Bucs Build for Future in Draft
Des Moines, Iowa --- The Des Moines Buccaneers took part in the USHL's 2006 Futures Draft earlier today, acquiring the rights to six forwards, four defensemen and one goalie.
With the tenth overall pick in the first round, Head Coach and General Manager Regg Simon selected highly skilled and speedy forward Steve Moses (Leominster, MA) from the Boston Jr. Bruins.
"Steve is high-end player and will have the ability to be a difference maker for us in a year," said coach Simon. "He has exceptional speed and is already a proven point producer. He'll fit right into our style of up-tempo offensive hockey."
Other forwards taken by the Buccaneers were Adam Meuller (Roseville, MN), Adam Estoclet (Orono, MN), Kyle Jean (Saulte Ste. Marie, MI), Rob Maloney (Eagan, MN) and Clinton Bourbonais (Whitemore Lake, MI).
"It's really a talented group of forwards and we selected them for what they'd bring to our team," added coach Simon. "Mueller, Maloney and Bourbonais will bring speed, skill and goal scoring ability. Estoclet has tremendous hands, hockey sense and always seems to make a play. Jean has size and skill and will have the ability to be a dominant power forward in this league."
On the back-end, Ben Blood (Plymouth, MN) was the first defenseman selected by the Bucs when they took him in the third round. Other defensemen taken were Nick Pryor (Woodbury, MN), Andrew Panzarella (Columbia, MD) and Ryan McKiernan (White Plains, NY).
"Blood, Panzarella and McKiernan will bring us some size and puck moving ability, while we believe Pryor is skilled enough to run our power play one day," said Simon. "We wanted to draft defensemen who can skate and move the puck. With our style of play, it is important to have that type of player here."
The lone goalie selected by the Bucs was West Chester, Pennsylvania native Michael Milana. A product of the Philadelphia Jr. Flyers program, he'll suite up for Kent Prep School this year.
"Michael is a very athletic goalie who is always square to the puck and on his angles," said Simon. "He's flown under the radar a bit, but after we had him to our Futures Camp last June, our entire staff was comfortable making him the only goalie we selected."
Each USHL team carries a 23-man active roster. A team is allowed to keep 12 players on their affiliate list. '89s selected become the property of the drafting team for two years, while '90s can be held for three years.
Des Moines, Iowa --- The Des Moines Buccaneers took part in the USHL's 2006 Futures Draft earlier today, acquiring the rights to six forwards, four defensemen and one goalie.
With the tenth overall pick in the first round, Head Coach and General Manager Regg Simon selected highly skilled and speedy forward Steve Moses (Leominster, MA) from the Boston Jr. Bruins.
"Steve is high-end player and will have the ability to be a difference maker for us in a year," said coach Simon. "He has exceptional speed and is already a proven point producer. He'll fit right into our style of up-tempo offensive hockey."
Other forwards taken by the Buccaneers were Adam Meuller (Roseville, MN), Adam Estoclet (Orono, MN), Kyle Jean (Saulte Ste. Marie, MI), Rob Maloney (Eagan, MN) and Clinton Bourbonais (Whitemore Lake, MI).
"It's really a talented group of forwards and we selected them for what they'd bring to our team," added coach Simon. "Mueller, Maloney and Bourbonais will bring speed, skill and goal scoring ability. Estoclet has tremendous hands, hockey sense and always seems to make a play. Jean has size and skill and will have the ability to be a dominant power forward in this league."
On the back-end, Ben Blood (Plymouth, MN) was the first defenseman selected by the Bucs when they took him in the third round. Other defensemen taken were Nick Pryor (Woodbury, MN), Andrew Panzarella (Columbia, MD) and Ryan McKiernan (White Plains, NY).
"Blood, Panzarella and McKiernan will bring us some size and puck moving ability, while we believe Pryor is skilled enough to run our power play one day," said Simon. "We wanted to draft defensemen who can skate and move the puck. With our style of play, it is important to have that type of player here."
The lone goalie selected by the Bucs was West Chester, Pennsylvania native Michael Milana. A product of the Philadelphia Jr. Flyers program, he'll suite up for Kent Prep School this year.
"Michael is a very athletic goalie who is always square to the puck and on his angles," said Simon. "He's flown under the radar a bit, but after we had him to our Futures Camp last June, our entire staff was comfortable making him the only goalie we selected."
Each USHL team carries a 23-man active roster. A team is allowed to keep 12 players on their affiliate list. '89s selected become the property of the drafting team for two years, while '90s can be held for three years.
