USHL Sees 26 Players Taken In NHL Draft
Published on June 23, 2007 under United States Hockey League (USHL) News Release
On Friday, four former USHL players were selected in the first round of the 2007 National Hockey League Draft. Saturday, rounds two through seven took place and 22 more USHLers were selected by NHL teams. In addition, nine players who appeared on the USHL Futures List in 2006-07 and six players who were taken in the 2007 USHL Draft were taken, meaning the number of players with USHL ties selected in the draft could go as high as 41.
In round one, Max Pacioretty (Sioux City) went 22nd overall to Montreal, Patrick White (Tri-City) went 25th overall to Vancouver and Nick Petrecki (Omaha) went 28th overall to San Jose. Additionally, Sam Gagner, who played with Sioux City in 2005-06 before moving to London of the Ontario Hockey League, went sixth overall to Edmonton.
The first USHL pick on Saturday came at number 44 overall when the St. Louis Blues selected Des Moines forward Aaron Palushaj. Colorado took Lincoln defenseman Colby Cohen, projected by NHL Central Scouting as a first round pick, with the very next pick at number 45. Jake Hansen, who will play for Sioux Falls again in 2007-08, went 68th overall to Columbus early in the third round. Also going in the third round were Lincoln's Jason Gregoire, 76th to the New York Islanders, USHL Player of the Year Phil DeSimone to the Washington Capitals at number 84 and USHL Prospects/All-Star Game Most Valuable Player Corey Tropp to Buffalo at number 89.
Also in the third round, former Omaha Lancer Ryan Thang, who was one of the key cogs in the record breaking season at the University of Notre Dame in 2006-07, went 81st overall to Nashville. Thang was one of five USHL alumni taken on the weekend, joining Gagner, Sioux City's Steven Kampfer (93rd overall to Anaheim), Cedar Rapids' Alec Martinez (95th overall to Los Angeles) and Green Bay's Justin Braun (201st overall to San Jose).
"Once again the USHL enjoyed a very successful NHL Draft. We have made some very positive steps in this event over the last five or so years, and it is reflected not only in the number of kids that are chosen but the number that are ultimately ending up in the NHL," said USHL president Gino Gasparini. "Just like I said yesterday, the USHL is proving that it is a major player in the development of players for not only the NCAA but also the NHL. It isn't something that happens overnight, as our continued success is something that has developed over many years.
"I'm excited for the future. I'm excited for the future of these kids that were taken because great things are awaiting them. But I'm also excited for the future of our league. It will be a lot of fun to see the kids that were taken these last two days that are on their way to our league and see how they adjust to the new level and improve their game. It's great for them and great for our league.
Below is a list of players with USHL ties taken in the 2007 NHL Draft.
First Round
6 - Sam Gagner (Sioux City) - Edmonton
22 - Max Pacioretty (Sioux City) - Montreal
25 - Patrick White (Tri-City) - Vancouver
28 - Nick Petrecki (Omaha) - San Jose
Second Round
44 - Aaron Palushaj (Des Moines) - St. Louis
45 - Colby Cohen (Lincoln) - Colorado
Third Round
68 - Jake Hansen (Sioux Falls) - Columbus
76 - Jason Gregoire (Lincoln) - New York Islanders
81 - Ryan Thang (Omaha) - Nashville
84 - Phil DeSimone (Sioux City) - Washington
89 - Corey Tropp (Sioux Falls) - Buffalo
Fourth Round
93 - Steven Kampfer (Sioux City) - Anaheim
95 - Alec Martinez (Cedar Rapids) - Los Angeles
100 - Travis Erstad (Lincoln) - St. Louis
105 - Brad Malone (Sioux Falls) - Colorado
108 - Brett Bruneteau (Omaha) - Washington
113 - Kent Patterson (Cedar Rapids) - Colorado
114 - Ben Ryan (Des Moines) - Nashville
Fifth Round
131 - John Lee (Waterloo) - Florida
137 - Josh Turnbull (Waterloo) - Los Angeles
142 - Andrew Conboy (Omaha) - Montreal
Sixth Round
166 - Blake Kessel (Waterloo) - New York Islanders
176 - Taylor Matson (Des Moines) - Vancouver
Seventh Round
185 - Nick Larson (Omaha) - Washington
198 - Danny Hobbs (Ohio) - New York Rangers
201 - Justin Braun (Green Bay) - San Jose
USHL Futures Picks Selected
35 - Tommy Cross (Ohio) - Boston
50 - Nico Saccheti (Indiana) - Dallas
120 - Ben Blood (Des Moines) - Ottawa
135 - Paul Carey (Indiana) - Colorado
186 - C.J. Severyn (Ohio) - Calgary
187 - Nick Eno (Waterloo) - Buffalo
190 - Trevor Nill (Chicago) - St. Louis
192 - Scott Kishel (Sioux Falls) - Montreal
199 - Andrew Glass (Ohio) - Washington
2007 USHL Draft Picks Selected
53 - Will Weber (Chicago) - Columbus
77 - Alexander Killorn (Omaha) - Tampa Bay
150 - Matt Marshall (Waterloo) - Tampa Bay
153 - Scott Darling (Indiana) - Phoenix
209 - Drew MacKenzie (Waterloo) - Buffalo
211 - Trent Vogelhuber (Des Moines) - Columbus
Draft Day Notes
Brother Acts: Waterloo had two players follow in their brother's footsteps on draft day. John Lee, taken 131st overall by Florida is the brother of Brian Lee, who went 9th overall to Ottawa in 2005. Blake Kessel, who went 166th to the New York Islanders is the brother of Phil Kessel, who went 5th overall to the Boston Bruins in 2006.
Rising Stock...: Several players were selected higher than projected by NHL Central Scouting. Aaron Palushaj was chosen 57 spots higher than projected. Jason Gregoire was taken 69 spots higher than projected and Josh Turnbull was taken 70 spots higher.
...And Falling Stock: Just as there were players taken higher than expected, there were also players taken lower than anticipated. Brad Malone went 48 spots lower than expected. Blake Kessel went 67 spots lower Ben Ryan dropped 77 spots from his NHL Central Scouting projection.
What To Call Him: In the NFL, the final pick in the draft is known as "Mr. Irrelevant" because players in that position rarely make the NFL roster. The final pick in this NHL Draft was Trent Vogelhuber, Des Moines' first round choice in this year's USHL Draft.
Lancers Lead The Way: Omaha, with five, had more players chosen in the draft then any other USHL team. Sioux City was next with four players chosen.
Avalanche Warning: The Colorado Avalanche selected three players from the USHL, the most of any NHL team. In all, 15 teams (or half the NHL) selected at least one USHL player. Nine teams selected more than one player.
Mid To Late Arrivals: Since the 2000 draft, the USHL has had 25 players chosen in each of the fourth, fifth and sixth rounds. The biggest round for the USHL is the seventh round, where 35 players have been chosen.
Snubbed: The top seven USHL players ranked by NHL Central Scouting were all chosen in the draft. The highest rated player to get snubbed was Chicago's Drew Leblanc. Leblanc was the 86th ranked player but was not taken.
United States Hockey League Stories from June 23, 2007
- USHL Sees 26 Players Taken In NHL Draft - USHL
- RoughRiders' Goaltender Patterson, Rider Alum Martinez Selected in NHL Draft - Cedar Rapids RoughRiders
- Five Stampede Players Taken in NHL Draft - Sioux Falls Stampede
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