SUNRISE, FLA – The New York Islanders selected five defensemen on the second day of the 2015 National Hockey League Draft at BB&T Center. Mitchell Vande Sompel (82nd overall), Parker Wotherspoon (112th), Ryan Pilon (147th), Andong Song (172nd) and Petter Hansson (202nd) were selected in rounds three through seven. Song is the first Chinese-born player ever selected in the NHL Draft.
Vande Sompel, 18, ranked fifth among Ontario Hockey League defensemen with 63 points (12 goals, 51 assists) in 58 games last season with the Oshawa Generals. His 51 assists tied Islanders 2014 first-round selection Michael Dal Colle for the team lead. Vande Sompel added 14 points (five goals, nine assists) in 21 playoff games to help the Generals capture the Robertson Cup as OHL champions, en route to winning the Memorial Cup. The London, ON native won gold with Canada at the 2014 Ivan Hlinka Memorial and played with Team Ontario at the 2014 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge.
Wotherspoon, 17, led the Tri-City Americans with 33 assists and tied for fifth on the club with 42 points in 72 games last season in the Western Hockey League. At the 2015 Under-18 World Junior Championship, Wotherspoon collected five points (one goal, four assists) in seven games to tie for third in tournament scoring among defensemen and help Canada capture bronze. The Surrey, BC native also won a silver medal with Team Pacific at the 2014 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge.
Pilon, 18, is the cousin of former Islanders defenseman Rich Pilon, and scored 52 points (11 goals, 41 assists) in 68 games to finish second in scoring among Brandon Wheat Kings blue-liners last season. A former defensive partner of Islanders prospect Ryan Pulock, Pilon added 12 points (1 goal, 11 assists) in 19 playoff games to help Brandon reach the Western Hockey League Championship Series. On the international stage, Pilon won gold with Canada at the 2013 Ivan Hlinka Memorial and won a bronze medal at the 2014 Under-18 World Junior Championship. The Prince Albert, SK native captained Canada West at the 2013 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge.
Song, also known as Misha Song, is an 18-year-old from Beijing, China. He captained the Chinese Under-18 team at the 2015 Under-18 World Junior Championships (Division II Group B) and also represented his country at the same tournament in 2014. Song moved to North America at age nine to play in the Oakville Rangers system, before moving to New Jersey to play high school hockey at Lawrenceville School. The 6’0, 170-pound defenseman served as team captain his senior season in (2014-15), scoring 10 points (three goals, seven assists) in 26 games.
Hansson, 19, scored 34 points (15 goals, 19 assists) in 38 games last season with Linkoping’s Under-20 club in the Swedish SuperElit league. The Gislaved, Sweden native led all SuperElit South defensemen in goals, assists and points. Hansson also appeared in 15 games with the senior club.
