By Warren Kozireski–
Former McQuaid HS state champ, New York State Player of the Year and Rochester Monarch youth hockey product Jack Dugan was chosen in the fifth round (142nd overall) at the 2017 NHL Entry Draft in Chicago by expansion team Vegas.
The Golden Knights tabbed the 6’2”, 185 lb. left wing from Northwood Prep where he spent two years, the last under former Rochester Americans head coach Chadd Cassidy.
“It’s a very special feeling,” Dugan said about being selected. “The past couple of years has been a big thing for me as I’ve been maturing and filling out my body.”
Dugan was drafted by Youngstown in the USHL a few years ago, but decided to head to Northwood Prep instead. This past year he was selected second overall in the league by the Chicago Steel where he will play this fall before heading to Providence College.
“I describe myself as a playmaker who can also play a power game. I like to model my game after Evgeni Malkin and Jamie Benn, those types of players I study quite a bit. Big guys with a lot of skill and big shots.
The right shot center put up 32 goals this past season at Northwood along with 61 assists in 42 games. That was 40 points better than his first campaign there in two fewer games.
“It’s (getting drafted as a player from Rochester) a big deal for me—I like to take pride in being from my hometown Rochester and hopefully younger kids can look up to me and (David) Farrance.”
