Tuesday, May 22, 2007

NAHL Draft

The NAHL held their draft today. Of course, a player being drafted provides no guarantee that a player will try out for, or make said team.

Traverse City drafted two defenseman. One was Tyler Stephens, who played in the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League last year, and has reportedly already drawn some interest from colleges. The other is Miami commit Will Weber, who was the top pick in the USHL draft, and likely won't ever play for TC.

Traverse City may have some locals on their team next season. Former Traverse City West star Alex Redmond is trying out for the Stars after attending Western Michigan as a student for a year. They also tendered TC West star Sean Burke.

Among the players drafted by Alaska was Alaska native William Rapuzzi, who had an excellent season with Belle Tire's Midget Major team this past fall. Alaska is trying to get more of a local influence, tendering 6 native Alaskans.

Alexandria drafted Rochester Century forward Joe Knoepke, who played a big role in Century's 3rd place finish at the Minnesota State Tournament this year. He should do well in the NAHL next season.

Alpena traded away both of their draft picks. The IceDiggers did get a tender from forward Andy Yarber. Yarber is a smaller forward, but is very talented.

Bismarck tendered hard-working Roseau forward Kurt Weston and Michigan forward Andrew Hall.

Fargo-Moorhead drafted Sioux Falls' forward Jake Drewiske, and Osseo HS defenseman Sean McNeely.

Kenai River drafted 5 players, including Roseau HS's Nathan Voll.

I'm not quite sure how this works, but both Southern Minnesota and Mahoning Valley both drafted Victory Honda's Grant Blakey.

North Iowa drafted Bemidji recruit Shea Walters, defenseman Scott Keeven, and Blaine HS forward Ben Lynch. I've got to believe Lynch has a pretty good shot of making a USHL team though.

Texas drafted Broderick Browne from the Texas Attack and Western Michigan recruit Luke Witkowski.

Topeka, the team formerly known as Santa Fe, has drawn from Minnesota in the past, and continued that, drafting physical forward Matt Hartmann, and Brad Wieck, who saw spot duty in Southern Minnesota after his high school season.

Wichita Falls drafted Victory Honda's Ian Ruel, along with Jeff McNeil and Dominic Marrone
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11 comments:

Anonymous said...

any idea where we can find a NAHL tender list?

9:27 PM
Anonymous said...

Chris et. al.

I don't know how or why this works this way, but why do NAHL teams draft players who are either A) committed to college for the following season or B) high draft picks of other leagues (like the USHL but not the NHL)?

I don't see why an NAHL team would waste a draft pick on a player who, though very good, will likely never suit up for them?

I guess my armchair GMing would take me away from players drafted highly by the USHL or are slated to begin college right out of high school (not saying I wouldn't draft a junior in high school. I wouldn't attempt to sign a player who graduated from High School and is slated that year to attend some college).

9:29 PM
Chris said...

Here's what Traverse City's GM said about drafting Will Weber, who was the USHL's top pick:

“It’s a shot,” Palumbo admitted. “We wanted to be there as an option for the kid. We have a solid program that’s close to his home. We’d love to have him, but so would everyone else. We felt it was worth taking the chance.”

So basically, if things don't work out for a player in the USHL or wherever, those NAHL teams are ready as a Plan B.

10:04 PM
Anonymous said...

EXACTLY>>>>NAHL Is a plan B league....what does that make leagues below it???

12:22 AM
Anonymous said...

bigjohnson-

By "leagues below it" I'm assuming you mean the Canadian Tier II Junior leagues (AJHL, MJHL, OPJHL, BCHL, SJHL, etc.), the EJHL, the AtJHL, COJHL, and so on. First off, especially with the first two I mentioned, those aren't necessarily a "step down." In many ways I'd consider leagues like the EJHL and the BCHL on par or even superior to the NAHL. As for the AtJHL, COJHL, and so on, these are leagues that give the shot to the "next best players." I think that's a neat opportunity because players who may be slow to develop or diamonds in the rough could be found here. Maybe not, but maybe so. You never know. Sometimes, players from those leagues find their way into the more popular junior leagues as well so, there is a place for them.

I am not all that convinced that the NAHL is just a Plan B league either. After all, the NTDP plays in the NAHL and I'd hardly call that program a "plan b." Also, some very notable players (especially goalies) came through the NAHL. Players such as Ben Bishop recently, Ryan Miller of the Sabres, and Jason Bacashihua (goaltender in the StL system) came through the NAHL.

Thanks Chris for the explanation.

8:54 AM
Anonymous said...

From watching both, I'd say the BCHL slots well in between the USHL and NAHL...not quite as good as the USHL but better than the NAHL.


There's a reason that NAHL players have started a group on Facebook called "No Advancement Hockey League" with a tag line of "...unless you want to play for AIC."

10:07 AM
Anonymous said...

wow, 3 legit players.....awesome league! I wasnt complimenting the NAHL, just stating that the league is a plan B league. EVERY kid tells coaches in nahl I'm trying out in the USHL, and we'll see if i make it. 2ndly--the BCHL is waaaay better, and the top 4 in the EJ every bit as good. I was taking a shot at aj, and all the future tier 3 jr a teams who claim that they are =. too many teams even in the ushl...not even close to be enough players.....but plenty of greedy adults who want to fool people and take their $$;

10:09 AM
Anonymous said...

Why does the NAHL draft only have 2 rounds and draft 34 players whereas the USHL had 10+ rounds and drafted many more players? Doesn't seem like much of a "draft" & I can't believe that there isn't more turnover each year and more positions available given the number of teams in the league.

Do the teams prefer the open cattle calls or "open tryouts" ($$$ makers) for finding players? Find it hard to believe that they would not be able to scout players in Midget AAA, Prep hockey and draft them out of these programs.

2:03 PM
Anonymous said...

i guess i'm misunderstanding the situation with the nahl. when i checked their site, i saw commitments...lots from St. Louis bandit (2 drafted nahl/11 players to D1)..Mahoney Valley Phantoms had over 8 players commit, and so did Alpena Icediggers, Southern Minnesota, Topeka.
i've seen the ejhl and bchl play this season as well as nahl games. and the nahl league (top teams) much stronger than ejhl and bchl.

12:10 PM
Anonymous said...

Who is Luke Witkowski

2:21 PM
Anonymous said...

Who is Luke Witkowski is he good

2:22 PM

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