The USHL Draft begins today.
Phase I of the USHL Draft will start at 6pm CST today. This phase will feature 10 rounds of selections of players with the birth year of 1999. These players are not likely to be ready for the USHL, as per the explanation of the league, but allows USHL teams to retain the Tier I rights to the players. Players however tendered, replace draft picks and will be on their respective team rosters for the 2015-2016 season and must play at least 55% of regular season games.
Phase II of the USHL Draft will be held Tuesday, May 5th starting at 8:00am CST. Current players of the Aberdeen Wings will be eligible for the draft and those players with birth years from 1995-1999.
Last off-season, three Aberdeen Wings players were drafted in Phase II of the USHL Draft. Defenseman Dillon Eichstadt was selected in the first round, 13th overall by the Sioux Falls Stampede and has led all team defensemen in scoring while advancing to the Clark Cup Championship. Wings leading scorer and NAHL Rookie of the Year forward TJ Roo was selected 93rd overall by the Fargo Force. Roo scored 22 goals and 32 assists with the Wings in 2013-2014 and was 7th leading scorer for the Force in 2014-2015 with 13 goals and 12 assists. Defenseman Daniel Billett was also selected by the Fargo Force 248th overall. Wings tendered forward Ronnie Hein was selected 247th overall by the Waterloo Blackhawks, but began the season with the Wings. He would later be traded back to the Blackhawks.
Follow the Aberdeen Wings Facebook and Twitter accounts for live updates on the USHL Draft on Monday and Tuesday.