What a Draft Day

June 30, 2013 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Waterloo Black Hawks News Release

Led by veteran defenseman Ian McCoshen, the Waterloo Black Hawks celebrated the franchise's most successful NHL Draft of all time on Sunday as seven players with ties to the team were picked during the annual event.

McCoshen started the parade as the first choice during the second round, 31st overall, by the Florida Panthers. It was the earliest a Waterloo player has been taken in more than two decades, since Peter Ferraro was the 24th pick in 1992. McCoshen was just the fifth U.S. born player to be selected during the festivities in Newark, New Jersey, and only the second from the USHL.

The Black Hawks had never previously had a player drafted during the second round, but Hawks prospect Zach Sanford book-ended the segment when the Washington Capitals chose him with the final pick of the round. Waterloo drafted Sanford in May during the USHL entry draft.

In Rounds Three and Four, the New York Islanders showed how much time they have spent at Young Arena over the last two seasons. In a 37-pick span between 70 and 106, the Islanders wrapped up Eamon McAdam, Taylor Cammarata, and Stephon Williams. While McAdam and Williams will vie with Cal Petersen to become the first goaltender to advance from Waterloo to the NHL, Cammarata's rights were acquired by the team which gave another Black Hawk the chance to become a scoring star at hockey's highest level. In 2007/08, Jason Blake recorded 40 goals for New York more than a decade after leading the USHL in scoring and winning USA Hockey's Junior Player of the Year Award in 1993/94. Cammarata celebrated both of those accomplishments last winter.

Petersen was called by the Buffalo Sabres in the fifth round with the 129th pick. Prior to Sunday, no Black Hawk goalie had been selected earlier than the seventh round. The trio of Waterloo netminders represented half of the American-born goalies who were picked during the event.

For the seventh time in the last nine years, a player with connections to the Hawks was selected in the seventh round. Jake Jackson played two games for Waterloo last November and was claimed by the San Jose Sharks with the 201st overall pick. Jackson is expected to join the Sioux City Musketeers next season.

The previous record for the most Black Hawks taken in one NHL Draft was four, set in 2007 and matched again last June. Entering the day with 37 players drafted in franchise history, Waterloo's total has now been boosted to 44. Of those, 31 have skated for the Hawks since P.K. O'Handley became the club's head coach in 2002.

United States Hockey League Stories from June 30, 2013

• Lancers' Poolman, Besse Selected in 2013 NHL Draft - Omaha Lancers
• Pair of Saints Selected During 2013 NHL Entry Draft - Dubuque Fighting Saints
• What a Draft Day - Waterloo Black Hawks
• Ice Pair Selected in 2013 NHL Draft - Indiana Ice
• Lumberjacks Have Banner Day at 2013 NHL Entry Draft - Muskegon Lumberjacks
• Sharks Make Jackson Late Choice - Waterloo Black Hawks
• Stephon Williams Selected in the 4th Round of NHL Draft by NY Islanders - Sioux Falls Stampede
• Petersen Chosen in Fifth Round - Waterloo Black Hawks
• Freshman Year Leads Williams to Draft - Waterloo Black Hawks
• Islanders Also Add Top Scorer Cammarata - Waterloo Black Hawks
• McAdam Makes Impression on Islanders - Waterloo Black Hawks
• Hawks Draft Pick Taken in NHL Draft - Waterloo Black Hawks
• McCoshen Leads off Second Round of NHL Draft - Waterloo Black Hawks

The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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