are able to grab a great combination of skill, hockey IQ, hard working kids, and best of all kids who want to be in Johnstown and be a part of the Tomahawks organization."
The Tomahawks selected goalie Drew Hotte with its first round pick. Hotte split time with the Waterloo Blackhawks and the Madison Capitols of the United States Hockey League, earning a record of 11-10-0.
In the second round, Johnstown selected forward Donovan Ott from the Surrey Eagles of the BCHL. The Lebanon, Pa., native netted 18 points in 46 games with the Eagles.
The team used its two third round picks to select forward Hayden Rowan and defenseman Reagan Wortz.
Rowan, a Yale commit, played for the Little Caesars U18 program, collecting 16 points in 15 games. Wortz suited up for the Honeybaked U18 program, scoring four goals and 13 assists.
The Tomahawks draft continued with the selections of Josh Biasillo of the Buffalo Jr. Sabres in the fourth round and defenseman Drew Hunter from the Oakland Jr. Grizzlies in the fifth round.
Johnstown corralled another goaltender with the sixth round selection of Alex Connal from the Islanders HC program. Connal garnered a record of 17-4-0 and a save percentage of .924.
The seventh round saw the Tomahawks pick forward Joseph Kile. Kile became the second Honeybaked player selected by Johnstown in the draft.
More picks needed to be made as the Tomahawks continued with the picks of Josh Nelson (eighth round) and Eric Benshadle (ninth round). Nelson was drafted from the Chicago Fury and is committed to Cornell University.
Benshadle played for the Lloydminster Bobcats of the BCHL in 2015-16, scoring eight goals and nine assists in 20 games.
Cleveland Barons forward Joshua Norman was chosen in the eleventh round by Johnstown. That pick was followed by a twelfth stanza pick of Tim Clifton from the New Jersey Avalanche.
In round 13, the Tomahawks chose Fall River, Nova Scotia native Nick Bruce with the 301st overall pick. Bruce played in 46 games with the Valley Jr. Wildcats of the Maritime Hockey League where he chipped in 21 goals and 25 assists.
With three picks remaining, the Tomahawks used a fourteenth round selection on Latrobe native Alex Singley. The Esmark Stars forward notched 17 points (six goals, 11 assists) in 25 games.
Next, Johnstown chose Cole Edgerton of the Pittsburgh Penguins Elite U16 team. Hailing from Wheeling, W. Va., Edgerton scored 11 goals and 12 assists in 24 games.
The Tomahawks rounded out the 2016 NAHL Draft by selecting 6-6 defenseman Bray Crowder in the sixteenth frame. Bray, the son of former NHL forward Troy Crowder, played in 36 games for the Welland Jr. Canadians where he scored five goals and added 20 assists.
Letizia said the draft class was "solid blend of age groups and positions."
"A lot of guys we targeted we were able to be selected based upon our position in the draft at that time," Letizia said. "I am really looking forward to seeing these guys on the ice with our returning veterans and previously tendered players. It is an exciting time for us as we move forward into next season."
Season ticket packages are now available for the 2016-17 season. For more information about full season or flex season plans, visit the team website at JohnstownTomahawks.com, stop by the Tomahawks office, or call the team at 814-536-GOAL.
North American Hockey League Stories from June 7, 2016
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