| Eleven Americans selected in Friday’s opening round as USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program sets record with 17 draftees | ||
| VANCOUVER, B.C. – Fifty-nine Americans, including New Jersey Devils first-overall selection Jack Hughes (Orlando, Fla.), were chosen in the 2019 NHL Draft at Rogers Arena, home of the Vancouver Canucks. Hughes became the eighth American all-time to be taken first overall and the fifth player from USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program to be selected with the first pick. The 2019 NHL Draft opened yesterday (June 21) with a record-breaking first round for American hockey. For the first time in NHL Draft history, seven of the first 15 selections were American while eight American selections came directly from USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program, doubling the NHL Draft record of players to be taken from a single team in a single NHL Draft.After Hughes, the Los Angeles Kings selected Alex Turcotte (Island Lake, Ill.) with the fifth pick before Trevor Zegras (Bedford, N.Y.) was chosen ninth overall by the Anaheim Ducks. It marked the fourth time in the last five NHL Drafts that multiple Americans were selected in the Top 10 and the third time in the last five years three Americans were chosen.The Minnesota Wild then kicked off a run of four straight players from the NTDP being selected when they picked Matthew Boldy (Millis, Mass.) with the 12th overall pick. Following Minnesota’s pick, the Florida Panthers selected goaltender Spencer Knight (Darien, Conn.), who became the 10th U.S.-born goaltender to be chosen in the first round. Defenseman Cam York (Anaheim Hills, Calif.) was then taken 14th overall by the Philadelphia Flyers before the NTDP’s all-time leading goal scorer, forward Cole Caufield (Stevens Point, Wis.), was selected by the Montreal Canadiens with the 15th overall pick. Three picks later, Thomas Harley (Syracuse, N.Y.) was selected by the Dallas Stars with the 18th overall pick before the Tampa Bay Lightning took Nolan Foote (Englewood, Colo.) with the 27th overall selection.The first round then closed with back-to-back American selections as the Boston Bruins chose NTDP forward John Beecher (Elmira, N.Y.) 30th overall and the Buffalo Sabres followed by selecting defenseman Ryan Johnson (Irvine, Calif.) with the 31st overall pick.Nine more Americans were taken in the second round, four in the third, nine in the fourth, 11 in the fifth, nine in the sixth and six in the seventh round.For a complete list of Americans taken in the 2019 NHL Draft, click here. NOTES: Jack Hughes is the eighth American to ever be taken first overall in the NHL Draft, following Auston Matthews (2016, Toronto Maple Leafs), Patrick Kane (2007, Chicago Blackhawks), Erik Johnson(2006, St. Louis Blues), Rick DiPietro (2000, New York Islanders), Brian Berard (1995, Ottawa Senators), Mike Modano (1988, Minnesota North Stars), and Brian Lawton (1983, Minnesota North Stars) … Spencer Knight is the highest-drafted goaltender since fellow American and NTDP alum Jack Campbellwas selected 11th overall in 2010 … The players drafted represent 18 different states, including Alaska (1), Arizona (1), California (3), Colorado (1), Connecticut (2), Florida (2), Illinois (4), Massachusetts (5), Michigan (3), Minnesota (14), Missouri (1), North Dakota (1), New Jersey (3), New York (12), Pennsylvania (1), Rhode Island (1), Virginia (2), Wisconsin (2) … USA Hockey’s junior ranks had another strong showing at this year’s NHL Draft. The USHL had 55 players chosen, the second-most in USHL history after 57 players were selected at the 2018 NHL Draft. Of those 55 players, 52 players skated in the USHL during the 2018-19 season, while 45 of the 55 players are Americans … Six players who spent time in the North American Hockey League were drafted … Fourteen players who played in high school or prep school in 2018-19 were drafted … USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program had 17 players selected that competed at the NTDP this season, the most in history. Ten of the first 47 players selected came from the NTDP. All total, 18 players with connection to the NTDP were chosen … A total of 70 players drafted have college ties, marking college hockey’s best showing over the last 12 years. Of those 70 players, nine were first-round selections, which ties the 2003 NHL Draft for third-most in history. Additionally, a record seven college players were taken among the first 16 selections. Previously, there had never before been more than four NCAA players among the first 16 selections in a Draft … Of the 70 players drafted with college ties, 51 are Americans … Fifty-two players drafted skated in a USA Hockey Player Development Camp … A total of 33 players drafted have participated in USA Hockey’s annual All-American Prospects Game, bringing the total number of drafted AAPG alumni to 186. Of those 33 AAPG alums selected this year, 31 participated in last September’s All-American Prospects Game in Saint Paul, Minn., including 2018 MVP Matthew Boldy … Overall, 19 players drafted have represented the U.S. in International Ice Hockey Federation world championship play, including one at the 2019 IIHF Men’s World Championship, two at the 2019 IIHF World Junior Championship (silver), 18 at the 2019 IIHF Under-18 Men’s World Championship (bronze) and six at the 2018 IIHF Under-18 Men’s World Championship (silver) … Additionally, 10 players have played on a U.S. Junior Select Team, 13 have skated on a U.S. Under-18 Men’s Select Team and 10 have played on a U.S. Under-17 Men’s Select Team … For USA Hockey’s coverage of the 2019 NHL Draft, click here. (Photo by Koz) |
