Steel Select 12 Players in 2018 USHL Phase I Draft (original) (raw)

Chicago Steel

GENEVA, ILLINOIS - The Chicago Steel made 12 selections in Monday's 2018 USHL Phase I Draft, hoping to find key pieces for future years of Steel hockey. Chicago chose eight forwards and four defensemen from the 2002 birth year over the course of the 10-round Draft.

"The key to our future success is combining the best young athletes with our development approach to accomplish both team goals and progress individuals to the next level of hockey," said Steel Interim General Manager Vinny Smith. "We are thrilled with the high skill level, hockey IQ and character of the dozen young men that we're proud to welcome to the Chicago Steel family."

With the seventh overall pick in the draft, the Steel selected Canadian defenseman Owen Power. The Mississauga, Ont., native is a big-bodied blue-liner, listed at 6-5, 207 pounds. Power recorded three points in five games for the Mississauga Reps in the OHL Cup this season as the team captain. The two-way, mobile defenseman is committed to the University of Michigan (Big Ten).

Chicago then selected left wing Cole Shepard with the 23rd overall pick. The Harvard University (ECAC) commit out of West Vancouver, B.C., recorded 100 points (38-62-100) in 64 games with Delta Hockey Academy. A dynamic forward with elite playmaking abilities, Shepard also played two games for the Penticton Vees of the BCHL last season.

The Steel selected forward Joe Miller with the 30th pick of the draft, the team's second selection of the second round. Already committed to University of Minnesota (Big Ten), Miller recorded 37 points (12-25-37) in 25 games with Blake High School in Minnesota. At 5-5, 119 pounds, the forward is undersized but makes up for it with hockey smarts and a knack for finding the back of the net.

Forward Matt Coronato went to Chicago with the 39th overall pick. The smooth-skating winger from New York, N.Y., is committed to Harvard University (ECAC) and recorded 43 points (19-24-43) in 22 games last season with the Long Island Gulls.

Rounding out the third round was center Cole Perfetti. The Steel acquired the pick earlier in the day after trading veteran left wing Tyler Gratton to the Fargo Force for their third-round pick in the Phase I Draft and second-round pick in the Phase II Draft. The 5-9, 170-pound Whitby, Ont., product recorded 125 points (52-73-125) in 64 games with the Vaughan Kings last season. Committed to the University of Michigan (Big Ten), Perfetti has an elite hockey sense and is a high-skill prospect.

Like rounds two and three, the Steel had a pair of picks in round four as well, starting with defenseman Timothy Lovell. A Hingham, Mass., native, the speedy Lovell has played two seasons for the Boston Advantage, tallying 37 points (10-27-37) in 49 games.

Chicago capped off round four by selecting Mackie Samoskevich with the 63rd overall pick. A Shattuck-St. Mary's product, Samoskevich recorded 48 points (22-26-48) in the 2017-2018 U16 season. Samoskevich's older sister, Melissa, represented Team USA at the 2014 and 2015 IIHF U18 Women's World Championships.

In round five, Chicago selected Sasha Teleguine with the 71st overall pick in the Draft. The Northeastern University (Hockey East) commit recorded 14 points (5-9-14) in 29 games last season for Thayer Academy.

With a pair of picks in the sixth round, the Chicago Steel selected defenseman Jason Marsella and right wing Josh Doan. Marsella, a Yale University (ECAC) commit, posted 15 points (3-12-15) in 12 games last season. Doan, son of former Arizona Coyotes captain Shane Doan, tallied 51 points (24-27-51) in 46 games with the Phoenix Jr. Coyotes the last three seasons.

Chicago did not have a pick in rounds seven or eight and returned to the board with their final selections in the ninth and tenth rounds. With the 135th pick, Chicago selected center Dylan Robinson. The Saginaw, Mich., native scored 84 points (29-55-84) in 55 games last season with the Toronto Jr. Canadiens. He also played three games for the Pickering Panthers of the OJHL (1-0-1).

The Steel closed out the 2018 USHL Phase I Draft by selecting defenseman David Ma with the 151st pick in the 10th and final round. The Yonkers, N.Y., native played in 107 games for Shattuck-St. Mary's over the last two seasons, recording 44 points (7-37-44). Of the 12 players drafted by Chicago, nine (9) are from the USA and three (3) are from Canada.

Chicago Steel 2018 USHL Phase I Draft Selections

Round 1

-7th: Owen Power, D, Mississauga Reps

Round 2

-23rd: Cole Shepard, LW, Delta H.A.

-30th: Joe Miller, F, Blake HS

Round 3

-39th: Matt Coronato, LW, Long Island Gulls

-46th: Cole Perfetti, C, Vaughan Kings

Round 4

-55th: Timothy Lovell, D, Boston Advantage

-63rd: Mackie Samoskevich, RW, Shattuck-St. Mary's

Round 5

-71st: Sasha Teleguine, C, Thayer Academy

Round 6

-87th: Jason Marsella, D, North Jersey Avalanche

-95th: Josh Doan, RW, Phoenix Jr. Coyotes

Round 9

-135th: Dylan Robinson, C, Toronto Jr. Canadiens

Round 10

-151st: David Ma, D, Shattuck-St. Mary's

The 2018 USHL Draft concludes Tuesday with the Phase II Draft (1998-2002 birth years) beginning at 10 a.m. CT Tuesday. Be sure to check the Steel Draft Hub at ChicagoSteelHockeyTeam.com and follow along on Twitter (@ChicagoSteel) for live coverage.

The Steel will hold their annual Tryout Camp June 8-11 at Fox Valley Ice Arena, which will be open to the public with a featured all-star game on Monday, June 11.

Chicago Steel 2018-2019 season ticket plans are now on sale and the 2018-2019 schedule is expected to be released by July. For Steel tickets or more information, call 855-51-STEEL, stop by the Box Office at Fox Valley Ice Arena or visit ChicagoSteelHockeyTeam.com.

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