June 27, 2009
Fargo Force teammates Josh Birkholz and Mike Lee were selected in the third round of the 2009 NHL Draft. (Robert J. Meyer/USHL Images)
More smiles were on display in Montreal as USHL players frequently heard their names called on the second day of the 2009 NHL Draft. When the day was over, a total of 17 players who spent the 2008-09 season in the USHL were selected by NHL teams.
The crowd had barely settled into their seats when Des Moines Buccaneers forward Alex Chiasson was selected in the second round (38th overall) by the Dallas Stars. The USHL All-Rookie Team selection who is slated to attend Boston University was thankful for his time he had to develop in the USHL.
"It was great for me," said Chiasson. "We had a rough season but at the same time I got to play against real good hockey players and you know my coach was J. P. Parise (Zach Parise's father) and he knows what it takes to make it to the next level. I had a chance to talk to Zach a couple of times and he made such a better hockey players in many different aspects."
As the second round was coming to a close, the Pittsburgh Penguins selected Chicago Steel defenseman Philip Samuelsson. The defenseman continues to follow in the footsteps of his father, Ulf, and looks to someday play for the club that his dad helped to win back-to-back Stanley Cups in the early 90's.
Fargo Force teammates were chosen in the third round. The Florida Panthers selected forward Josh Birkholz (67th overall) while the Phoenix Coyotes took goaltender Mike Lee (91st overall). The teammates will soon be staring across the ice from each other in college hockey as Birkholz is committed to the University of Minnesota and Lee is set to attend St. Cloud State University.
Recap of USHL players selected in the NHL Draft:
First Round
Louis Leblanc, Omaha Lancers – 18th overall, Montreal Canadiens
John Moore, Chicago Steel – 21st overall, Columbus Blue Jackets
Second Round
Alex Chiasson, Des Moines Buccaneers – 38th overall, Dallas Stars
Philip Samuelsson, Chicago Steel – 61st overall, Pittsburgh Penguins
Third Round
Josh Birkholz, Fargo Force – 67th overall, Florida Panthers
Troy Hesketh, Fargo Force – 71st overall, Edmonton Oilers
(Fargo Force protected list player for 2009-10)
Mac Bennett, Cedar Rapids RoughRiders, 79th overall, Montreal Canadiens
(Cedar Rapids RoughRiders protected list player for 2009-10)
Mike Lee, Fargo Force – 91st overall, Phoenix Coyotes
Fourth Round
Craig Smith, Waterloo Black Hawks – 98th overall, Nashville Predators
Chris Wideman, Miami University – 100th overall, Ottawa Senators
(Played for Cedar Rapids RoughRiders in the 2007-08 season)
Nick Oliver, Fargo Force – 110th overall, Nashville Predators
Seth Helgeson, Sioux City Musketeers – 114th overall, New Jersey Devils
Patrick Wey, Waterloo Black Hawks – 115th overall, Washington Capitals
Fifth Round
Eric Knodel, Des Moines Buccaneers – 128th overall, Toronto Maple Leafs
(Des Moines Buccaneers protected list player for 2009-10)
Mark Adams, Chicago Steel – 134th overall, Buffalo Sabres
(Chicago Steel protected list player for 2009-10)
Corban Knight, Lincoln Stars – 135th overall, Florida Panthers
(Lincoln Stars protected list player for 2009-10)
Radoslav Illo, Tri-City Storm – 136th overall, Anaheim Ducks
Jeff Costello, Cedar Rapids RoughRiders – 146th overall, Ottawa Senators
Nick Jensen, Green Bay Gamblers – 150th overall, Detroit Red Wings
Sixth Round
Anders Lee, Green Bay Gamblers – 152nd overall, New York Islanders
(Green Bay Gamblers protected list player for 2009-10)
Seventh Round
Erik Haula, Omaha Lancers – 182nd overall, Minnesota Wild
(Omaha Lancers protected list player for 2009-10)
Barron Smith, Peterborough – 188th overall, Toronto Maple Leafs
(Played for Chicago Steel during 2007-08 season)
Michael Sdao, Lincoln Stars – 191st overall, Ottawa Senators
Anthony Hamburg, Omaha Lancers – 193rd overall, Minnesota Wild
(Omaha Lancers protected list player for 2009-10)
Paul Phillips, Cedar Rapids RoughRiders – 195th overall, Chicago Blackhawks
Nic Dowd, Indiana Ice – 198th overall, Los Angeles Kings
(Indiana Ice protected list player for 2009-10)
Mike Cichy, Indiana Ice – 199th overall, Montreal Canadiens
Max Tardy, Tri-City Storm – 202nd overall, St. Louis Blues
(Tri-City Storm protected list player for 2009-10)
Jordan Samuels-Thomas, Waterloo Black Hawks – 203rd overall, Atlanta Thrashers
17 of the USHL players drafted played in the league during the 2008-09 season.
2 of the USHL players drafted are alumni of the league
10 of the USHL players drafted are on team protected lists for the 2009-10 season.
USHL.com will provide continued coverage of the NHL Draft in the coming days. Stayed tuned for stories, photos, and videos from the 2009 NHL Draft in Montreal.
The USHL celebrated its 30th season of junior hockey in 2008-09. With nearly 180 players already committed to NCAA Division I schools and 17 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.
