Fun Facts: 2014 NHL Entry Draft

By JASON LOWENTHAL

This past weekend saw 210 players selected to the National Hockey League, including a record number of USHL products. 35 players who played in the United States Hockey League during the 2013-14 season were selected, along with 16 USHL alumni. Here are some more fun facts from the draft.

The USHL saw four of its players taken in the first round. The Ontario Hockey League led the category with ten, while the Western Hockey League trailed right behind with nine.

Sixty-five American-born players were selected in the draft, including Chicago Steel defenseman Matt Berkovitz by the Anaheim Ducks in round five, 123^rd overall. This was the second-most of any country. Canada topped the list with 79 players.

Twenty-eight Swedish-born players were selected in the draft, including Chicago Steel winger Freddy Olofsson by the Chicago Blackhawks in round four, 98^th overall. This was the third-most of any country.

Nathan Walker, who played for the USHL’s Youngstown Phantoms during the 2012-13 season, became the first-ever Australian player to be selected in the NHL Draft. The Washington Capitals, who had traded up to make the pick, took him in the third round, 89th overall. The 20-year-old spent five years playing in Czech leagues before spending part of the 2012-13 season with Youngstown. In 29 games, he tallied seven goals and 27 points along with 63 penalty minutes.

The Chicago Blackhawks had nine selections in the draft and used their first five picks to take players with ties to the USHL. Nick Schmaltz (Green Bay Gamblers) was taken in the first round, followed by Matt Iacopelli (Muskegon Lumberjacks) in the second round and Beau Starrett (Dubuque Fighting Saints) in the third round. The Chicago Steel’s own Freddy Olofsson heard his name called in the fourth round, followed by Luc Snuggerud (Muskegon Lumberjacks, Omaha Lancers) in round five.

Kyle Schempp (Sioux Falls Stampede) was the fourth-oldest player selected in the draft while Zach Nagelvoort (Green Bay Gamblers) was the fifth-oldest. Schempp was born Jan. 13, 1994 and Nagelvoort on Jan. 30, 1994.

Joseph Wegwerth (USNTDP) was the fourth-heaviest player selected in the draft at 229 pounds, while Maxim Letunov (Youngstown Phantoms) was the lightest at 157 pounds.