May 13, 2009
Matt Mahalak of Culver Academy was the first overall pick in the 2009 Futures Draft. (Photo courtesy of William Snyder/SnyderSportsPix.com)
Complete draft results are available at www.ushldraft.com
A closer look at the selections in the first round.
1. The top pick overall in the 2009 USHL Futures Draft was goaltender Matt Mahalak from Culver Academy (Indiana). The League's newest entry from Youngstown selected the 16-year-old who was rated as the top goaltender in this age group by USHL Central Scouting. Culver Military Academy also produced Colorado Avalanche John-Michael Liles who spent time in the USHL as a part of the U.S. Junior National Team from 1997-99.
Mahalak excels in the crease and in the classroom as he carries a 4.0 grade-point average and has already accelerated a grade in high school.
2. Cason Hohmann was a top-ranked player by USHL Central Scouting and the second overall pick by Cedar Rapids. While playing for Detroit Compuware this season, the forward led the Tier I Elite Hockey League with 56 points (24g, 32a) in 31 games.
Before moving to Michigan, the native of Texas once helped his 12 & Under team capture the USA Hockey Tier I National Championship, the first-ever Tier I national championship for the state of Texas.
3. Waterloo chose goaltender Jay Williams with the third pick. P.K. O'Handley, Black Hawks Head Coach/General Manager, feels that Williams is one of the top goaltenders in North America for the 1993 age group. "He is a pro-style goaltender with the way he moves and competes. He is very athletic and our staff is very excited about him."
Williams, a native of McLean, Virginia, competed recently for both The Hotchkiss School in Lakeville, Connecticut and the Thunder AAA Hockey Association in the Southeast.
4. Des Moines pulled off a trade with Lincoln to acquire the fourth pick in the Futures Draft. Des Moines sent their third-round selection and forward Matt White to Lincoln to move up to the fourth overall pick.
With that selection, Des Moines drafted defenseman Nick Malysa from New Jersey who played for the North Jersey Avalanche hockey program. One USHL scout noted his toughness and ability to effectively move the puck.
5. Fargo selected defenseman Brian Cooper from the Alaska All Stars. He helped lead his U16 club to a state championship this season. Cooper also added three points (1g, 2a) in five games during the USA Hockey Tier I 16 & Under national championship.
USHL Central Scouting has noted Cooper as a player with good instincts and someone who has shown great improvement as he continues to develop his hockey skills.
6. Sioux City picked defenseman Jordan Schmaltz who recorded 55 points (14g, 41a) in 51 games for the Chicago Mission U16 team this season.
Schmaltz committed to play Division I hockey at the University of Wisconsin last fall when he was just 14-years-old. It is believed he is the youngest prospect to commit to the Badgers.
7. Blake Pietila was the first selection made by Sioux Falls. A teammate this season of second overall pick Cason Hohmann, Pietila helped Detroit Compuware capture the USA Hockey Tier I 16 & Under National Championship. In six games during the tournament, he scored nine points (6g, 3a).
The two-way winger posted 19 points (8g, 11a) in 31 regular season games for Compuware and was touted by one USHL scout for how hard he competes.
8. Forward Alex Racino was drafted by the Clark Cup champion Indiana Ice. He played for Team Wisconsin this season and has USHL scouts excited about his upside to be a top talent.
The Merrill, Wisconsin native already has University of Wisconsin hockey fans hoping someday he returns home and ends up in a Badgers uniform.
9. Dan Molenaar was selected by the Anderson Cup champion Green Bay Gamblers. This season, the defenseman helped lead Eden Prairie High School to its first Minnesota Class AA boys state hockey title.
Molenaar scored a goal in the championship game as his team shutout Moorhead 3-0. He posted 22 points (9g, 13a) including three game-winning goals and registered a plus-18 rating in 25 games during the regular season.
10. Des Moines used their second pick of the first round on another defenseman. Zane Popilock is noted by USHL scouts as a smart player that has good skills.
He posted 18 points (4g, 14a) in 30 games for Team Comcast of the Atlantic Youth Hockey League. Popilock added three assists in six games leading his club to a runner-up finish at the USA Hockey Tier I 16 & Under National Championship.
11. Forward J.C. Campagna receives high marks from USHL Central Scouting. One scout believes he has the tools to someday become an NHL Draft selection.
Campagna helped lead the club to their first appearance at the USA Hockey Tier I 16 & Under National Championship and he recorded two assists in three games at the tournament.
12. Peter Hand was the third member of Detroit Compuware to be chosen in the first round. Tri-City added the defenseman who added two points (1g, 1a) as a part of USA Hockey Tier I 16 & Under National Championship team.
In 25 games for Compuware, he registered eight points (1g, 7a) and 97 penalty minutes. He also added five assists in five playoff games.
13. In the final selection of the first round, Omaha chose defenseman Scott Dornbock. He played this season for Gross Pointe North High School in Michigan.
Bliss Littler, Omaha Head Coach/General Manager stresses that during the draft his organization is looking for players that not only have skill, but can skate well and play at the high speed necessary to compete in the USHL. Littler believes Dornbock fits that criteria, "He is a big mobile defenseman who has a tremendous upside offensively."
The USHL celebrated its 30th season of junior hockey in 2008-09. With over 170 players already committed to NCAA Division I schools and 16 NHL Draft picks that played in the league this season, the USHL is the nation's foremost producer of junior hockey talent. For more information, visit us on the web at www.ushl.com.
