USHL Waterloo Black Hawks

Waterloo Black Hawks 2012 NHL Draft Recap

Published on June 23, 2012 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Waterloo Black Hawks News Release


Waterloo, Iowa-Led by their top selection from May's 2012 USHL Entry Draft, the Waterloo Black Hawks celebrated record success during the NHL Draft Saturday, as five current, future, or former players were chosen.

Chris Calnan, a forward from Boston, was the first Hawk taken during the event in Pittsburgh Saturday when the Chicago Blackhawks claimed the 6-2, 187-pounder the 79th overall pick, midway through the third round. It was the second time in three years a Waterloo prospect has been drafted in approximately the same slot. In 2010, the Dallas Stars chose Alex Guptill 77th.

During the fourth round, former Hawk Brady Vail and affiliate forward Zach Stepan were called. Vail, a member of the Windsor Spitfires in 2011-2012, went to the Montreal Canadiens with the 94th choice. Stepan, who is anticipated to join Waterloo in 2012-2013, was drafted 18 picks after Vail by the Nashville Predators.

Chicago found a Waterloo name at the top of their list again in the sixth round when they snagged veteran Vince Hinostroza. The suburban Chicago native was the 169th overall choice. Hinostroza is the first Hawk to be chosen in the NHL Draft immediately following a season with Waterloo since Craig Smith, Patrick Wey, and Jordan Samuels-Thomas were all taken in 2009. Chicago becomes the third team to ever draft two Waterloo players in the same year after the New York Rangers claimed Peter and Chris Ferraro 20 years ago. The San Jose Sharks drafted both Dean Grillo and Corwin Saurdiff a year prior to that, in 1991.

The final selection Saturday, 211th overall, was defenseman Nick Ebert. A teammate of Vail's in Windsor and with Waterloo before that, Ebert sank after enthusiastic pre-draft rankings in January (70th by NHL Central Scouting among North American skaters) and April (96th). He is the fifth Black Hawk to be picked in the seventh round since 2007, joining fellow defensemen Lee Moffie (2010), Nick Pryor (2008), and Drew MacKenzie (2007), plus forward Jordan Samuels-Thomas (2009).

Waterloo's five 2012 draft picks surpass the previous record of four, established in 2007. That year, John Lee, Josh Turnbull, Blake Kessel, and MacKenzie were all chosen in rounds five through seven. With Saturday's results, 25 players who have been Black Hawks before or after being drafted by an NHL club will have skated in Waterloo under P.K. O'Handley.

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United States Hockey League Stories from June 23, 2012


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