13 former TIEHL players selected in NHL Draft

Courtesy of Tier 1 Elite Hockey League

Congratulations to the 13 former Tier I Elite Hockey League Player who were drafted by NHL organizations this past weekend at the 2011 NHL Entry Draft. We are proud to have you as ambassadors of our league.J.T. Miller, formerly of the Pittsburgh Hornets and current NTDP player, heard his name called half way through the 1st Round with the 15th pick by the New York Rangers. “His game is a center-man’s game, his play making is second to none” noted Gordie Clarke the Rangers Director of Player Personal. Miller will continue his pre-NHL career with the North Dakota Fighting Sioux. The Phoenix Coyotes couldn’t pass on a talented defenseman that GM Maloney said “could easily be a top 4 defenseman in the league”. So with the 20th pick in the 1st round, The Coyotes selected Connor Murphy from the NTDP as well as the Ohio AAA Blue Jackets. Murphy will be playing his college hockey with the Miami University RedHawks.
The 2nd round saw 3 former Tier I Elite Hockey League players taken. Scott Mayfield of the Youngstown Phantoms (USHL) was taken early in the 2nd by the NY Islanders with the 34th overall pick. Scott grew up playing for the St Louis AAA Blues where he developed into a top flight defenseman. Mayfield will be playing his college hockey at the University of Denver. The Chicago Blackhawks selected yet another former Pittsburgh Hornet when they called Brandon Saad’s name with the 43rd overall pick. Saad is with the OHL’s Saginaw Spirit. Sandwiched between those two picks was the Anaheim Duck’s selection (39th overall) of goaltender John Gibson. Gibson played his youth and midget hockey with the Pittsburgh Hornets before moving onto the NTDP. Gibson was the 2011 IIHF U18 World Championship Top Goalie Award winner and recently received the Dave Peterson Award by USA Hockey which is given annually to the top goalie playing in USA Hockey. Gibson will be playing his college hockey at the University of Michigan. The picks of Miller, Gibson and Saad gave the Hornets organization 3 NHL draft picks within the first 43 selections.


The 3rd round featured the selection of the 2011 USHL Player and Forward of the Year, Blake Coleman. The New Jersey Devils used their pick, 75th overall, to select the former Dallas AAA Star & Belle Tire player who recently wrapped up his junior career with the Indiana Ice (USHL). Coleman will be a teammate of Murphy at the University of Miami in the fall. Seven picks later the Los Angeles Kings selected the University of Denver’s Nick Shore with the 82nd overall pick. Nick grew up playing his hockey with the Colorado Thunderbirds. Before arriving on the campus of Denver, Shore played for the NTDP.


The 4th round saw Josiah Didier being selected by the Montreal Canadians (97th overall). Didier is also a former Thunderbird player and will be joining Nick Shore at Denver. Didier played his junior hockey with the USHL’s Cedar Rapid Roughriders. The Calgary Flames selected John Gaudreau with their 4th round pick, 104th overall. The Northeastern Huskies recruit grew up in the Team Comcast organization. Gaudreau impressed scouts with his skilled play this season as the USHL’s Rookie of The Year with the Clark Cup Champion Dubuque Fighting Saints.


The San Jose Sharks invested their 5th round selection (133rd) in the future of Sean Kuraly. Kuraly, formerly of the Ohio AAA Blue Jackets, is a Miami RedHawk recruit who played his junior hockey with the USHL’s Indiana Ice. With the very next pick, 134th overall, the New York Rangers selected their 2nd former Tier I Elite Hockey League player; Shane McColgan. McColgan who currently plays for the WHL’s Kelowna Rockets grew up playing for the LA Jr. Kings and is part of the increasing number of top end players who are coming out of California.
Former Phoenix Jr. Coyotes’ player Zac Larraza, currently of the NTDP, was selected with the 196th overall pick in the 7th round by his hometown team, the Phoenix Coyotes. The Scottsdale native will be playing his college hockey at Denver. Garrett Haar, a Northeastern Huskies recruit, was selected with the 206th overall pick in the 7th round by the Washington Capitals. Haar is a product of both the LA Selects and Russell Stover organizations.
What a terrific accomplishment by all of these players to hear their names being called by NHL teams at the Entry Draft. We would like to thank everyone of them for being great examples of what the Tier I Elite Hockey League is all about. We wish them all the very best. Congrats and Good Luck!