Thayer’s Gavin Fitzpatrick among top local USHL Phase I Draft prospects

The USHL Phase I Draft gets underway tonight. Phase I is for prospects born in 2002 who have not been tendered or signed to a NTDP contract. Phase II is for prospects born between 1998 and 2002 and will take place tomorrow, Tuesday, May 8, 2018.

The USHL Draft is unlike the NHL Draft in the fact that league organizations have to be conscious of the likelihood of prospects eventually reporting. For example, when Youngstown picked Thayer Academy center Jay O’Brien, it seemed like a great pick on paper. However, he stayed at prep school and will go straight to Providence so it was basically a wasted pick.