It was a strong showing for 2008-born prospects from New England in the USHL Phase 1 Draft on Monday. Fourteen locals were selected over the 10 rounds.
Omaha forfeited the first overall pick, while Cedar Rapids, which was slotted at No. 2, didn't make its pick because of a tender. So, the first pick was Des Moines at No. 3. The Buccaneers selected Blake Zielinski. The right wing played for the North Jersey Avalanche 15O squad this season.
In all, only six teams made first-round picks. No New Englanders were chosen in the top six.
The first local taken was Kaiden Donia (Townsend, Mass.). The 6-foot-5 defenseman has plenty of upside and is fresh off scoring an invite to U.S. National Team Development Program Evaluation Camp. David Bosco (Winchester, Mass.), Will Bent (Dover, Mass.) and Noah Survilas (Winthrop, Mass.) followed in the third round.
Oskar Drabczynski (Easton, Conn.), Spencer Thornborough (Boxford, Mass.) and Matthew Krayer (Concord, Mass.) were picked in the fifth round. None of the three was a surprise.
Prior to Monday, it was said that this would be a strong draft for New England forwards and it was, as nine were selected.
The region one-upped itself from last year. In the 2023's Phase 1, 13 locals were picked.
Phase 2 of the draft will take place on Tuesday beginning at 3 p.m. EST. Any player eligible to play junior hockey and not protected by another USHL team can be selected.
New Englanders chosen in USHL Phase 1 Draft
- Kaiden Donia, D, Groton — Lincoln (2nd round, 19th overall)
- David Bosco, F, Belmont Hill — Cedar Rapids (3rd round, 32nd overall)
- Will Bent, RW, Mount St. Charles 15O — Tri-City (3rd round, 37th overall)
- Noah Survilas, RW, Dexter Southfield — Muskegon (3rd round, 40th overall)
- Oskar Drabczynski, D, Mid Fairfield 15O — Des Moines (5th round, 63rd overall)
- Spencer Thornborough, LW, Governor's Academy — Lincoln (5th round, 64th overall)
- Matthew Krayer, C, Mount St. Charles 15O — Tri-City (5th round, 67th overall)
- Jude Herron, C, South Kent 15O — Cedar Rapids (6th round, 77th overall)
- Jacoby Weiner, G, Mid Fairfield 15O — Waterloo (6th round, 83rd overall)
- Gavin Holland, D, Lawrence Academy — Sioux City (6th round, 85th overall)
- Mason St. Louis, C, Mid Fairfield 15O — Dubuque (7th round, 104th overall)
- Parker Stockseth, G, Seacoast Performance Academy 15O — Sioux City (8th round, 115th overall)
- Nolan Duskocy, C, BK Selects 15O — Tri-City (9th round, 132nd overall)
- Andrew Giguere, C, Belmont Hill — Madison (10th round, 144th overall)
New England connections chosen in USHL Phase 1 Draft
- Timothy Kazda, F, Seacoast Performance Academy 15O — Chicago (3rd round, 35th overall)
- Easton Walos, C, Mount St. Charles 15O — Chicago (4th round, 50th overall)
- JT Rothstein, C, Taft — Chicago (4th round, 53rd overall)
- Joseph Salandra, C, Mid Fairfield 15O — Chicago (4th round, 60th overall)
- Beksultan Makysh, F, Boston Hockey Academy 15O — Dubuque (8th round, 119th overall)
