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Who Is the 2015 Thunder Draft Class?

May 6, 2015 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Bloomington Thunder News Release


Bloomington, IL - With all the new faces on their way into Bloomington through the 2015 United States Hockey League Draft, it gives hope to a new season and future of hockey in central Illinois. The Bloomington Thunder finished their 2014-15 season with a 29-24-7 record, just one spot out of the Clark Cup playoffs in their inaugural season.

The Bloomington fans can now welcome the new draft class with open arms in the coming months before the team opens main camp on June 17th. So, who are the potential players joining the Thunder come September?

Assistant Coach and Director of Scouting Dan Jewell touched on the draft and was excited about the Thunder's new crop of prospects from both Phases. Catch his full interview on BloomingtonThunder.TV or by clicking here.

Phase II

With Phase I producing a majority of their players as affiliate list prospects, Phase II is the more likely place for immediate additions to the roster for the 2015-16 season. The Thunder accumulated five selections in the first three rounds of Phase II including their first selection, Forward Ethan Somoza (Bemidji State University).

Somoza, 1996, made a huge splash as a goal scorer with the Fairbanks Ice Dogs of the North American Hockey League. Leading the team with 30 goals, and ranking third in the NAHL, the Simi Valley, CA native scored a career high 65 points. The forward showed off his ability to defend in his plus minus statistics as well, totaling a +31 ranking, in the leagues top ten. Somoza also has the ability and drive to improve, continuing to do so since he announced his college commitment to Bemidji State University in 2013.

He brings a scoring touch that the Thunder lost in team MVP Shane Bednard (Bowling Green State University) and Offensive Player of the Year Matt Mendelson (Penn State University). Click here to see the post draft interview with the eighth overall pick.

In the second round, the Thunder reached north of the border to select Defenseman Noah Delmas (Niagara University) out of Nobleton, ON with the 24th overall pick. Six picks later the Thunder added to the blue line again with Defenseman Brogan Rafferty (Quinnipiac University). Delmas, 1996, finished his third season with the Aurora Tigers of the Ontario Junior Hockey League, scoring 42 points from the blue line. Rafferty, 1995, adds veteran junior experience to the line. After two years with the Coulee Region Chill, the Dundee, IL native had 54 points (7g, 47a). Rafferty is committed to play college hockey at Quinnipiac University.

Two more picks were used by the Thunder in the third round, bringing young Defenseman Myles Cunningham (Brown University) and Forward William Harrison. Despite being a '98 prospect, Cunningham has played three seasons with Blake High School in Minnesota and committed to play for Brown University less than a month ago. Harrison, 1996, can also have an impact on the Thunder offense. After three years in the Tier 1 Elite Hockey League, the Springfield, VA native joined the Thunder's sister organization the Amarillo Bulls. In 49 games, the 6-foot-1 forward had 43 points (20g, 23a) to ranked second on the team.

A high scoring, small forward was added in the fourth round. Liam Folkes (Clarkson University), 1996, from Scarborough, ON scored 72 points (37g, 35a) in just 60 games with the Brockville Braves. Despite being 5-foot-7, he has a lot of offensive upside for the Thunder.

Two of the next three selections were from the Selects Hockey Academy, bringing Defenseman Dominic Dockery, 1997, and Forward Joseph Cipollone (University of New Hampshire), 1997, to Bloomington. Dockery, selected in the fifth round from Lockport, NY, scored 38 points (12g, 26a) from the point in 51 games. Cipollone, from Purchase, NY, has scored 96 points (35g, 61a) in 54 career games at the Academy.

Another Minnesota product, Nick Leivermann, finished his first season with Eden Prairie High School and had 19 points (6g, 13a) in 25 games as the team's leading defenseman.

Forwards Sean Harrison and Matthew Barnaby rounded out the eighth round. Harrison, 1996, from Anchorage, AK turned in 46 points (22g, 24a) with the Cowichan Valley Capitals in the BCHL. Barnaby, 1998, is the son of long time NHL player Matthew Barnaby and played with the Buffalo Regals. The Williamsville, NY native had 58 points (19g, 39a) in 42 games.

Defenseman William Riedell, 1996, from Greensboro, NCwas brought in during the ninth round. Riedell is a big force at 6-foot-2, 190lbs, scoring 30 points (8g, 22a) with the Vermont Academy Prep School. Tenth round pick and Forward Brandon Biro, 1998, from Sherwood Park, AB stands at 5-foot-8 and was a dynamic forward for Spruce Grove of the Alberta Junior Hockey League, scoring 54 points (21g, 33a) for the Saints.

Defenseman Matt Foley, 1995, was a 12th round selection for the Thunder from Longmeadow, MA. Playing in 38 games for the Merritt Centennials (BCHL). The 20-year old D-man missed some time due to injury but is a solid defenseman that could help solidify the Thunder blue liners. Forward Andreas Maier, 1997, from Stockholm, SWE was the lone Euroupean player taken by the Thunder in the draft. In the SuperElit league, the 5-foot-9 import proved his offensive talent, scoring 43 points (19g, 24a) in 42 games, ranking him in the top 15 scorers in the league.

Rounding out the Phase II draft was Goaltender Erik Gordon, 1999, from Duluth, GA. Gordon is undersized for a goaltender at 5-foot-8 but has room to grow. However, there is no question he can stop pucks with a .925 SVPT and a 1.97 GAA through 12 games played with the TPH Thunder of the T1EHL.

Phase I

The Phase I selections are the future of the Thunder organization. Few make their organization's rosters to begin the season, but are held on affiliate lists to develop for another year before joining the USHL ranks. Bloomington had both Mitchell Mattson (University of North Dakota) and Vladislav Dzhioshvili (Cornell University) finished the season with the Thunder after developing during the 2014-15 season.

Hoping to crack that lineup from day one is Forward Marko Reifenberger. The eighth overall selection in the Phase I draft is a great two-way forward who had a breakout year in 2014-15. Another Minnesota player who finished his sophomore year with Hill-Murray High School scoring 41 points (18g, 17) in 30 games, second on his team. 12 of his points came on the power play and the 6-foot forward had three game winning goals.

With their second pick, the Thunder took Defenseman Ben Mirageas from Newburyport, MA. In 2014-15, the stay at home defenseman suited up with Avon Old Farms Prep School. Mirageas made the move to Prep School Hockey after playing for Newburyport High School and is still learning. However, he can move the puck up the ice and has the ability to contribute offensively, as well as defensively.

A big 6'2 defenseman was the next move when Jack Harris was selected by the Thunder with one of two picks in the third round. Harris comes to Bloomington from Prior Lake High School in Minnesota. While he might not be a huge contributor with points, he can be a big time defender for the Thunder and has a huge upside.

Another former NHLer saw their son move into Thunder territory as another third round pick was used on Skylar Brind'Amour. The son of Stanley Cup Champion and Assistant Coach of the Carolina Hurricanes Rod Brind'Amour brings a lot to the table. His father attended Michigan State University and the USHL gives him the opportunity to follow in his footsteps. The 6-foot-1 forward is a great two-way forward with size and time to grow into the college style game.

Michael Callahan was the fourth round selection for the Thunder and is a highly anticipated college player. Described as a 'do it all' defenseman, the Roxbury Latin Prep School player is a good skater who needs time to grow into his body.

The top 5 was rounded out by University of Vermont commit Christian Thomas. The Bloomingdale, NY forward scored 36 points in 20 games with the Northern Cyclones in the Eastern Junior Elite Prospects League.

Patrick Smyth from Compuware is a large 6'3 power forward from Toledo, OH who scored 16 points (6g, 10a) in the 2014-15 HPHL season. His size and skillset make him an exciting prospect for the Thunder. He will be an exciting player to watch through the camp process.

Rounding out Phase I were Defensemen Fletcher Fineman from North Broward Prep School and Patrick Dawson from Westminster Prep School, as well as Forwards Bram Scheerer from Edina High School and Thomas Altounian from the Chicago Mission.

Fineman, from Lake Worth, FL, stands at 6-foot-1 as a strong defenseman with ten points (4g, 6a) in '14-15, while Dawson from Medway, MA also puts up a strong front at 5-foot-11, 170lbs. Scheerer, selected in the eighth round, is a sophomore from Minnesota who helped his team to first place in their division with nine points (3g, 6a) and a 22-1-2 record. Altounian finished Phase II and the 2015 USHL Draft in the tenth round for the Thunder. The 5-foot-11 Lake Forest, IL native scored 16 points (5g, 11a) with the Mission this season and was teammates with current Thunder affiliate Joey Abate (University of Wisconsin).

Tune in to BloomingtonThunder.TV throughout the offseason for interviews with some of the newest faces and returning players. Also stay tuned for updates from the Thunder's Futures Camp from June 5th-7th, and from Main Camp June 17th-21st, both from the Leafs Ice Arena in West Dundee, IL.

Season Tickets: 2015-16 will be here before you know it and for just $50 we can reserve your season tickets for the Bloomington Thunder at the U.S. Cellular Coliseum. If you reserve before June 1st, you'll be entered to win an all-expenses paid flight to Las Vegas! Plans start at just $240 and youth season tickets are $150 for all the same benefits. Head to BloomingtonThunder.com for a full list of benefits and pricing options to go with our new seating map. Call the Thunder office at (309) 434-2980 for information and booking.

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