Tuesday, May 12, 2009

USHL Futures Draft

The USHL futures draft is going on right now. You can find the live draft results here.

From the USHL site explaining the futures draft:

The USHL Futures Draft consists of five rounds and allows each of the 13 member clubs to draft players who were born in 1993. These 65 players will then be placed on the affiliate list of their respective clubs for the 2009-10 season. USHL teams retain the rights to players selected in the Futures Draft for three years and can add these players to the active roster at any time during the season.

Wisconsin commit Jordan Schmaltz (Pictured) from Verona, WI was just drafted #6 overall in the first round by the Sioux City Musketeers. Schmaltz, who was mysteriously left off the 40 man NTDP tryouts, was recently selected by the Windsor Spitfires in the OHL draft. Don't let that fool you though, Schmaltz is still expected to stay true to his commitment to Wisconsin. I would expect him to play a season of Midget Major hockey and then his senior season with Sioux City. By then, he should be ready to step onto the Madison campus and be ready to contribute to the Badgers as an 18 year old freshman.



Wisconsin potential recruit Alex Racino from Merrill, WI was just drafted #8 overall in the first round by the defending Clark Cup Champion Indiana Ice. Racino, like Schmaltz, was recently selected to represent the Central District at this summers USA Hockey Select 16 festival in Rochester, NY. Racino is a forward and was a key member of the Team Wisconsin Minor Program. Racino finished third in the Elite II Hockey league in scoring in the fall of 2008 with 23 points. He was only 1 point behind the leader Jacob Ladouceur from North Dakota.


Another future Badger goes off the board in the second round. The most recent commitment for the Badgers, Taft Prep forward Corbin McGuire was selected by the Fargo Force with the 22nd Overall selection. McGuire, a smallish, crafty forward was a force last summer at the USA Hockey Select 15 festival in St. Cloud. I would expect nothing short of that performance again this summer at Select 16's in Rochester. McGuire, like Schmaltz is committed for 2012. McGuire is committed to his education and there aren't many prep schools in the nation better than Taft. Right now I'd say it's a toss up to as if he finishes his senior season at Taft or goes to Fargo.


The Clark Cup Champion Indiana Ice continue to raid the Wisconsin high school ranks. In the third round they have selected Verona defenseman Joey Fiala. He was a lock down defender for Verona high school this winter leading them to the WIAA State Tournament. Fiala, like Schmaltz was recently selected in the OHL draft. Fiala, who was the only Wisconsin high school player selected, was taken by the Saginaw Spirit in the 14th round. He's a big kid, 6'2, 185 lbs and moves fairly well. He was a key member of TW Minors as they made it to the national tournament. He's definitely a kid to keep an eye on in the next few years.

Eau Claire Memorial Defenseman Jake McCabe has been selected by the Sioux Falls Stampede. The Stampede took McCabe with the 7th pick in the 4th round, #46 overall. McCabe, who is at this time the superior defensman over Fiala, most likely dropped in the draft due to his size (5'10, 165). In the end, I think McCabe will be the better prospect. His brother Andrew will be an incoming freshman forward for Nebraska-Omaha. McCabe, who was a freshman this past season for Memorial, had 22 points in 23 games for the Old Abes.
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