May 21, 2010
Defenseman Justin Wade of the Chicago Mission U16 organization was selected eighth overall by the Fargo Force in the 2010 USHL Futures Draft on Tuesday. (photo courtesy of the Chicago Mission)
Krause Goes First…Forward Adam Krause was selected first overall in the 2010 USHL Entry Draft by the Chicago Steel on Wednesday. It was a pick that the Steel traded up to get. Krause was a Mr. Minnesota Hockey award finalist this season while leading Hermantown High School to the Class A state championship game.
"It's still surreal and it probably won't kick in until I get to training camp," said Krause of being selected first overall. "I didn't expect it, but I have been working hard and I am ready to take on the challenge."
Although a highly-touted player coming out of high school, Krause knew he needed to continue his development before making the leap to college hockey.
"Right after I committed to the University of Minnesota-Duluth, coach (Scott) Sandelin said I would need a year of maturity before coming to play there," said the forward. "I want to get to the next level, but I am in no rush. I know the USHL is the way to go and the right step for me."
One-Two Punch…Forward Riley Barber was the top pick in Tuesday's USHL Futures Draft by the Dubuque Fighting Saints. Just a few moments later, Barber's teammate this season with the Compuware U16 program, Garret Cockerill, was taken second overall by the Muskegon Lumberjacks. Two more of their Compuware teammates were selected in the second round as Sioux City took defenseman Ryan Lowney and Muskegon drafted forward Joseph Cox.
Breaking it Down…Of the 238 players selected in the Entry Draft, 146 are forwards, 71 are defensemen, and 21 are goaltenders.
Of the 90 players selected in the Futures Draft, 53 are forwards, 29 are defensemen, and 8 are goaltenders.
In the Bloodlines…the Sioux City Musketeers drafted defenseman Jake Suter in the third round of the Entry Draft. His father Gary played two seasons (1981-83) in the USHL for the Dubuque Fighting Saints before embarking on a 17-year NHL career.
In the fourth round, the Sioux Falls Stampede selected forward Mario Lucia. His brother, Tony, played two USHL seasons with Omaha Lancers (2004-06) and just recently completed a four-year career at the University of Minnesota where he played under his father, Don, who is the head coach at the school.
The Tri-City Storm drafted defenseman William Eiserman in the fourth round. Just seven picks later, his brother Chris Eiserman was picked by the Youngstown Phantoms. The siblings were teammates this season with the New Hampshire Junior Monarchs in the EJHL.
Tri-City also grabbed a forward with USHL bloodlines in the Futures Draft as they selected forward Tim Lappin in the second round (17th overall) whose brother, Nick, played for the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders this past season.
Another sibling of a USHL player from this season was taken by Des Moines in the sixth round of the Futures Draft. The Bucs selected forward Liam McDermott, brother of Fargo Force defenseman Eamonn McDermott.
It was a double take for Sioux City in the fifth round of the Futures Draft as they selected forward Ondrej Zehnal, the twin brother of Richard Zehnal who played 55 games for the Musketeers this season.
During Tuesday's Futures Draft, two sons of USHL coaches had their name called. The Lincoln Stars selected forward Luke Johnson in the first round (11th overall). He is the son of Fargo Force Head Coach Steve Johnson and is also the nephew of new Lincoln Head Coach Chad Johnson. In the fourth round (47th overall), Sioux City picked Jake Guenztel who is the son of Des Moines Head Coach Mike Guentzel. Jake's two older brothers, Ryan and Gabe, both played in the USHL for the Sioux Falls Stampede and are now playing collegiately.
Across the Pond…While the USHL is truly the national league, it attracts talent from around the globe. Youngstown selected forward Teemu Tiitinen, a native of Finland that spent this season with the Dallas Stars U18 program.
Another Finland native, Markus Kojo, was picked by the Indiana Ice in the sixth round of the Futures Draft.
The Sioux City Musketeers picked Nicholas Weberg in the Entry Draft. The native of Norway played this season at Shattuck St. Mary's.
Birthday Present…The Tri-City Storm selected forward David Middleton in the 15th round of the Entry Draft on Wednesday, just two days before his 18th birthday.
Youth Movement…While the Futures Draft on Tuesday featured those players with 1994 birthdates, several in that age group, and even a few younger, were selected the following day in the Entry Draft. Five players were drafted that have 1995 birthdates, including two by the Indiana Ice; Will Butcher (Sioux City), Eric Comrie (Indiana), Anthony DeAngelo (Cedar Rapids), Adam Erne (Indiana), and Hudsen Fasching (Chicago).
Hometown Boys…A couple natives of USHL cities could have the opportunity to play in their hometowns after being selected in the USHL drafts, but they will be playing as the visitors. Sioux City drafted forward Max McCormick with the fifth overall pick in Wednesday's Entry Draft. He led Notre Dame Academy in Green Bay to an appearance in the state tournament and was also the recipient of the Wisconsin Mr. Hockey award.
In Tuesday's Futures Draft, Tri-City selected forward Trevor Boyd in the fifth round. He attends Mona Shores High School in one of the USHL's newest cities, Muskegon, Michigan. It is also the same high school attended by Cedar Rapids RoughRiders alum and current Detroit Red Wings forward Justin Abdelkader.
Another player may get the chance to hit the ice one day in the USHL for the home team in his hometown as the Omaha Lancers selected defenseman and Omaha native Trey Olson in the fourth round of the Futures Draft.
On a Mission…Of the 90 players selected in Tuesday's Futures Draft, eight of them came from the Chicago Mission AAA hockey organization, including first-rounders Vincent Hinostroza (fourth overall by Waterloo Black Hawks) and Justin Wade (eighth overall by Fargo Force).
Eight more from the Mission program were selected in the Entry Draft, including two in the second round; forward John Doherty (Dubuque) and Jimmy Murray (Fargo).
New Saints Get Experience…The Dubuque Fighting Saints drafted several young players to help them build a team for their inaugural season in 2010-11, but they also looked to a couple of experienced players to help them along the way. In the 10th round of the Entry Draft, they selected forward Kyle Murphy who recently completed his freshman season at the University of Notre Dame. Two rounds later, the Saints drafted forward Vinny Saponari who spent the last two seasons at Boston University. The pair would become the next two players who have taken advantage of the further development opportunities provided by the USHL, much like Joe Lavin (Omaha Lancers) and David Boehm (Cedar Rapids RoughRiders) did this past season in the League after previously having collegiate playing experience.
Click here for round-by-round selections of the 2010 USHL Drafts.
Headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, the USHL celebrates eighth season as the nation's only Tier I junior hockey league in 2009-10. With over 230 players already committed to NCAA Division I schools and 13 NHL Entry Draft picks on League rosters 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.
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