Last winter, as many HOCKEY-L'ers know, the NHL labor negotiations
produced a ruling raising the draft age to 19 for all except those "opting
in." I don't claim to understand the point of the ruling, and I'm skeptical
that even those who wrote it understand it. But one of its results is
obvious: For college hockey fans accustomed to using the draft as a
useful guide to the talent level -- real or potential -- of prep/high
school/Tier II players about to matriculate at Division I schools, the July
8th NHL draft offered little in the way of useful information.
But the information is around -- after a fashion. Last winter, when
the NHL's Central Scouting Bureau drew up its mid-season rankings, they were
uncertain as to what the league's negotiations with the Player's Association
would bring, so they stuck with the status quo, and included *all*
18-year-olds on their master lists.
I've taken those masters, and, for the lists that follow, have edited
out those who opted in. In other words, my lists contain only (to the best of
my knowledge) NCAA-eligible players. As you will see, if the draft rules
hadn't been changed, incoming Gopher Erik Rasmussen would be entering his
freshman year as a high NHL draft pick. It will be interesting to see
how a year in the WCHA affects where he's taken in next summer's draft.
Below, then, is a bunch of lists. Here are some notes on them.
In the first list, the number before the player's name reflects
where that player was picked in the CSB's mid-season rankings. If a player
has a second number, that's his ranking in the final pre-draft CSB list --
most likely the player is 19 and thus draft-eligible without foregoing
college eligibility (A notable exeption: Peter Roed, formerly of White Bear
Lake High School). The pre-draft ranking, by the way, is a mock draft and
includes Americans, Canadians, Europeans, goalies, skaters, and fuzzy
mascots. Such being the case, it will often *appear* that a player has gone
up or down in the scouts' estimation when such is not really the case. A
third number indicates where and by whom a player was drafted on July 8th.
Note that only five players -- two from Tier II, two from colleges, and one
high schooler -- were taken. And that's from a list of 85.
The second list is a goalie-only list, but similar in set-up to the
skaters-only list -- that is, the rankings include goalies only. Two of the
ten players listed were drafted, both out of Canadian Tier II.
The third list contains nine players. Each has an XX in the column
to the left of his name. These are players who didn't appear in the
mid-season rankings, but showed up on the end-of-season list. This indicates
these players were likely eligible for the draft without losing NCAA
eligibility. Only one, though, was picked, the Gophers' Ryan Kraft.
The fourth list contains players who weren't ranked by Central
Scouting during the regular season, but showed something as the season went
along and, as a result, were chosen in the recent NHL draft. Most are 19 or
older, and still have NCAA eligibility. I don't really know what 23-year-old
BU graduate Kaj Linna is doing on the list.
The fifth list consists of players who are entering college this fall,
but were picked in LAST year's NHL draft. I've only listed the ones I know
of. Please let me know if I've missed any.
Anyway, here they all are. Bear in mind that we've seen first-round
picks flop in college and never reach the NHL and we've seen low-round and
undrafted picks go on to great college careers -- even NHL careers for that
matter. But NHL scouts know their stuff. If they have a weakness, it's a
tendency to draft players mainly for size, hoping that a stint at a Division
I college will improve their skating.
One more thing: I've undoubtedly made a mistake or two -- most
likely even more. And the information is obviously thin on some players.
Please e-mail me privately with corrections and additions. As you will also
see, I have a lot of questions about where certain players -- over 50 of
them, by last count -- will be playing the '95-96 season. When I get most
of the blanks filled in I'll post an updated list. Thanks in advance.
***
I. CSB RANKINGS OF PREVIOUSLY UNDRAFTED CANADIAN AND AMERICAN SKATERS FROM HIGH
SCHOOL, PREP SCHOOL, TIER II, OR COLLEGE.
18. Erik Rasmussen, C, St. Louis Park High School (Minn.) / MINNESOTA
27. Craig MacDonald, LW, Antigonish, NS / Lawrence Acad. (Mass.) / HARVARD
28. Tom Poti, D, Cushing Academy (Mass.)/ *continuing*
30. Dan Lacouture, LW, Springfield Olympics (Mass. Juniors) / *continuing*
32. Marty Reasoner, C, Deerfield Academy (Mass.) / BC
37. Mark Parrish, C, Bloomington-Jefferson High School (Minn) /ST. CLOUD ST.
41. Sean Ritchlin, RW, Rochester, NY / Hotchkiss School (Conn.) / MICHIGAN
45. Brendan Buckley, D, Needham, MA / Jr. Bruins (Mass. Juniors) / BC
48. Jason Sessa, RW, Deer Park, NY / Rochester Mustangs (USHL) / LSSU
53. Michael Anderson, C, Bloomington-Jefferson High School / MINNESOTA
57. A.J. VanBruggen, RW, Sioux City Musketeers (USHL) / NORTHERN MICHIGAN
59. Wyatt Smith, C, Warroad High School (Minn.)/ MINNESOTA
62. Ben Storey, D, Ottawa Senators (CJHL) / HARVARD
67. Andrew "Bubba" Berenzweig, D, Loomis-Chaffee (Conn.) / MICHIGAN
68. Peter Ratchuk, D, Lawrence Academy (Mass.) / ???
71. Josh DeWolf, D, Bloomington-Jefferson High School (Minn) /*continuing*
72. Tony Hutchins, C, Lawrence Academy (Mass.) / ???
73/XX Gaetan Poirier, LW, MERRIMACK (Hockey East)
79. Reg Berg, C, Des Moines Buccaneers (USHL) / MINNESOTA
81. Brian Urick, RW, Minnetonka High School (Minn.) / MICHIGAN
87. Nick Lent, RW, St. Sebastian's Country Day (Mass.)/ ???
89. Chris Bogas, D, Cleveland, Ohio / Omaha Lancers (USHL) / MICHIGAN STATE
91. Matt Cullen, C, Moorhead High School (Minn.) / ST. CLOUD ST.
94. Denis Shlepney, C, St. Paul-Johnson High School (Minn.) / ???
96. Corey Martinson, C, Culver Military Academy (Indiana) / ???
104/91/170(Vanc.) Stewart Bodtker, C, COLORADO COLLEGE (WCHA)
105. Brad Hamel, D, New England Classics (Mass. Juniors) / ???
114. Thomas Jensen, C, White Bear Lake High School (Minn.) / ???
115. John Shaw, LW, Bishop Hendrikson High School (RI) / ???
119. Brian Waldo, D, Cottage Grove, Minn./ Omaha Lancers (USHL) / CC
127. Tibor Cincala, D, Pittsburgh Junior Penguins (Penn.) / ???
128/95/201(Chi.) Casey Hankinson, LW, MINNESOTA (WCHA)
129. Peter Morton, RW, Hotchkiss School (Conn.) / ???
131/79/142(San) Jaroslav Kudma, LW, Penticton Panthers (BCJHL) / ???
135. Brandon Lafrance, RW, Ottawa Senators (CJHL) / OHIO STATE
139/XX Henry Higdon, RW, HARVARD (ECAC)
144. Matt Romaniski, RW, Dubuque Fighting Saints (USHL) / ???
148/121/38(SanJ) Peter Roed, C, White Bear Lake HS (Minn.) / *major jr.?*
150. Chad MacDonald, LW, Oshawa Legionnaires (MTJHL) / ???
151. Eric Lundin, RW, Barrington, Ill. / Taft School (Conn.) / VERMONT
152. Brad Goulet, RW, Ottawa Senators (CJHL) / ???
153. Sean Austin, D, Andover Academy (Mass.) / ???
155. Dave Cullen, D, Thorold, Ontario / MAINE
157. Jonathan Coe, C, Anoka High School (Minn.) / PROVIDENCE
159. Carl Boben, LW, Hibbing High School (Minn.) / ???
161. Roger Trudeau, LW, Waterloo Black Hawks (USHL) / ???
166. Mario Leblanc, C, Cushing Academy (Mass.) / ???
167/146 Matt Cumming, RW, YALE (ECAC)
172. Ryan Longfield, D, Springfield Olympics (Mass. Juniors) / ???
174. David Gunderson, D, Duluth High School (Minn.) / ???
175. Brian Owens, LW, Arlington, Mass. / Cushing Acad. (Mass.) / COLGATE
177. Eric Baker, C, Hibbing High School (Minn.) / ???
183. Bryan Adams, LW, Prince George, BC / MICHIGAN STATE
184. Shawn Sobush, LW, Thunder Bay Flyers (USHL) / ???
187. Trevor Wideman, C, Nanaimo Clippers (BCJHL) / ???
191. Bob Siewart, D, Tyngsboro Huskies (Mass. Juniors) / ???
192. Andy Lundbohm, C, Roseau High School (Minn.) / ???
193. Matt Scorsune, D, Hotchkiss School (Conn.) / ???
194. Ryan Mason, RW, Bloomington-Jefferson High School (Minn.) / ???
198. Ryan Zoller, C, Omaha Lancers (USHL) / ???
205. Charlie Smith, LW, Wexford Raiders (MTJHL) / MIAMI
206. James Duval, C, Buckingham Browne and Nichols School (Mass.) / ???
207. Matt Smith, LW, Deerfield Academy (Mass.) / ???
208. Cory Cyrenne, C, St. Boniface Saints (MJHL) / COLORADO COLLEGE
209. Geoff Wilkinson, C, Thayer Academy (Mass.) / NORTHEASTERN
210. Darrin Bradley, D, Cowichan Valley Capitals (BCJHL) / ???
211/161/231(Ott.) Eric Kaminski, RW, Cleveaand Jr. Barons / NORTHEASTERN
212. Rick Sacchetti, D, Chelmsford, Mass. / ???
213. Cameron Gates, LW, Barrie Colts (OPJHL) / ???
214. Dmitri Vasiliev, C, Belmont Hill School (Mass.) / ???
216. Ryan Brindley, D, Thunder Bay Flyers (USHL) / MIAMI
217/138 Randy Robitaille, C, Ottawa Senators (CJHL) / MIAMI
218. Andrew Luciuk, LW, Sherwood Park Crusaders (AJHL) / ???
219/174 Andre Savage, C, MICHIGAN TECH (WCHA)
220. Joe Pineau, D, Oshawa Legionnaires (MTJHL) / ???
221. Bob Owen, D, Syracuse, NY / ???
222/173 Andy Sutton, LW, MICHIGAN TECH (WCHA)
223. Jason Haakstad, C, Merritt Centennials (BCJHL) / ???
224/170 Ryan Harris, C, Culver Military Academy (Indiana) / UNH
226. Joe Blake, D, Anoka High School (Minn.) / ???
228. Craig Adams, RW, Calgary Canucks (AJHL) / HARVARD
230. Eliot Komar, D, St. Paul High School ( Minn.) / ???
231. Greg Hayes, D, Deerfield Academy (Mass.) / ???
232. Kevin Veneruzzo, D, Thunder Bay Flyers (USHL) / ???
233. John Campbell, C, Omaha Lancers (USHL) / ???
II. CSB RANKINGS OF PREVIOUSLY UNDRAFTED CANADIAN AND AMERICAN GOALTENDERS
FROM HIGH SCHOOL, PREP SCHOOL, TIER II, OR COLLEGE.
9. John Hultberg, Dubuque Fighting Saints (USHL) / ???
11/16/83(Edm) Mike Minard, Chilliwack Chiefs (BCJHL) / WESTERN MICHIGAN
13. Michal Laroque, Melfort Mustangs (SJHL) / ???
16. Scott Stirling, Noble and Greenough School (Mass.) / ???
17. Mike Sheehan, Avon Old Farms School (Conn.) / ???
19. Erik Day, Des Moines Buccaneers (USHL) / ???
23/18 Forrest Karr, Wisconsin Capitals (USHL) / MICHIGAN
24. J.R. Prestifilippo, Hotchkiss School (Conn.) / ???
25. Steve Stoler, Burnsville High School (Minn.) / ???
26/XX/222(Van.) Jason Cugnet, Kelowna Spartans (CJHL) / ???
III. LATE BLOOMERS: PLAYERS MISSED BY CENTRAL SCOUTING AT MID-SEASON BUT
APPEARING ON END-OF-SEASON LIST.
XX/113 Jason Vitorino, LW, St. Sebastian's Country Day (Mass.) / MAINE
XX/151 Geordie Hyland, D, HARVARD (ECAC)
XX/155 Mike Sylvia, RW, BOSTON UNIVERSITY (Hockey East)
XX/168 Bryan Tapper, D, RPI (ECAC)
XX/176 Michael Bent, C, Noble and Greenough School (Mass.) / HARVARD
XX/177 Roland Grelle, D, Cranston, RI / Canterbury (Conn.) / MERRIMACK
XX/178/194(SanJ) Ryan Kraft, C, MINNESOTA (WCHA)
XX/179 John Dwyer, RW, Dubuque Fighting Saints (USHL) / ???
XX/180 Justin Kearns, RW, NORTHEASTERN (Hockey East)
IV . REALLY LATE BLOOMERS: PLAYERS SELECTED IN JULY 8TH DRAFT THAT DIDN'T
APPEAR ON EITHER OF THE CENTRAL SCOUTING BUREAU'S LISTS.
#146(Chi) Marc Magliarditi, G, Niagara Falls, NY/ Des Moines (USHL)/ W.MICH#159(Ana) Mike Laplante, D, Calagary Canucks (AJHL) / ???
#169(NYR) Jeff Heil, G, WISCONSIN- RIVER FALLS (NCAA Div. III)
#181(Col) Dan Smith, D, University of British Columbia(?)
#183(Ott) Kaj Linna, D, BOSTON UNIVERSITY (graduated)
#188(Winn) Jaroslav Obsut, D, North Battleford North Stars (SJHL) / ???
#197(Tor) Mark Murphy, LW, Stratford Cullitons (MWOJHL) / RPI
#205(St.L) Derek Bekar, C, Powell River Paper Kings (BCJHL) / UNH
#225(Wash) Scott Swanson, D, Omaha Lancers (USHL) / ???
#226(NJ) Colin O'Hara, D, Winnipeg South Blues (MJHL) / ???
#233(Calg) Steve Shirreffs, D, Norwich, Vt / Hotchkiss (Conn.) / PRINCETON
V. 1994 DRAFT PICKS ENTERING COLLEGE THIS FALL (A List in Progress)
#73(Pittsburgh) Greg Crozier, LW, Lawrence Academy (Mass.) / MICHIGAN
#115(San J) Brian Swanson, F, Eagle River, Alaska / Omaha (USHL) / CC
#116(NY Isl) Albie O'Connell, F, St. Sebastian's Country Day (Mass.) / BU
#237(Ottawa) Steve MacKinnon, F, Cushing Academy (Mass.) / UMASS-AMHERST
#245(San J) Aniket Dhadphale, LW, Stratford Cullitons / MICHIGAN
#259(NJ) Scott Swanjord, G, Fairfax, VA / Waterloo (USHL) / PROVIDENCE
#282(Toronto) Doug Nolan, F, Springfield Olympics (Mass Jrs) / UMASS-LOWELL
***
Here's an unofficial breakdown of where all the players in Sections
I-V above come from:
New England Prep Schools -- 29
Tier II, US -- 28
Tier II, Canada -- 25
Minnesota High Schools -- 19
US Colleges -- 14
A military school in an Indiana cornfield -- 2
***
All of the above (sorry about the length!) submitted by Chris Warner
on 7/21/95 in Cambridge, Mass.
--
C.C. Warner
Cambridge, Mass.
|
