Di Giuseppe headlines Michigan draft class

Michigan Press Releases

For the first time since 2007, the University of Michigan had a player selected in the first round of the NHL Entry Draft, as incoming freshman Jacob Trouba (Rochester) was taken ninth overall by the Winnipeg Jets on Friday at Consol Energy Center, home of the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Trouba was ranked ninth among North American skaters by the NHL's Central Scouting Service after completing his second season with the United States National Team Development Program in 2011-12.

The 6-foot-2, 193-pound defenseman appeared in 50 games last season with the USNTDP Under-18 team, earning 31 points (9g, 22a). He represented the United States at the 2012 IIHF World Junior Championship, recording three assists in six games. Trouba has also won two gold medals with the U.S. at the World Under-18 Championships (2011, 2012) and captured a silver medal at the 2011 Under-17 World Hockey Challenge.

Trouba is the 17th Michigan player or commit to be selected in the first round, and the first since Montreal took forward Max Pacioretty in 2007.

He is the seventh-highest pick in U-M history and the second-highest pick by the Winnipeg Jets (Aaron Ward, fifth overall, 1991).

Trouba will join sophomore defenseman Brennan Serville (Pickering, Ont.) as Winnipeg draft picks in Ann Arbor next season.

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After incoming freshman Jacob Trouba was selected ninth overall by Winnipeg on Friday, three more members of the University of Michigan hockey team fulfilled their NHL draft-day dreams on Saturday at Consol Energy Center, home of the Pittsburgh Penguins.

U-M winger Phil Di Giuseppe (Maple, Ont.) was the first Wolverine off the board, going 38th overall to the Carolina Hurricanes. Incoming forward Boo Nieves (Rochester, N.Y.) was also a second-round pick, as the New York Rangers chose him 59th overall. Incoming defenseman Connor Carrick (Orland Park, Ill.) was selected in the fifth round, 137th overall, by the Washington Capitals.

Di Giuseppe, who was ranked 22nd among North American skaters in the final CSS rankings, recently completed his freshman season with the Maize and Blue, posting 26 points (11g, 15a) in 40 games. He ranked second among team rookies in all three scoring categories and received CCHA All-Rookie Team honorable mention. The 6-foot-1, 200-pound forward was named the CCHA Rookie of the Month for October and the league's Rookie of the Week for the week ending Oct. 31, 2011.

Nieves (pictured) spent the last two seasons at the Kent School in Kent, Conn., where he was coached by former Michigan captain Matt Herr. The 6-foot-3, 184-pound forward tallied 39 points (11g, 28a) in 22 games at Kent last season before joining the Indiana Ice of the United States Hockey League at the conclusion of his high school season.

Carrick was ranked 124th among North American skaters in the CSS rankings after competing with the United States National Team Development Program for the past two seasons. Carrick appeared in 41 games with the Under-18 team in 2011-12, earning 16 points (5g, 11a).

Photo courtesy MiHockeyNow.com

Incoming Michigan State quartet drafted in Pittsburgh

Michigan State Press Release 

Four incoming Michigan State players were drafted on the second day of the National Hockey League Entry Draft on Saturday and the four selections in this year’s draft were the most selections for the Spartans in a season since 2006.

“We are very pleased for the guys who were drafted today,” said MSU coach Tom Anastos, who himself was drafted in the sixth round by the Montreal Canadiens in the 1981 draft.

“All four of them have excellent futures ahead of them and we are excited about them beginning the next phase of their development at Michigan State.”

The future Spartan players started to hear their names early in the third round.

Birmingham Brother Rice graduate Mackenzie Maceachern (Troy) and defenseman John Draeger (Edina, Minn) went in back-to-back picks, Maceachern at No. 67 overall to the St. Louis Blues. Draeger heard his name called by his home-state Minnesota Wild at No. 68. Maceachern is the ninth-ever MSU draft pick by the Blues and the first since Trevor Nill in 2006. Draeger is just the second-ever Minnesota Wild draft pick for the Spartans and both were defensemen (AJ Thelen was a first-round pick of the Wild in 2004).

Rhett Holland (Calgary, Alberta) went to Phoenix with their fourth-round selection. Four former Spartan players were drafted by the old Winnipeg Jets prior to the team relocating to Phoenix in 1996.

MSU’s fourth selection of the day was Matt DeBlouw (Chesterfield), Calgary’s seventh-round pick at No. 186 overall. He is the fifth Spartan selected and first since 1991 when Kelly Harper was picked by Calgary in the seventh round as well.

MSU had four players selected in the NHL draft for the first time since 2006 when Mike Ratchuk (Philadelphia), Jeff Petry (Edmonton), Ryan Turek (St. Louis) and Nick Sucharski (Columbus) heard their names called on draft day.

Michigan State had 15 former players appear in at least one NHL game during the 2011-12 season.

Draeger, Holland and DeBlouw are set to join the Spartans for the 2012-13 season, while Maceachern will play this coming season in the USHL for the Chicago Steel, which selected him fourth overall in the USHL draft earlier this spring. Maceachern was Michigan’s "Mr. Hockey" after leading Brother Rice to a state title. Draeger helped lead Shattuck St. Mary’s to back-to-back national Tier I championships in 2011 and 2012.

Maceachern photo by MiHockeyNow.com

Gibson spurns Wolverines, OHL-bound

Compiled by MiCHO Staff

Michigan head coach Red Berenson announced Wednesday that recent signee John Gibson will not enroll at the university.

"John Gibson has decided not to attend the University of Michigan or to play college hockey,” said Berenson.

Gibson, a goaltender who played the past two seasons with the U.S. NTDP, was drafted by the Kitchener Rangers in the 11th round of the 2009 OHL draft. He was also selected by the Anaheim Ducks in second round of the NHL draft last month.

UPDATE (8 p.m.): The Rangers announced Gibson's signing today in a press release.

"John plays with confidence and has the unique ability to control his rebounds," said Kitchener head scout Murray Hiebert. "He has a pedigree of success. His combination of size and athleticism allow him to be a great prospect for the Anaheim Ducks and we look forward to having John with us in Kitchener."

Two Michigan recruits selected on Day 2

UM Press Release

A pair of incoming freshmen for the University of Michigan were selected at the 2011 NHL Entry Draft on Saturday.

Goaltender John Gibson (Pittsburgh, Pa.) was chosen by the Anaheim Ducks in the second round (39th overall), while defenseman Brennan Serville (Pickering, Ont.) was picked by the Winnipeg Jets in the third round (78th overall).

Gibson (6-3, 206 pounds) was the top-ranked North American goalie by the NHL Central Scouting Service. He spent the past two seasons with the Ann Arbor-based U.S. National Team Development Program. In 2010-11, Gibson had a 24-11-3 record with a 2.55 goals-against average and a .921 save percentage for the U.S. NTDP Under-18 Team, backstopping Team USA to a gold medal at the 2011 IIHF World Under-18 Championships in April. His 6-0-0 record, 2.34 GAA and .926 save percentage at the tournament earned him the Directorate Award for Best Goaltender. In June, Gibson was named USA Hockey's 2011 Dave Peterson Goalie of the Year. In 2009-10, he had a 10-12-1 record, 3.76 GAA and .895 save percentage with the U.S. NTDP Under-17 Team.

"John has great net coverage and size, and is very strong," said Al Jensen from NHL Central Scouting. "He's sound technically, moves very well laterally and is controlled. He's calm, not busy."

Serville (6-3, 184 pounds) was rated the 104th-best skater in North America heading into the 2011 NHL Entry Draft. The blueliner played for the Stouffville Spirit of the Ontario Junior Hockey League for the last two seasons. In 2010-11, he had three goals, 27 assists and 29 penalty minutes in 36 regular-season games to earn North-West Conference First Team All-Prospect accolades. He also played in the CJHL Prospects Game for Team East. Serville helped Team Canada East win a silver medal at the 2010 World Junior A Challenge. In 2009-10, he had a 3-12-15 line for the Spirit. Over two playoffs, he had 3-12-15 totals in 23 games.

In 2011-12, the Wolverines are slated to have 12 players on their roster who have been drafted by NHL teams.

WMU's Balisy drafted by Nashville

WMU Press Release

Western Michigan's Chase Balisy was selected with the 170th overall pick in the sixth round of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft by the Nashville Predators on Saturday afternoon.

Balisy, a center from Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif., finished second on the team in scoring with 30 points on 12 goals and 18 assists to help lead the Broncos to the CCHA Tournament finals and their first NCAA Tournament berth since 1996. He was also name to the CCHA All-Rookie team and was named to the Freshman All-American Team by Inside College Hockey.

"It is a pretty cool experience to be drafted," said Balisy, who watched the draft with some of his teammates at Derek Roehl's house. "All the work that I put in and the sacrifices my family made, really made this a special thing for me. I do know, however, that there is still a ton of work to be done and that this is just one step in the process to be a NHL player."

Balisy becomes the 49th Bronco to be selected in the NHL Entry Draft and the first since former Bronco Kevin Connauton was selected in the third round of the 2009 draft by the Vancouver Canucks. He was also one of 62 players either in college or college-bound to get drafted this year.

"I'm very excited for Chase to be drafted by a quality organization in Nashville, who has done a great job developing their process," said head coach Jeff Blashill. "I also think Nashville got a great prospect in Chase, who has NHL quality skills in his elite hockey mind and elite poise, who I know will work hard towards becoming an NHL player."

Balisy joins junior assistant captain Luke Witkowski as the only other draftee on the 2011-12 roster. Witkowski was selected 160th overall in the sixth round by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 2008 draft.

Photo courtesy WMU

Four current collegians drafted in L.A.

Compiled by MiCHO Staff

A quartet of current in-state collegians were drafted today in Los Angeles at the NHL Entry Draft, while several more incoming skaters also heard their names called.

Northern Michigan forward Justin Florek (fifth round, 135th overall, Boston Bruins), Michigan defenseman Lee Moffie (seventh round, 188th overall, San Jose Sharks), Michigan State forward Brett Perlini (seventh round, 192nd overall, Anaheim Ducks) and Lake Superior State defenseman Zach Trotman (seventh round, 210th overall and last pick of the draft, Boston) became NHL property today.

Incoming Michigan recruits include U.S. NTDP defenseman Jon Merrill (second round, 38th overall, New Jersey Devils), Canadian left wing Alex Guptill (third round, 77th overall, Dallas Stars), a 2011 recruit that will play this upcoming season with the USHL's Waterloo Black Hawks, and NTDP center Luke Moffatt (seventh round, 197th overall, Colorado Avalanche).

Perlini photo from the 2009 GLI by Matt Mackinder/MiCHO

NHL Draft tonight in Los Angeles

Bulldogs sign NHL prospect Huff

Ferris State Press Release

Ferris State announced the signing of three forwards with Andy Huff (Howell), Justin DeMartino (Macomb) and Cory Kane (Irvine, Calif.) set to join the Bulldogs starting with the 2010-11 season.

The trio inked with Ferris State during November's early-signing period.

"We're excited about attracting one of Michigan's top players in Andy Huff," said FSU associate head coach and recruiting coordinator Drew Famulak. "Andy will be one of the few true freshmen to have played at Ferris State and has the potential to be an impact player. We put an emphasis on recruiting forwards who have the ability to create offense. We have several seniors this season at the forward position who will be graduating so we needed to address this area.

"Through our successful strength and conditioning program, we anticipate their transition to our program will be a productive one from the beginning. We're committed to not only getting talented players, but quality student-athletes and role models in the community."

* Andy Huff (6-2, 210; 5/30/92) is presently skating for the Traverse City (Mich.) North Stars of the North American Hockey League. He presently leads the North Stars in scoring with 20 points on a team-high 15 goals with five assists in 19 contests this season. The forward has also posted a plus 13 efficiency rating while registering six power-play lamplighters and four game-winning markers this 2009-10 campaign for head coach Anthony Palumbo's squad. Huff, who was recently among 13 NAHL skaters to make the National Hockey League's watchlist for the 2010 entry draft, is currently tied for 12th place among the NAHL's top points producers while tying for 11th-place honors on the league's leading forward scorers list. Prior to Traverse City, Huff racked up 34 goals and 28 assists for 62 points in the 2008-09 season while playing for Honeybaked.

"Andy has very good offensive instincts with the ability to score goals. He's a true freshman who has the ability to play both the left and right wing positions," said Famulak.

* Justin DeMartino (6-5, 220; 6/6/91) is a current member of the North American Hockey League's (NAHL) Springfield (Ill.) Jr. Blues under head coach Andy Maher. In the 2008-09 campaign, DeMartino accumulated a team-best tying 84 points as a result of generating 49 goals with 35 assists in 78 total contests for Little Caesars. He also played an integral role in leading the Little Caesars Midget Minor team to a 2008 USA Hockey Under-16 national championship title.

"Justin is a north-south straightline type of player who has very good hands and possesses the ability to make plays around the net," Famulak said.

* Cory Kane (6-3, 198; 9/15/90) has chalked up 29 points this season for the Vernon (British Columbia) Vipers of the British Columbia Hockey League with 12 goals and 17 assists in 29 outings. Kane has netted three short-handed goals, two game-winning tallies, and one power-play lamplighter this season in his second year with the Vipers, who are coached by Mark Ferner. The forward is currently listed 27th on BCHL's scoring leaders chart for this 2009-10 campaign. In the 2008-09 season, Kane notched 54 overall points on 24 goals and 30 assists in 76 contests. He finished 65th in league scoring with 42 points on 22 goals and 22 helpers in 59 encounters.

"Cory also can create offense through his size playmaking skills. He has a professional release on his wrist shot which is also highly accurate," stated Famulak.

Petry, Sucharski named MSU co-captains

Compiled by MiCHO Staff

Michigan State has announced that redshirt senior centerman Nick Sucharski and junior defenseman Jeff Petry (Farmington Hills) have been named captains for the 2009-10 Spartan hockey team.

Sucharski and Petry were elected by a vote from team members.

“With such a young team, leadership is so important,” noted MSU head coach Rick Comley. “We have 19 sophomores and freshmen in our dressing room and holding off the vote until they had been through much of the pre-season training was designed so that the leaders had time to emerge and everyone had their say. The team has selected two quality individuals who both lead by example. I think that both Jeff and Nick are excellent choices and that they will do a good job of leading our team this season.”

“It is an honor to be a captain who is chosen by his team,” commented Petry (pictured). “Everyone on this team had a say, so it’s nice to know that your teammates have faith in you and see you as a leader. We’re anxious to get this season underway.”

“To be selected by your teammates is a large honor and really something special,” added Sucharski. “I think Jeff and I have large shoes to fill. The captains of this team since I have been here have all been great leaders for this program and I’ve learned from all of them. To have the respect of the guys in the dressing room gives us some confidence. I’m really looking forward to getting this season underway because I really missed being on the ice last year.”

Petry is in his second season of wearing a letter as he served as an alternate captain as a sophomore in 2008-09. The big blueliner was a second-round selection of the Edmonton Oilers in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft and earned All-Rookie Team honors from the CCHA in 2007-08. He was also named to the NCAA West Regional All-Tournament team in 2008 and has been honored as the team’s Outstanding Defensive Player the last two seasons at the annual MSU hockey banquet. Petry has appeared in 80 games over his two seasons in East Lansing and has either led or ranked second among defenseman in scoring both years. He has five goals and 33 assists for 38 total points.

Sucharski returns to the Spartan lineup as a redshirt senior after losing the 2008-09 season to an injury. Granted a medical redshirt for what would have been his senior season, he gives this Michigan State team another veteran voice in the dressing room as well as a two-way player who can win faceoffs. Sucharski is one of just four players on the roster who were on MSU’s 2007 national championship team. He has appeared in 124 career games, scoring 20 goals and 38 assists for 58 points.

Sucharski and Petry are the first co-captains in the MSU hockey program since the 1992-93 season when Bryan Smolinski and Wes McCauley both wore the 'C' in their senior year for the Spartans.

Photo courtesy Michigan State Athletics

Michigan pipeline continues for Coyotes

By Jim Gintonio/The Arizona Republic

The Phoenix Coyotes' Michigan connection keeps getting stronger.

Two former Wolverine stars, forwards Kevin Porter and Chad Kolarik, are in San Antonio. The Coyotes also have defenseman Chris Summers in their system and they drafted right wing Chris Brown in the second round of the NHL draft last month. Brown will be a freshman at the school this fall.

Summers is a hot ticket, a definite top prospect who will be the captain at Michigan this season as he seeks to complete his degree in psychology. He'll likely join the Coyotes at the end of the college season.

"He's such a superior skater, but he's a very good match-up defenseman," Phoenix GM Don Maloney said. "That's his forte. He's may be the best-skating defenseman in college hockey, and he plays with a little edge."

Rest of the story HERE

Summers photo courtesy University of Michigan Athletics

Three Wolverines, one Bronco drafted

Compiled by MiCHO Staff

Two incoming freshmen and one for 2010 from the University of Michigan were chosen in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft on Saturday in Montreal.

Forwards Chris Brown and Kevin Lynch were second-round draft picks. Brown went 36th overall to the Phoenix Coyotes, while Lynch was picked by the Columbus Blue Jackets 56th overall.

Entering the draft, Brown was rated No. 30 among North American skaters by the Central Scouting Service. He played the 2007-08 and 2008-09 seasons alongside Lynch for the U.S. National Team Development Program and finished the 2008-09 campaign with 20 goals, 10 on the power play, and 18 assists in 62 games. His 120 penalty minutes were tops on the U.S. NTDP Under-18 Team. He also won a gold medal with Team USA at the 2009 IIHF World Under-18 Championship.

"Chris plays a tough and physical style game," said NHL Central Scouting's Gary Eggleston. "He sets the tone of the game by taking the body hard and making a statement right from the opening faceoff. He'll drive his way through checks to get to the puck. He's a very good skater with a long, smooth stride with balance and agility. He has very good anticipation of the play and plays a solid two-way game."

Lynch was listed No. 100 in the CSS' North American rankings. In 63 games for the U.S. NTDP Under-18 Team, he had 24 goals, 24 assists and 54 penalty minutes. He had a very strong end to his season, recording five goals and five assists in seven games at the World Under-18 Championship. Lynch has been invited to USA Hockey's National Junior Evaluation Camp, which is slated for August.

Defenseman Mac Bennett, a 2010 recruit, went in the third round (79th overall) to the hometown Canadiens.

Michigan's 2009-10 roster is slated to include 12 players who have been drafted by NHL franchises.

The only other Michigan-based collegian drafted was Western Michigan defenseman Kevin Connauton, who was taken in the third round with the 83rd overall selection by the Vancouver Canucks. Connauton will be a sophomore in the fall.

NOTEBOOK

Brown is the fifth Wolverine to be drafted by the Coyotes (Josh Blackburn, 1998; Kevin Porter, 2004; Chad Kolarik, 2004; Chris Summers, 2006). Two U-M alumni made their NHL debuts with the Coyotes in 2008-09 -- Porter (U-M 2005-09) and goalie Al Montoya (2002-05).

Lynch is the first Wolverine to be chosen by the Blue Jackets organization. U-M alumnus Blake Sloan (1993-97) spent two seasons playing for Columbus in 2000-01 and 2001-02.

Wolverines sign trio from U.S. NTDP

The University of Michigan announced today that the team has received National Letters of Intent from a trio of forwards that currently play for the U.S. National Team Development Program: Chris Brown (Flower Mound, Texas), Kevin Lynch (Grosse Pointe) and A.J. Treais (Bloomfield Hills).

All three players will join the Wolverines for the 2009-10 season.

Brown is listed at 6-foot-2, 195 pounds. Nineteen games into the season, he has five goals, including three on the power play, and seven assists for 12 points. Additionally, he has 36 penalty minutes. Brown was named an 'A' prospect in the NHL Central Scouting Service's fall ratings on Oct. 20. An 'A' prospect is stated as a player who is predicted to be drafted in the first or second round of the upcoming 2009 NHL Entry Draft. With the U.S. NTDP Under-17 Team in 2007-08, Brown had 13-7-20 totals in 63 games. He also racked up 74 penalty minutes.

Lynch (6-foot-1, 190 pounds) has three goals and four assists for seven points in 19 games. The NHL CSS rated him as a 'B' prospect, which is a player who is estimated to be drafted between the third and fifth rounds in the 2009 NHL Draft. Last year, Lynch accumulated 19 goals and six assists in 63 games for the U.S. NTDP Under-17 Team. He led the team with five game-winning goals.

Treais measures in at 5-foot-8, 150 pounds. In 13 games this season, he has three goals, including one shorthanded tally, and four assists. The NHL CSS has Treais pegged as a 'C' prospect -- a player who could be chosen in the late rounds of the 2009 NHL Draft. In 2007-08, Treais had a 12-17-29 scoring line in 63 games for the U.S. NTDP Under-17 Team. Five of his goals came on the power play.

"I think each player will add something to our team," Michigan head coach Red Berenson said. "I think A.J. Treais looks a little bit like T.J. Hensick. He can be a prolific small centerman. Kevin Lynch is kind of a grinder. He's going to be a good player who can play with other good players. He's physical, he works hard, he's tough. He has pretty good hands. Chris Brown has a lot of potential. He's a big, strong, physical winger who can score."

"I think (the three recruits) give us a good combination of size and skill," Wolverines associate head coach Mel Pearson said. "Chris Brown has had a good career at USA Hockey. I think he's really come into his own this year. He's learned to play more physical and use his size. He has really good hands. He has a great shot. We expect him to come in here and use that size and add some scoring to our team.

"Kevin Lynch is a really hard-nosed, two-way player. He's the kind of guy you'd like to have on your team. He'll play the same whether you're playing at home or on the road. You know what to expect out of him every game, which is important. He has really good hands, too. I don't think he's scored as well as maybe he could have at the program. They have him in a little bit different role. He has excellent hands. As he gets closer to the net he's got better hands. I think he's a guy who can finish as well as give you a good two-way game.

"A.J. Treais is a smaller player, dynamic, highly skilled. He's not unlike some of the kids we've had like T.J. Hensick, Mike Comrie, Mike Cammalleri, Louie Caporusso -- he's along that line. He's not a really big player, but he's very talented. He has excellent stick skills. He's a guy who I think can really add something on the power play down the road.

"We like the combination of the size, the skill and the speed that those three give us."

In-state players ranked by NHL

The preliminary rankings are out for major junior, European and NCAA players for next summer's NHL Entry Draft and several in-state players made the list:

B Players (potential mid-round picks)
Justin Florek, LW, Northern Michigan
Brett Perlini, RW, Michigan State
Seth Soley, C, Michigan Tech

C Players (potential late-round picks)
Kevin Connauton, D, Western Michigan
A.J. Sturges, D, Michigan State

Summers to wear an 'A' for Michigan

Compiled by MiCHO Staff

The University of Michigan announced this past Monday that junior forward/defenseman Chris Summers will serve as an alternate captain for the 2008-09 season.

Summers has spent the majority of his tenure at Michigan as a defenseman, tallying eight goals and 19 assists for 27 points in 81 games. During the 2007-08 campaign, Summers posted career highs in assists (11) and plus/minus (+26).

Summers, a Milan native, was drafted in the first round (29th overall) of the 2006 NHL Entry Draft by the Phoenix Coyotes.

The 6-foot-2, 185-pound Summers served as an alternate captain for Team USA at the 2008 World Junior Championship where the Americans placed fourth. Prior to attending U-M, he played for the U.S. National Team Development Program in 2004-05 and 2005-06. Summers also wore an 'A' as a member of the U.S. Under-18 Team in 2005-06.

"Chris Summers is obviously one of our top returning players," said Wolverines head coach Red Berenson. "Even though he is not a senior, he proved last year that he was an emerging leader on this team and I think he has the respect of his teammates both as a player and a person.

“We feel that he has a combination of all the ingredients that are necessary to be an effective leader on this team."

Senior defenseman Mark Mitera was named the captain of the 2008-09 Michigan squad last April. The coaching staff left open the possibility for adding an additional alternate captain.

Photo by U-M Photo Services

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

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

Incoming freshmen ranked for NHL Draft

Compiled by MiCHO Staff

Several incoming freshmen (and two sophomores) from Michigan schools were ranked on the final NHL Central Scouting rankings released last Thursday for the 2008 NHL Entry Draft that takes place June 20-21 in Ottawa.

41. Brandon Burlon, D, St. Michael's (OPJHL), Michigan
47. Daultan Leveille, F, St. Catharines (GHJHL), Michigan State
87. Seth Soley, F, Omaha (USHL), Michigan Tech
88. Robbie Czarnik, F, U.S. NTDP, Michigan
113. Justin Florek, F, U.S. NTDP, Northern Michigan
146. Greg Pateryn, D, Ohio (USHL), Michigan
158. Tyler Gron, F, Fort McMurray (AJHL), Northern Michigan
170. Brett Perlini, F, Soo (NOJHL), Michigan State
172. David Wohlberg, F, U.S. NTDP, Michigan
192. Austin Handley, D, Des Moines (USHL), Michigan State
207. Mark Olver, F, Northern Michigan
209. Erik Gustafsson, D, Northern Michigan

Former collegians aiming for the NHL

It’s September once again and the Detroit Red Wings are in Traverse City. That can only mean one thing: training camp has begun at Centre ICE Arena.

As fans flock to one of northern Michigan’s premier vacation spots to see their hockey heroes, they can also get reacquainted with a smattering of collegiate players that they may have rooted either for or against in the past.

Former Northern Michigan University Wildcat Dallas Drake in one of them and is now in his second stint in the "Winged Wheel."

The 14-year NHL vet has amassed 174 career goals and 471 total points and will be looked to for providing a little grit, and maybe some scoring, from the right side. Drake and defenseman Brian Rafalski, a Dearborn native, were the Wings main free agent pick-ups over the summer and will certainly be lacing up their skates this season in Hockey Town.

A few other names you might remember aren’t such sure bets to make it to Detroit.

Michigan Tech's former captain Brett Engelhardt spent the last two seasons with the Toronto Marlies in the AHL and has a two-way deal with the Wings.

Jon Insana (pictured with the Grand Rapids Griffins) skated four years on the blue line at Michigan State University before floating around the last five years in the ECHL, UHL and AHL.

Dominic Vicari put in three years between the pipes in East Lansing before spending the majority of last season with the ECHL’s Toledo Storm and one game up in Grand Rapids with the Griffins.

The Red Wings training camp begins today and concludes on Tuesday, September 18.

This year there will also be eight NHL teams sending players to Traverse City for the annual Prospects Tournament.

Former collegians returning home include Western Michigan's Paul Szczechura (Dallas Stars), MSU’s A.J. Thelen (Minnesota Wild) and Corey Potter (New York Rangers) and Northern's Dusty Collins (Tampa Bay Lightning).

The Prospects Tourney begins today and will finish up with the championship game on Tuesday night, September 11.

For a terrific snapshot look at this year’s training camp, please visit RedWingsCentral.com.

Maroon officially spurns Bulldogs

By MORRIS DALLA COSTA
LONDON FREE PRESS

Patrick Maroon has confirmed what everyone has been speculating about for months: He's coming to London to play this season with the Knights.

Maroon was selected by the Philadelphia Flyers in the sixth round (161st overall) in last month's National Hockey League draft. He was London's second pick in the 11th round of the 2004 Ontario Hockey League draft, but opted to play in the United States. He was supposed to play at Ferris State this year, but will come to London instead.

"I'm going to London because that's what's best for my career," Maroon said. "I'm not sure when I'm coming but I'm looking forward to it. I can hardly wait."

Last season, Maroon scored 40 goals and 95 points with 152 penalty minutes and was named MVP of the North American Hockey League. He topped playoff scoring with 10 goals and 23 points in 12 games and led the St. Louis Bandits to the title.

Maroon is a late bloomer who has had issues with his skating and conditioning. But a new dedication to training has seen him drop more than 30 pounds.

"I'm still working on it," he said. "I want to lose a little more. But I feel . . . good. It's made a big difference."

Maroon said the decision on whether to go to Ferris State or come to London was difficult, even though he still needed additional credits before he could get into the university.

"In the end, I just felt that it would be better for me to play in the OHL because I'd heard so much about it and how they get players ready," he said. "Philadelphia (Flyers) gave me some advice, but it was pretty much my own decision."

Maroon is 19 and can play two years in the league. At six-foot-four and 228 pounds, he's a big winger who has the ability to play the off wing.

"We're happy to have him," said Mark Hunter, Knights general manager who's team is looking to get a little bigger than last year. "But it isn't just size. He has good hands, good skills. He can pass the puck. He's a go-to guy."

Hunter said Maroon is a first- or second-line centre.

"He's a difference maker. He can beat guys one-on-one," he said. "There's some things he needs to clean up. He needs to get himself in better shape and then his skating will get better but he's working on it."

Maroon knows exactly what he needs to work on. "Skating," he said. "I skate two times a week right now and I work out every day."

Maroon just got back from the Flyers prospects camp held last week.

JULY 17 - Confirmed by the Knights

MSU's McKenzie signs with Senators

Ottawa Senators general manager Bryan Murray announced Tuesday the signing of four players to contracts. The club signed 2005 first-round pick Brian Lee to an entry-level contact, while agreeing to two-year deals with forwards Danny Bois and Jim McKenzie and a one-year deal with defenseman Matt Carkner.

McKenzie, 23, was Ottawa’s first fifth-round draft pick (141st overall) in the 2004 entry draft. The St. Paul, Minn., native spent last season with the Michigan State Spartans of the Central Collegiate Hockey Association. McKenzie set career highs in goals (12), assists (18) and points (30), while adding 56 penalty minutes.

He'll forego his senior season in East Lansing.

"This is what I've worked for my entire life - why I've had all the (shoulder) surgeries - to get this opportunity,'' McKenzie told the Lansing State Journal. "No question, the financial situation was part of it. But this decision will help me try to reach my final goal, which is the NHL.''