June 23, 2007
FAIRBANKS, Alaska - Alaska Nanooks hockey recruit Jamie Benn (Victoria, BC) was selected by the National Hockey League's Dallas Stars in the 5th round (129th) overall in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft in Columbus, Ohio Saturday.
The 6-foot-2, 185-pound left wing became the second player in as many years with connections to Alaska's program to be selected in the draft, following junior-to-be and goalie Chad Johnson (Calgary, AB), who was picked up by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 2006 entry draft last June.
Benn, a 17-year old skater who recently completed his rookie season in the British Columbia Hockey League with the Victoria Grizzlies, had 42 goals and 23 assists for 65 points with 76 penalty minutes in 53 regular season games. He led all rookies and tied for sixth in the BCHL in goals. Last November he was named a "B" Player to Watch by the NHL's Central Scouting Service which is a rating given to a "player to note" who is considered a potential later round draft selection.
In 2005-2006 Benn played for the Peninsula Panthers of the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League. As a sixteen year old he tied for the scoring lead on the Panthers and was tied for seventh in the league in scoring with 31 goals and 24 assists for 55 points in 38 games with 92 penalty minutes. He tallied 14 power play and three shorthanded goals. In seven playoff games he had five goals and five assists for ten points with 20 penalty minutes. After the season he was named the VIJHL Rookie of the Year.
He played four games for the Panthers in 2004-2005 scoring one goal and adding two assists for three points with two penalty minutes. He played most of that season for the Peninsula Eagles Midget AA team.
Alaska's conference, the Central Collegiate Hockey Association, placed 24 players from 10 different schools, including two first-round draft picks. It marks the seventh straight season that at least a pair of players with CCHA ties have been taken in the first round and gives the conference 16 first-round selections during that period.
Overall, Michigan led the way with seven players drafted followed by Notre Dame with five. Miami, Nebraska-Omaha, Ohio State and Western Michigan each had a pair to go with single picks for Alaska, Bowling Green, Ferris State and Michigan State.
The CCHA breakdown by round consisted of six in the fourth round, four in the third and sixth rounds, three in the fifth and seventh rounds along with a pair in the first and second rounds. The breakdown by position shows seventeen forwards, five defensemen and two goalies.
The CCHA breakdown by NHL teams consisted of two picks apiece by Anaheim, Florida, Montreal, Nashville, New York Rangers, Philadelphia and St. Louis with single choices made by Atlanta, Buffalo, Boston, Calgary, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Toronto and Washington.
A complete draft summary of the CCHA related draft selections appears below.
2007 NHL Draft Selections--CCHA
Rd. No. Selected Name, School Pos. Yr. Ht. Wt. DOB Hometown
1st 18 St. Louis Ian Cole, Notre Dame * D Fr. 6-1 211 2-21-89 Ann Arbor, MI
1st 22 Montreal Max Pacioretty, Michigan * F Fr. 6-1 203 11-20-88 New Canaan, CT
2nd 44 St. Louis Aaron Palushaj, Michigan * F Fr. 5-11 187 9-7-89 Livonia, MI
2nd 46 Washington Ted Ruth, Notre Dame * D Fr. 6-1 199 2-14-89 Naperville, IL
3rd 81 Nashville Ryan Thang, Notre Dame F So. 5-11 186 5-11-87 Chicago, IL
3rd 86 Chicago Josh Unice, Bowling Green * G Fr. 5-11 175 6-24-89 Toledo, OH
3rd 89 Buffalo Corey Tropp, Michigan State * F Fr. 5-11 183 7-25-89 Grosse Pointe, MI
3rd 90 Ottawa Louie Caporusso, Michigan * F Fr. 5-9 185 6-21-89 Toronto, ON
4th 92 Anaheim Justin Vaive Miami * F Fr. 6-4 210 7-8-89 Buffalo, NY
4th 93 Anaheim Steven Kampfer, Michigan D So. 5-11 197 9-24-88 Ann Arbor, MI
4th 95 Los Angeles Alec Martinez, Miami D So. 6-0 188 7-26-87 Rochester Hills, MI
4th 101 Florida Matt Rust, Michigan * f Fr. 6-3 182 11-9-88 Madison, MI
4th 104 Toronto Ben Winnett, Michigan * F Fr. 5-9 182 3-23-89 Bloomfi eld Hills, MI
4th 113 Nashville Ben Ryan, Notre Dame * F Fr. 5-11 190 10-16-88 Detroit, MI
5th 129 Dallas Jamie Benn, Alaska * F Fr. 6-2 186 7-18-89 Victoria, BC
5th 138 NY Rangers Max Campbell, Western Michigan * F Fr. 6-0 170 12-21-88 Strathroy, ON
5th 142 Montreal Andrew Conboy, Nebraska-Omaha ** F Fr. 6-3 190 5-16-88 Burnsville, MN
6th 159 Boston Alain Goulet, Nebraska-Omaha * D Fr. 6-1 186 9-22-88 Kapuskasing, ON
6th 161 Philadelphia Pat Maroon, Ferris State * F Fr. 6-4 225 4-23-88 St. Louis, MO
6th 168 NY Rangers Carl Hagelin, Michigan * F Fr. 5-11 186 8-23-88 Sodertalje, SWE
6th 175 Atlanta John Albert, Ohio State * F Fr. 5-9 180 1-19-89 Cleveland, OH
7th 182 Philadelphia Brad Phillips, Notre Dame * G Fr. 6-2 183 4-22-89 Allen Park, MI
7th 186 Calgary C.J. Severyn, Ohio State * F Fr. 6-0 185 6-2-89 Beaver, PA
7th 191 Florida Ryan Watson, Western Michigan * F Fr. 6-1 175 3-1-88 Cambridge, ON
Note - Yr. is the year in school as of the start of the 2007-2008 season;* - indicates incoming freshman; ** indicates player has signed letter of intent for 2008-09.
