State well represented at NHL Draft

Just one player with Michigan college ties was drafted in the first round of the NHL Entry Draft Friday night in Ottawa, Ontario, but the floodgates opened Saturday.

Speedy forward Daultan Leveille from the Golden Horseshoe Junior Hockey League's St. Catharines Falcons, a future Michigan State Spartan, was taken 29th overall by the Atlanta Thrashers for the state's only connection in the opening round.

Four of Michigan's five 2008-09 recruits were drafted Saturday, as well as 2009-10 recruits from Western Michigan and MSU. Two current college skaters, Ferris State's Zach Redmond and Northern Michigan's Mark Olver, were late-round picks as well.

FIRST ROUND

Atlanta Thrashers - 29th overall

Daultan Leveille, F, St. Catharines Falcons (GHJHL)

incoming Michigan State recruit

SECOND ROUND

New Jersey Devils - 52nd overall

Brandon Burlon, D, St. Michael's Buzzers (OPJHL)

incoming Michigan recruit

THIRD ROUND

Los Angeles Kings - 63rd overall

Robbie Czarnik, F, U.S. NTDP

incoming Michigan recruit

FOURTH ROUND

Ottawa Senators - 119th overall

Derek Grant, F, Langley Chiefs (BCHL)

2009 Michigan State recruit

FIFTH ROUND

Toronto Maple Leafs - 128th overall

Greg Pateryn, D, Ohio Jr. Blue Jackets (USHL)

incoming Michigan recruit

Colorado Avalanche - 140th overall

Mark Olver, F, Northern Michigan (CCHA)

will be sophomore in fall

SIXTH ROUND

Tampa Bay Lightning - 160th overall

Luke Witkowski, D, Ohio Jr. Blue Jackets (USHL)

2009 Western Michigan recruit

New Jersey Devils - 172nd overall

David Wohlberg, F, U.S. NTDP

incoming Michigan recruit

SEVENTH ROUND

Atlanta Thrashers - 184th overall

Zach Redmond, D, Ferris State (CCHA)

will be sophomore in fall

MSU hockey announcer passes away

Compiled by MiCHO Staff

A well-known radio voice in the greater Lansing area, Jerry Marshall had been the voice of Michigan State hockey at Munn Arena since 1972. Marshall also started a weekly radio show with head hockey coach in Ron Mason nearly 20 years ago, which continues today with the weekly Rick Comley Radio Show.

Marshall passed away today at the age of 64.

His final game at Michigan State was the Spartans' banner-raising ceremony to celebrate the 2007 NCAA championship on Oct. 19, 2007. He also served as the public address announcer for MSU baseball for several years.

Calling hours will be on Monday, June 23, from 2-4 and 6-8 at Estes-Leadley Funeral Home, 325 W. Washtenaw, Lansing. The funeral will take place at noon on Tuesday.

BCHL stud commits to Spartans for '09

Compiled by MiCHO Staff

Following a tremendous rookie year in the British Columbia Hockey League in which he played nearly the entire season on the Langley Chiefs' top line, Derek Grant knows there are expectations for his sophomore campaign.

This week, he has taken a step towards alleviating some of that pressure by committing to attend Langley head coach and general manager Harvey Smyl’s alma mater, Michigan State University, for the 2009-10 season.

After visiting with several schools in order to decide not only which on-ice program was best, but which off-ice program suited him, Grant made the decision just days before another potentially monumental day in his life, the NHL Entry Draft.

“It just felt right, it fit,” Grant stated. “ They have a great program, great coach and I was very impressed with what they had to offer.”

Grant, an 18-year-old from Abbotsford, B.C., posted 24 goals and 63 points this past season, good for second on the Chiefs, 20th overall and fifth among rookies in the BCHL.

The draft takes place this weekend in Ottawa and Grant is expected to go somewhere in between the second and fourth rounds.

“We’re very excited for Derek, the way he came on in his first season and carried so much of the offensive burden," Chiefs associate coach and associate GM Barry Wolff said. "Michigan State is a great school and we’ll know he will have a great support network there and be put in a great situation to succeed.”

--with files from Matt Mackinder

Perkovich probably returning to LSSU

By Scott Nason
Soo Evening News

SAULT STE. MARIE - Lake Superior State goal-scoring leader and MVP from last season Nathan Perkovich is likely to return for the 2008-09 hockey season according to LSSU head coach Jim Roque.

“I do expect him (Perkovich) to be back,” he said. “We had a little situation between the year he was drafted and he could have filed with the league on June 1 and force New Jersey to sign him, which he didn't do.”

There has been speculation that Perkovich would turn pro this summer and forego the remaining year of eligibility with Lake Superior State. Perkovich improved upon his point totals in his freshman season by leading the Lakers in goals scored with 17 and finishing third in points with 25 last season. Through two seasons he has 32-14-46.

Read the rest of the article HERE.

InLine Hockey Worlds feature Lakers

by Mike Burrill/LSSU Beat Writer

Lake Superior State senior defenseman Steven Oleksy (pictured) and former Laker forward Chris Peterson will play for the U.S. InLine National Team at the 2008 International Ice Hockey Federation InLine Hockey World Championship in Bratislava, Slovakia, June 21-28.

The tournament will include 16 teams in two pools. Team USA opens June 22 against Germany.

Peterson, a 2004 LSSU grad and Macomb native, served as captain and totaled four goals and two assists for the gold medal-winning U.S. Team in 2006. He also helped the U.S. to a gold medal in 2004 and bronze in 2005. Peterson totaled nine goals and 24 assists for 33 points as a Laker.

Oleksy (Chesterfield) totaled one goal and six assists for Lake State last season. He only has one year of eligibility remaining due to the fact he played one season of collegiate baseball.

Photo courtesy LSSU Sports Information

World Junior camp has Michigan flavor

Compiled by MiCHO Staff

A total of 53 players from 17 states, including seven from the CCHA, along with three incoming freshmen, have been invited to the 2008 U.S. National Junior Evaluation Camp in Lake Placid, N.Y., Aug. 1-9.

Participating players are candidates for the 2009 U.S. National Junior Team that will compete in the 2009 International Ice Hockey Federation World Junior Championship, Dec. 26, 2008-Jan. 5, 2009, in Ottawa, Ontario.

The camp will feature practices and eight international games with a split squad of the best American players under the age of 20 facing off against Sweden and Finland.

Michigan forward Matt Rust (Bloomfield Hills) and Notre Dame defenseman Ian Cole (Ann Arbor) are among the eight returnees from the 2008 U.S. National Junior Team invited to the camp.

Also highlighting the list of invitees are 13 players from the bronze medal-winning 2008 U.S. National Under-18 Team. That list includes incoming freshman forward Justin Florek (Marquette) from Northern Michigan University along with incoming Michigan forwards Robbie Czarnik (Washington) and David Wohlberg (South Lyon).

The list of 18 defensemen who will be converging on Lake Placid also includes Scooter Vaughan (pictured) of Michigan.

The 30-member group of prospective forwards lists Aaron Palushaj (Northville) from Michigan and Corey Tropp (Grosse Pointe Woods) of Michigan State.

Vaughan photo courtesy UM Photo Services

Rolston to head U.S. World Juniors

Compiled by MiCHO Staff

Ron Rolston, currently one of two head coaches at USA Hockey's National Team Development Program in Ann Arbor, will serve as head coach of the U.S. National Junior Team that will compete at the 2009 International Ice Hockey Federation World Junior Championship Dec. 26, 2008-Jan. 5, 2009, in Ottawa.

"We're extremely pleased to have Ron Rolston lead our team in the World Junior Championship," said Dave Ogrean, executive director of USA Hockey. "He's done an excellent job as a head coach at our National Team Development Program and is clearly the right person to coach our team in Ottawa."

Rolston, a Flint native, led the U.S. National Junior Team to the bronze medal at the 2007 IIHF World Junior Championship in Leksand and Mora, Sweden. He also served as an assistant coach for the U.S. National Junior Team that placed fourth at the 2003 IIHF World Junior Championship in Sydney and Halifax, Nova Scotia.

"Ron is an exceptional coach," said Jim Johannson, assistant executive director of hockey operations for USA Hockey. "He is very much in tune with both the talent pool in our country and what it takes to be successful in international competition."

Rolston recently completed his fourth season with USA Hockey's NTDP having served as the head coach for the U.S. National Under-17 Team. He led the squad to 30 wins and second-place finishes at the 2007 Under-17 Four Nations Tournament, 2008 World Under-17 Challenge and the 2008 Vlad Dzurilla Under-18 Tournament. Rolston's successes in international competition also include, leading the U.S. National Under-18 Team to the gold medal at the 2005 IIHF World Under-18 Championship and the silver medal at the 2007 IIHF World Under-18 Championship.

Prior to his tenure with USA Hockey's NTDP, Rolston served as an assistant coach at Boston College (2002-04), Harvard University (1999-2002) and Clarkson University (1996-99). He also spent five years at Lake Superior State, four as assistant coach (1990-94) and one as associate head coach (1995). While at Lake Superior State, Rolston helped the Lakers capture NCAA titles in 1992 and 1994.

He played college hockey at Michigan Tech University.

Joining Rolston behind the bench will be assistant coaches Nate Leaman (Union College, ECACHL) and P.K. O'Handley (Waterloo Black Hawks, USHL), and goalie coach Jeff Blashill (Indiana Ice, USHL).

Rolston will lead the 2008 National Junior Evaluation Camp August 1-9 in Lake Placid, N.Y., as a part of the selection process for the 2009 U.S. National Junior Team. The final roster will be announced in early December 2008.

NOTES: Rolston is a USA Hockey Level 5 certified coach, while Leaman, O'Handley and Blashill are all USA Hockey Level 4 certified coaches… Ken Martel, manager of youth ice hockey for USA Hockey, will serve as the video coordinator for the 2009 U.S. National Junior Team… Mark Osiecki from the University of Wisconsin, Jay Varady from the Everett Silvertips and Mike Cavanaugh from Boston College, along with the coaching staff of the 2009 U.S. National Junior Team, will form the coaching staff for the 2008 National Junior Evaluation Camp… The U.S. has played for a medal in the World Junior Championship in each of the last six events.

Photo by RJ Meyer/NAHL

Llewellyn, two Wildcats, on HF draft list

Compiled by MiCHO Staff

While this weekend's NHL Entry Draft may not be as deep as previous year's drafts, three Michigan-based skaters have outside chances of getting selected.

DJ Powers of Hockey's Future has ranked the top 10 NCAA prospects for the annual draft and while Boston University sophomore-to-be Colin Wilson heads the list, he has company in the Michigan trio.

Northern Michigan sophomore defenseman Erik Gustafsson (fifth), sophomore forward Mark Olver (seventh) and sophomore Michigan defender Tristin Llewellyn (eighth, also pictured) are all profiled on the Hockey's Future site.

FULL ARTICLE HERE

Photo courtesy UM Photo Services