Michigan well represented at USHL Futures Draft

By Matt Mackinder – 

Aside from the six players the Muskegon Lumberjacks selected during Tuesday’s United States Hockey League Futures Draft, the state of Michigan was well-represented as several Michigan-based players were drafted by other USHL teams.

In the first round, Orchard Lake St. Mary’s forward Cody Milan went ninth overall to the Sioux Falls Stampede and then six picks later, the Tri-City Storm tabbed Belle Tire midget minor forward Dylan Pavelek.

Honeybaked forward Dakota Joshua saw his name come across the computer screen in the third round as he became the property of the Stampede.

The Lincoln Stars grabbed Little Caesars forward Gordon Helmuth in round four, a round that also saw Compuware forward Roman Gaudet go to the Chicago Steel and Belle Tire forward Anthony Petrella get picked by the defending USHL champion Dubuque Fighting Saints.

Belle Tire forward Austin Kamer was taken in the fifth round by the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders and River Rymsha from St. Mary’s went to the Fargo Force.

Every one of the 78 players selected in the Futures Draft is automatically placed on the affiliate list of the USHL team that selected him. The club retains the draftee’s rights for three years and can add the player to its active roster at any point during the season.

In general, players selected in the USHL Futures Draft have not reached the level to play in the USHL for the next season.

This season, 42 players selected in 2011 USHL Futures Draft took the ice for at least one USHL game.