Not sure how many of these players will actually play for the teams in the USHL. Not sure if teams talked to these players prior for plans for next season. Lots of changes in alot of junior hockey with the NCAA rule changes. Alot of older mid to low level major junior players selected. Makes me thinking there could be bumps of the roster spots and the draft picks were just signings.
The USHL (United States Hockey League) is a Tier 1 junior ice hockey league in the United States. The league’s draft is divided into two phases. Phase 1 is for players under 17 years old, typically born in the year of the draft or the previous year, while Phase 2 is for players aged 16-20. In Phase 2, teams can draft players who were not selected in Phase 1, and they can also draft players who have become eligible since the Phase 1 draft due to their age or other reasons.
The players selected in Phase 2 are usually a mix of high school and midget players, who are considered to have potential for college or professional hockey. The success rate of these players making it to the NHL varies, but many have gone on to have successful college and professional careers.
The USHL draft was first introduced in 2002, and it has since become a crucial part of the league’s player development system. It provides teams with the opportunity to identify and select talented players who can contribute to their success in the future.
Notable picks and Canadians taken in the USHL Draft
| 1 | 8 | Sioux City | John Alex Banks | D | 04-16-07 | 5’8 | 162 | Sherwood Park (BCHL) | Secaucus, NJ | U Mass |
| 1 | 9 | Fargo | Axel Lofgren | D | 06-22-05 | 6’3 | 200 | West Kelowna (BCHL) | Umea, Swe | U Mass |
| 2 | 18 | Des Moines | Garin Ludwig | D | 02-17-06 | 5’9 | 181 | Nanaimo (BCHL) | Eagle River, AK | Mich. St. |
| 2 | 30 | Lincoln | Josh Polak | F | 08-30-06 | 5’9 | 170 | Spruce Grove (BCHL) | Strathcona, AB | Minn. Duluth |
| 3 | 31 | Waterloo | Avery Laliberte | D | 09-17-06 | 6’2 | 192 | Niverville (MJHL) | Lorette, MB | N. Mich |
| 3 | 33 | Des Moines | Jason Davenport | D | 06-29-06 | 6’2 | 190 | Blackfalds (BCHL) | Shelby, MI | Miami Ohio |
| 4 | 53 | Tri City | Patrick Fortune | F | 09-11-06 | 5’7 | 161 | Nanaimo (BCHL) | Torrence, CA | Holy Cross |
| 5 | 73 | Muskegon | Tom Molson | F | 01-05-05 | 5’8 | 154 | Victoria (BCHL) | Montreal, PQ | — |
| 6 | 99 | Waterloo | Jackson Schneider | D | 05-16-07 | 6’0 | 174 | Camrose (AJHL) | Calgary, AB | — |
| 6 | 103 | Lincoln | Harout Arutyunyan | F | 04-07-07 | 6’0 | 182 | Anaheim Jr Ducks (U18) | Glendale, CA | — |
| 7 | 113 | Omaha | Charlie Kresl | F | 01-27-06 | 5’9 | 176 | Vernon (BCHL) | Denver, CO | U Mass Lowell |
| 7 | 115 | Des Moines | Sebastian Gatto | G | 01-24-06 | 6’3 | 185 | Chilliwack (BCHL) | Troy, MI | — |
| 7 | 118 | Tri City | Brock Souch | F | 10-11-06 | 5’9 | 157 | Okotoks (BCHL) | Edmonton, AB | St. Cloud State |
| 7 | 122 | Sioux Falls | Will Subject | D | 05-10-05 | 6’0 | 193 | Nanaimo (BCHL) | Wayzata, MN | — |
| 8 | 135 | Sioux City | Tobias Pitka | C | 04-28-06 | 6’4 | 212 | Victoria (BCHL) | Poprad, Svk | Boston College |
| 8 | 142 | Lincoln | Julien Wasmer | D | 08-06-06 | 6’2 | 190 | Chicoutimi (QMJHL) | Montreal, PQ | Maine |
| 9 | 145 | Des Moines | Trace Frieden | F | 04-18-07 | 6’3 | 181 | Cowichan (BCHL) | Los Angeles, CA | — |
| 10 | 169 | Sioux Falls | Jack Plandowski | F | 04-13-05 | 5’10 | 174 | Calgary (AJHL) | Halifax, NS | — |
| 14 | 221 | Green Bay | William James | F | 09-28-06 | 6’0 | 157 | Saskatoon (WHL) | Calgary, AB | — |
| 14 | 223 | Tri City | Daniel D’Alessandro | D | 01-28-06 | 5’10 | 181 | Victoria (BCHL) | Essex Fells, NJ | Princeton |
| 14 | 227 | Muskegon | Adam Belusko | D | 04-12-06 | 5’11 | 187 | Brandon (WHL) | Kosice, Svk | — |
| 15 | 238 | Tri City | Joey Macrina | F | 01-09-06 | 5’7 | 150 | West Kelowna (BCHL) | Collegeville, PA | Quinnipiac |
| 19 | 306 | Youngstown | Ben Rakowski | D | 04-21-06 | 6’1 | 185 | Colorado (NAHL) | Greenwood, CO | — |