Feature Story

USHL makes waves at the NHL Draft

 

By Brian Werger

 

Many young hockey players dream of hearing their name called on draft day and taking that next step in the journey to reach the NHL. For 17 players who spent the 2008-09 season in the USHL, that dream became a reality when they were selected during the 2009 NHL Draft.

Louis Leblanc from the Omaha Lancers stole the show during the event as his hometown Montreal Canadiens selected him with the 18th pick in the first round. All the talk leading up to the draft was the debate on which player would be taken first overall, but the capacity crowd roared in approval when their Canadiens chose Leblanc.

“It is a special moment,” said Leblanc. “I have been waiting for this my whole life. I’m a Montreal guy and I’m just enjoying it.”

While striving to crack the lineup in Montreal someday, Leblanc’s immediate future will follow the path taken by many USHL players and continue his development in college. His decision to enroll at Harvard University for the fall is something that the management of his new club admires.

“Last year he played and went to school in the U.S.,” said Bob Gainey, general manager of the Montreal Canadiens. “He’s decided he’s going to follow the U.S. college route for developing and has the desire to have an education at Harvard. He’s making strong choices for himself and he’s not making the easy choices. That’s a sign of character we need to have in all our players.”

Three selections after the Leblanc pick, the Columbus Blue Jackets selected John Moore from the Chicago Steel. The USHL Defenseman of the Year has used two seasons in the USHL to develop into one of the top prospects leading into the NHL Draft. Being selected 21st overall in the first round is a pretty impressive feat for a guy who wasn’t ever drafted into the USHL. 

Originally not invited to the training camp for the Chicago Steel two years ago, Moore made the most of a second chance when an opportunity arose with the club prior to the start of their 2007 training camp. He became the team’s captain this season, earned a scholarship to Colorado College, and now adds NHL Draft selection to his list of accomplishments.

In addition to the 17 USHL players who had their names called by NHL clubs during the draft, 10 players who are currently on the protected lists of USHL teams were chosen in the two-day event and are set to take the ice this fall for USHL teams. Two more players with USHL experience, Chris Wideman and Barron Smith, were chosen in the NHL Draft. Both spent the 2007-08 season in the USHL.  Wideman is a defenseman at Miami University while Smith played this past season in the OHL.

With 180 players from the 2008-09 season making NCAA Division I commitments and 17 taken in the NHL Draft, the USHL continues to provide the top model of development for junior hockey players and creates opportunities for hockey’s future stars.

 

USHL players selected in 2009 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

Mike Lee, Fargo Force – 91st overall, Phoenix Coyotes

 

Fourth Round

Craig Smith, Waterloo Black Hawks – 98th overall, Nashville Predators

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, Nashville Predators

 

Fifth Round

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

 

Seventh Round

Michael Sdao, Lincoln Stars – 191st overall, Ottawa Senators

Paul Phillips, Cedar Rapids RoughRiders – 195th overall, Chicago Blackhawks

Mike Cichy, Indiana Ice – 199th overall, Montreal Canadiens

Jordan Samuels-Thomas, Waterloo Black Hawks – 203rd overall, Atlanta Thrashers

 

For more information about the USHL, please visit us on the web at www.ushl.com

 

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