CANTLON’S CORNER: FIRST NAHL DRAFT FOR DANBURY JUNIOR HAT TRICKS 

BY: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings

DANBURY, CT – The Danbury Jr. Hat Tricks participated in their first North American Hockey League (NAHL) Draft on Tuesday. Of the various junior programs, this is the last one held, and like all the others was done virtually.

The first pick for the brand new franchise was Andrew Eberling from Mt. St. Charles Academy (RIPUB). Eberling is from Woonsocket, RI, and has not committed to a college yet.

In the second round, General Manager and Head Coach, Billy McCreary selected goaltender, Conor Clafton from Grand Rapids, (MI) High School. Clafton has also not committed to a college yet.

In the third round, the Hat Tricks went to St. Cloud and with the fourth round (94th overall) the Jr. Hat Tricks chose Alexander Krause from Loomis Chaffe (Windsor, CT), He’s made a commitment to play for the Prince George Cougars (BCHL) next year and is scheduled to go to Dartmouth College Big Green (ECACHL) in 2021-22.

Dartmouth is now coached by former QU Bobcat player and assistant coach, Reid Cashman.

In the fifth round, McCreary selected right-wing, Cody Hoban (Guilford/Loomis Chaffe), went 121st overall, and is also heading to Dartmouth College (ECACHL) in 2021-22. He’s committed to the Salmon Arm (B.C.) Silverbacks (BCHL) for next season.

In the sixth round, (148th overall) the selection was Adam Shuchart, a right-handed shot at 6’1, 195 lbs., from the New Hampton (NH) School was selected.

In the seventh round, (175th overall) the Hat Tricks selected, Steven Spetz from the North Jersey Avalanche (AYHL) was taken.

In the eighth round, (202nd overall) the pick was Preston Stafford who played for the Detroit Compuware U-18 (T1EHL) and few games with Jamestown (NAHL) from Irving, Texas just outside of Dallas.

The Jr. Hat Tricks’ next selection, in the ninth overall (229th overall), went back to Texas taking Blake Campbell, a righthanded defenseman at 6’2 190 lbs. from Keller, Texas also just west of Dallas. He’s a commit to play for the Melville Millionaires (SJHL) in Canada next season.

Then the tenth round (256th overall) center Daniel Sambuco from Gunnery Prep (Washington, CT) was selected. He played a few games for Madison (USHL) when the prep school season ended and is a Providence College (HE) commit for 2021-22.

In the eleventh round (283rd overall) Sean Melso, a lefthanded defenseman was chosen who played at Father Judge HS (PAPUB) and Virtua U-18 (AYHL).

In the twelfth round (310th overall) they took Richard (D.J.) Hart from the North Jersey Avalanche (AYHL) another righthanded rearguard. He is an Ohio State (Big 10) commit 2021-22.

Then in the thirteenth round (337th overall) Alexi Van Houtte-Cachero of Pointe-Claire, Quebec just outside of Montreal from the esteemed Lac St. Louis Lions (QMAAA) program who is a University Nebraska-Omaha (NCHC) 2021-22 commit,

In the fourteenth round, (364th overall) Danbury took Calghan Couell from the Lone Star (TX) Jr. Brahmas (NA3HL).

The team passed on making any selections in the 15th, 16th, and 17th rounds of the draft.

There were several Connecticut connections selected Tuesday afternoon.

Jakub Teply (Stamford/Brunswick School) went in the first round (20th overall) by the Amarillo (TX) Bulls. He is a commit to play for the Powell River (B.C.) Kings (BCHL) and was taken in the first round (20th overall) by the Charlottetown (PEI_ Islander in QMJHL US Draft.

Then in the first round, (26th overall) Steven Willey (Shelton) of Trinity-Pawling (Pawling, NY) just over the Connecticut state line on Highway 55 who played for former New Haven Knights, defenseman Bobby Ferraris. He was taken by the Kansas City Scouts and is a commit to play for the Langley (B.C.) Rivermen (BCHL) in the fall.

In the fourth round (89th overall) Matt DeBoer from Salisbury Prep, the youngest son of San Jose head coach Peter DeBoer, was selected by the Odessa (TX) Jackalopes and is Holy Cross (AHA) commit in 2021-22. He was taken by Oshawa (OHL) in 2018 and Green Bay (USHL) in the 2018 drafts. His brother Jack is a junior at Boston University (HE).

In the fourth round (89th overall) David Andreychuk of Gunnery Prep/ Rochester U-18 AAA was taken by the Lone Star who is a commit to St. Lawrence University (ECACHL) 2021-22. He was taken twice in the USHL Draft, first in 2018 by the Sioux City Musketeers and this years’ by the Waterloo Blackhawks.

In the fourth round (95th overall) Kennedy O’Connor (Loomis Chaffe) was taken by the Minnesota Wilderness. He also has a commit to play for the Chilliwack (B.C.) Chiefs (BCHL) in the fall and is heading to UMASS-Amherst Minutemen (HE) in 2021-22. He was a previous Des Moines (Iowa) 2019 USHL Draftee and Shreveport (LA) Mudbugs NAHL 2019 Draftee.

In the fourth round (108th overall) Tanner Pochipinski, the son of former New Haven Nighthawk, Trevor Pochipinski, was selected by the St. Cloud Norsemen and played last season for the Selkirk (MB) Steelers (MJHL). His older brother Ty plays for Army Black Knights (AHA).

In the fifth round, Devon Carlstrom Canterbury School (New Milford) School was taken 127th overall by the Aberdeen Wings.

Then in the sixth round (144th overall) Zach Lindenwirth of the Connecticut (Stamford) Jr. Rangers (NCDC) was taken by the Northeast (MA) Generals.

Will Gilson (Old Greenwich/Westminster Prep-Simsbury) was taken in the seventh round (165th overall) by the Aberdeen from the Boston Jr. Bruins (NCDC). He has no college commit at this point.

Anthony Cipollone (Loomis Chaffe) was selected in the seventh round (176th overall) by the Minnesota Wilderness and is also committed to the University Vermont Catamounts (HE) in the fall.

Then Jakob Karpa, the son of ex-Hartford Wolf Pack, Bridgeport Sound Tiger, and former New York Rangers defenseman David Karpa, went in the seventh round (178th overall) by the Chippewa (WI) Steel. He played last season for the Victory Honda U-18 team (T1EHL) and is slated to play for the  Grande Prairie Storm (AJHL) in the fall.

His brother, Zakary, will be a freshman at Princeton (ECACHL) in the fall and is an Omaha Lancers (USHL) 2018 draftee.

In the eighth round (209th overall) Jason Marsella (Greenwich/Avon Old Farms) was taken by Kansas City and he has a commit to play for the Penticton (B.C.) Vees (BCHL) in 2020-21 and is heading to New Haven for 2021-22 to play for the Yale University Bulldogs (ECACHL). He is a 2018 Chicago Steel USHL Draftee and Halifax Mooseheads QMJHL Draftee.

Then in the ninth round (225th overall) William Rinaldi of the US Selects Academy at South Kent Prep U-18 team was taken by the Northeast Generals. He is also a 2018 Victoriaville QMJHL Draftee.

Then in the ninth round (240th overall) Matt Boczar (Canterbury School) was taken by New Jersey Jr. Titans.

In the tenth round (253rd overall) Craig (C.J.) Zeszima (New Canaan) was taken by Kansas City from Cushing Academy (MAPREP).

Also in the tenth round (269th overall), Matt Crasa was selected of the US Selects Academy at South Kent Prep U-18 AAA team was taken by Amarillo for the second year in a row. He played for the Cowichan Valley (B.C.) Capitals (BCHL) last year and is a Sacred Heart University (AHA) commit in 2021-22. He has drafted twice this year the other team was the Fargo Force in the USHL. Last season he was selected by Sioux City USHL and in 2017 by the Windsor Spitfires in the OHL Priority Draft.

Then in the eleventh round (284th overall) saw Briggs Gammill (New Canaan) from the Berkshire School was selected by the Minnesota Wilderness. He is slated to play for former Yale assistant coach and former player Ryan Donald, entering his first year coaching the expansion Cranbrook (B.C.) Bucks (BCHL) team. He will head to Yale University (ECACHL) in 2021-22 and his older brother Brooks plays for Colby (ME) College (NESCAC).

Players committed to play Canadian Junior A hockey in the fall because the border is presently closed may have difficulties playing there and the US junior leagues might be their only option.