Michigan 2019 NHL Entry Draft Preview
6/20/2019 3:46:00 PM | Ice Hockey
Fri-Sat., June 21-22 -- 2019 NHL Entry Draft (Vancouver, B.C.)
NHL Draft Central
Friday, June 21 -- NHL Draft - Round 1, 8 p.m. (NBCSN)
Saturday, June 22 -- NHL Draft - Rounds 2-7, 1 p.m. (NHL Network)
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan ice hockey team is anticipated to have a number of selections this weekend (June 21-22) at the 2019 NHL Entry Draft at the Rogers Centre in Vancouver, British Columbia. U-M has had at least one player selected in each draft the past 23 years, which is tied for an NCAA high.
• Three incoming freshman are expected to hear their names called this weekend at the NHL Draft. Cam York (12th), Johnny Beecher (49th), and Eric Ciccolini (108th) all earned final rankings on NHL.com for North American skaters.
• York, an Anaheim Hills, California, native, recorded 65 points (14 goals, 51 assists) in 63 games as a defenseman for the U.S. NTDP U-18 team last season, while registering 11 points (4 G, 7 A) in seven games at the U-18 World Championships this past spring. York is offensive-minded with a combination of speed and finesse from the blue line.
• Beecher, a fellow NTDP U-18 product, registered 43 points (15 G, 28 A) as a center. The Elmira, New York, native is a bigger-bodied center at 6-foot-3 and 210 pounds, who has good speed and is known to attack the puck and net aggressively while being difficult to contain due to that size.
• Ciccolini had an impressive season in Ontario Junior Hockey League (OJHL) with the Toronto Jr. Canadiens, being named the 2018-19 OJHL Top Prospect Award. The Vaughan, Ontario, native registered 62 points (27 G, 35 A) in 48 games as a winger, which ranked ninth highest in the league.
• The Wolverines have had 68 total selections in the NHL Draft, with at least one selection in all but five years since its inception in 1969 (1970-72, '81 and '95).
• Last season, Quinn Hughes became the 22nd first-round selection in program history when he was selected seventh overall by the Vancouver Canucks. Hughes also became the 10th Wolverine to be selected in the top 10.
• Jack Johnson became the highest-drafted Wolverine when he was selected third overall by the Carolina Hurricanes in 2005.
• U-M has had a program-high seven selections in two drafts (1990 and 2007) and has had six players selectted in six different drafts (1978, '84, '89, '94, 2001, and '15).
• The New Jersey Devils have selected the most Wolverines (12), with Jon Merrill the Devils' the last Michigan draftee in 2010 (second round, 38th overall).
• Every team except the Vegas Golden Knights (2017 expansion team) has drafted a U-M player. However, the Wolverines have been represented on the Golden Knights roster by Max Pacioretty and Merrill.
