Konrad Abeltshauser
Defenseman
Born 9/2/1992 – Bad Tolz, Germany
6’5″, 212 pounds, Left shot
Drafted by San Jose in sixth round {#163 overall} of 2010 NHL Entry Draft
Looking to take on more responsibility on the blue line in his third season with the Halifax Mooseheads of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League {QMJHL}, Abeltshauser was the Mooseheads’ top scoring defenseman with 44 points {8-36-44}, which placed him ninth in league scoring amongst defensemen. At the Mooseheads Annual Awards banquet on March 14, Abeltshauser was named the Mooseheads Steel Auto Group Top Defenseman.
Abeltshauser continued his hot streak into the QMJHL playoffs as he registered 16 points {5-11-16} in 15 games played and finished second in QMJHL playoff scoring amongst defensemen.
Abeltshauser and the Mooseheads sent shock waves throughout the hockey world when they came back from a 3-0 series deficit and eliminated the Quebec Remparts in the second round of the QMJHL playoffs in a thrilling seven game series. Abeltshauser registered seven points {2-5-7} in the series, including the secondary assist on Jonathan Drouin’s game winning overtime goal in game 7 in Quebec City. The Mooseheads were eliminated in six games by Rimouski Oceanic in the QMJHL semi-finals.
In addition to his breakout season, Abeltshauser captained team Germany to a 5-0 record at the 2012 IIIHF Ice Hockey U20 World Championships Division 1 Group A tournament and a birth at next year’s World Junior Tournament. Abeltshauser was named the tournament’s Best Defenseman after leading defenseman in scoring with seven points {1-6-7} and a plus-10 rating.
As a result of his memorable breakout season, Abeltshauser was signed to an entry level contract by the San Jose Sharks on April 13. In his three seasons with the Mooseheads, Abeltshauser has registered 96 points {21-75-96} with 105 penalty minutes in 163 regular season games and 19 points in {8-11-19} with 16 penalty minutes in 19 playoff games.
Lastly, Abeltshauser donated his personal tickets to the IWK Children’s Hospital for the second consecutive year.
Photo courtesy of David Chan of www.eishockey-magazin.de
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J.P. Anderson
Goalie
Born 4/27/1992 – Toronto, Ontario
5’11”, 190 pounds, Right glove
Undrafted {Signed by San Jose to entry-level contract on Sept. 21, 2010}
In his final season of junior hockey in the Ontario Hockey League {OHL}, Anderson appeared in 31 games for the Mississauga St. Michael’s Majors and compiled a 15-11-4 record with a .910 save percentage and 3.04 goals-against-average.
On Jan. 6, the Majors traded Anderson, who had spent his entire OHL career with the Majors after being drafted by them in 2008, to the Sarnia Sting for goaltender Brandon Maxwell and five future draft picks {three in the second round and two in the fifth round}.
With the Sting, Anderson appeared in 26 games and compiled a 12-12-2 record with a 3.01 goals-against-average and .905 save percentage. In the OHL playoffs, Anderson appeared in six games and went 2-2-1 with a 3.71 goals-against-average and .900 save percentage. The Sting were eliminated in the first round in six games by the Saginaw Spirit.
Anderson’s all-time record with the Majors {regular and post season} was 116-56-6-4. In addition, Anderson set four Majors’ team records: Most shutouts in a regular season {six in 2010-11}, most wins in a regular season {38 in 2010-11}, best career goals-against-average {2.67} and most career regular season wins as a Major {68}.
Anderson will best be remembered by Majors and OHL fans for his magical post season run in 2011 where he led the Majors to an Eastern Conference Championship, a memorable seven game series in the Rogers OHL Championship against the Owen Sound Attack and an appearance in the 2011 Mastercard Memorial Cup. During that stretch, Anderson went 15-2-3 with a 2.11 goals-against-average and .0920 save percentage to go along with four shutouts.
Photo courtesy of www.londoncommunitynews.com
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Colin Blackwell {@CB_63}
Forward
Born 3/28/1993 – Lawrence, Massachusetts
5’10”, 195 pounds, Right shot
Drafted by San Jose in seventh round {#194 overall} of 2011 NHL Entry Draft
In his freshman season with the Harvard Crimson, Blackwell finished sixth on the team in scoring with 19 points {5-14-19} in 34 games played to go along with 46 penalty minutes. All five of Blackwell’s goals were scored in the third period.
A Walter Brown Award Semifinalist {presented to the best US born player in New England}, Blackwell was named Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference {ECAC} Rookie of the Week two times during the 2011-12 season for the weeks of Nov. 29, 2011 and March 20 respectively.
Blackwell registered his first collegiate two goal game in a 7-6 win over the New Hampshire Wildcats on Nov. 22, 2011. Blackwell scored the game tying and go ahead goal for the Crimson after they found themselves trailing 4-0 at the end of the first period.
On March 16, Blackwell had four assists in the Crimson’s 6-1 victory over the Cornell Big Red in the ECAC Hockey Championship semifinals, becoming the first Crimson player to do so since Tim Pettit registered five assists in a 6-3 win over the Princeton Tigers at Princeton on Dec. 6, 2002.
In 2010-11, Blackwell had a senior season for the ages as he registered 66 points {33-33-66} for St. John’s Prep {Located in in Danvers, Mass.} in 25 games played. In the Super Eight Tournament, Blackwell registered 11 points in leading St. John’s Prep to their first finals appearance in program history {St. John’s lost a 4-3 heartbreaker to Malden Catholic}.
As a result of his outstanding senior season, Blackwell was named the Catholic Conference’s Most Valuable Player, Massachusetts Coaches Association Robbie Ftorek Player of the Year and was the recipient of the ESPN Boston’s inaugural Mr. Hockey Award, which was chosen by a panel of experts made up of ESPNBoston.com staff, correspondents and high school hockey coaches.
Photo courtesy of Colin Blackwell’s twitter {@CB_63}
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Chris Crane
Forward
Born 12/2/1991 – West Chester, Ohio
6’1″, 193 pounds, Right shot
Drafted by San Jose in seventh round {#200 overall} of 2010 NHL Entry Draft
In his sophomore season with the Ohio State Buckeyes, Crane finished tied for the team lead in scoring with 24 points {14-10-24} in 35 games played to go along with 37 penalty minutes. Crane led the team in shots on goal with 137 and his 14 goals were both a career and team high.
Despite being swept by the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the first round of the Central Collegiate Hockey Association {CCHA} tournament, Crane was the Buckeyes’ 2012 CCHA Perani Cup winner, which is given to the player who earns the most points throughout the season each time they are named star of the game.
In his two years with the Buckeyes, Crane has registered 34 points on 18 goals and 16 assists to go along with 67 penalty minutes in 72 career games.
Photo courtesy of www.zimbio.com
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Drew Daniels
Defenseman
Born 6/7/1989 – Suffern, New York
6’2″, 190 pounds, Right shot
Drafted by San Jose in seventh round {#194 overall} of 2008 NHL Entry Draft
In his junior season with the Northeastern Huskies, Daniels played in all 34 games and registered seven assists to go along with 35 blocked shots, second on the team.
Originally a forward, Daniels made the move full time to the blue line in 2011-12 after splitting the 2010-11 season at forward and defense. Daniels only committed five minor penalties all season and when injuries left the Huskies shorthanded, Daniels played one game back at the forward position.
On May 28, the Husky Hockey Blog confirmed on Twitter that both Drew and his twin brother Justin will not be returning to the Huskies for their season seasons in 2012-13. However, it remains to be seen whether the twins are transferring or turning pro.
In his three years at Northeastern, Drew registered 24 points on seven goals and 17 assists to go along with 32 penalty minutes in 104 career games.
Photo courtesy of www.bangordailynews.com
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Justin Daniels {@JDanielsunouno}
Forward
Born 6/7/1989 – Suffern, New York
6’2″, 180 pounds, Right shot
Drafted by San Jose in third round {#62 overall} of 2008 NHL Entry Draft
In his junior season with the Northeastern Huskies, Daniels nearly tripled his point total from his sophomore year {0-6-6} by registering 17 points {7-10-17} in 33 games played and was sixth in team scoring.
Justin’s 10 assists were a career high and his seven goals were one shy of his career high set his freshman year. Like his twin brother Drew, Justin committed five minor penalties all season and registered his first collegiate two goal game on Oct. 7, 2011, against the Massachusetts Minutemen.
On May 28, the Husky Hockey Blog confirmed on Twitter that both Justin and his twin brother Drew will not be returning to the Huskies for their senior seasons in 2012-13. However, it remains to be seen whether the twins are transferring or turning pro.
In his three years at Northeastern, Justin registered 38 points on 15 goals and 23 assists to go along with 28 penalty minutes in 93 career games.
Photo courtesy of Justin Daniels’ Twitter {@JDanielsunouno}
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Dylan DeMelo {@DDems2}
Defenseman
Born 5/1/1993 – London Ontario
6’0″, 187 pounds, Right shot
Drafted by San Jose in sixth round {#179 overall} of 2011 NHL Entry Draft
In his third season with the Mississauga St. Michael’s Majors of the OHL, DeMelo served as an alternate captain and set career highs in points {47}, goals {7}, assists {40} and penalty minutes {70}, all of which led team defensemen. In addition, DeMelo only missed one regular season game out of 68 and his 47 points placed him seventh in OHL scoring amongst defensemen.
After the Majors lost to the Barrie Colts in six games in the first round of the OHL Playoffs, DeMelo, who registered a goal and an assist with 13 penalty minutes in the series, joined the Worcester Sharks of the American Hockey League {AHL} for the final handful of games.
DeMelo registered his first professional assist on April 13 against the St. John’s IceCaps and in his four games with the Sharks, DeMelo was a plus-3 with two penalty minutes. On April 20, it was announced on the San Jose Sharks website that DeMelo was signed to an entry-level contract.
The Majors’ 2011 Pepsi Scholastic Player of the Year, DeMelo has registered 75 points {10-65-75} with 152 penalty minutes in 154 regular season games with the Majors and seven points {2-5-7} with 28 penalty minutes in 26 playoff games.
Photo courtesy of www.stmichaelsmajors.com
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Cody Ferriero
Forward
12/19/1991 – Essex, Massachusetts
5’11”, 200 pounds, Right Shot
Drafted by San Jose in fifth round {#127 overall} of 2010 NHL Entry Draft
What a difference a year makes. After a tumultuous freshmen season in 2010-11 that saw Ferriero suspended and benched multiple times by then Northeastern Huskies head coach Greg Cronin and his work ethic questioned, Ferriero exploded for 15 points {9-6-15} in his sophomore season, doubling his freshman totals {4-3-7}, and finished as the team’s seventh leading scorer despite playing in only 17 games.
Dubbed “The President of Greg Cronin’s Doghouse” by the Husky Hockey Blog, Ferriero was forced to sit out the first month of the 2011-12 season due to a suspension that was handed down by Coach Cronin at the end of the 2010-11 season for a violation of team rules that new head coach Jim Madigan honored.
When Ferriero hit the ice for the first time in the 2011-12 season, it was evident he was different player, doing all the little things such as crashing the net and making the right passes. The Huskies were 8-0-2 when Ferriero scored a point, and Ferriero led the team in plus-minus rating with plus-11 and shooting percentage {.220}. During the Huskies eight game unbeaten streak {6-0-2}, the line of Ferriero, Steve Quailer and Braden Pimm produced 31 points {15-16-31} and had a plus-36 goals differential.
In addition, Ferriero was named the Hockey East Athletic Player of the Week two times during the 2011-12 season for the weeks of Nov. 28, 2011 and Jan. 30 respectively. Ferriero registered his first collegiate two goal game, including the game winning goal, in a 4-1 Huskies win over the Michigan Wolverines at Michigan on Nov. 25, 2011. On Jan. 27, Ferriero registered a natural hat trick, the first in over two years for the Huskies, in an 8-3 route over the Vermont Catamounts at Vermont and finished with five points {4-1-5} in the Huskies weekend sweep.
On Feb. 3, The Huntington News reported that Ferriero would miss the rest of the season after undergoing season-ending knee surgery on a torn ACL. It’s possible that Ferriero could miss part of, if not most of, the 2012-13 season as well.
In his two years with the Huskies, Ferriero has registered 22 points on 13 goals and nine assists to go along with 72 penalty minutes in 51 career games.
Photo courtesy of uscho.photoshelter.com
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Max Gaede {@TheFakeGaede}
Forward
Born 3/27/1992 – Woodbury, Minnesota
6’3″, 190 pounds, Right shot
Drafted by San Jose in third round {#88 overall} of 2010 NHL Entry Draft
In his freshman season with the Minnesota State-Mankato Mavericks, Gaede registered seven points {3-4-7} in 30 games played to go along with 42 penalty minutes, which was third on the team.
Even though the Mavericks were swept in the first round of the 2012 Western Collegiate Hockey Association {WCHA} by the Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs, Gaede scored the Mavericks’ first goal in a 4-2 loss to the Bulldogs in game 1. Gaede played his best against the Bulldogs as he registered his first collegiate goal and assist in a 7-3 loss to the Bulldogs on Nov. 19, 2011.
Prior to joining the Mavericks, Gaede registered 28 points {10-18-28} with 57 penalty minutes for the Sioux City Musketeers of the United States Hockey League {USHL} in the 2010-11 season and won a gold medal with the U.S. Select Team at the 2010 World Junior A Challenge,
Photo courtesy of www.msumavericks.com
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Freddie Hamilton
Forward
Born 1/1/1992 – Toronto, Ontario
6’1″, 190 pounds, Right shot
Drafted by San Jose in fifth round {#129 overall} of 2010 NHL Entry Draft
In his fourth season with the Niagara IceDogs of the OHL, Hamilton sparked the IceDogs to their best season in franchise history and an Eastern Conference Championship by registering 86 points {35-51-86}, second on the team, in 61 games played.
Even more remarkable was the fact that Hamilton missed an entire month of the OHL season to represent Team Canada at the 2012 World Junior Hockey Championships, where Hamilton won a bronze medal and finished fourth in team scoring with seven points {1-6-7} in six games.
Hamilton set career highs in assists {51}, points {86}, plus-minus {plus-29} and finished in the Top-20 in eight OHL categories: Sixth in insurance goals {6}, 17th in goals {35}, seventh in assists {51}, 14th in plus-minus {plus-29}, 10th in game winning goals {6}, 11th in power play assists {21}, 11th in power play goals {12} and eighth in scoring {86 points}.
Hamilton continued his hot streak into the OHL Playoffs as he registered 24 points {7-17-24} in 20 games played. After leading the IceDogs to a second round sweep of the Brampton Battalion, which was highlighted by his five point {3-2-5} performance in game 3, Hamilton was named OHL Player of the Week for the playoff week ending April 15 after registering six points {3-3-6} in two games to go along with a plus-minus rating of plus-4.
Even though the IceDogs were eliminated by the London Knights in five games in the OHL Championship series, Hamilton finished third in OHL playoff scoring and was fifth in assists. At the IceDogs team banquet on May 14, Hamilton was presented with the Most Sportsmanlike Award for the second time.
For his career with the IceDogs, Hamilton has registered 252 points {108-144-252} in 258 regular season games with 71 penalty minutes and 44 points {14-30-44} with 23 penalty minutes in 51 playoff games.
Photo courtesy of www.ontariohockeyleague.com
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Sean Kuraly {@Kurals7}
Forward
Born 1/20/1993 – Dublin, Ohio
6’2″, 192 pounds, Left shot
Drafted by San Jose in fifth round {#133 overall) of 2011 NHL Entry Draft
In his final season with the Indiana Ice of the USHL, Kuraly helped lead the Ice to a first round bye in the Clark Cup Playoffs by registering 70 points {32-38-70}, second on the team and fourth in the USHL, in 54 games played. Kuraly was second on the team with 234 shots on goal.
In the Ice’s six playoff games, Kuraly registered six points {3-3-6}, second on the team, in leading the Ice to an Eastern Conference Finals showdown against the Green Bay Gamblers. Unfortunately for Kuraly and Ice fans, the Ice were swept in three games by the Gamblers.
For the week ending of Jan. 1, Kuraly was named the USHL CCM Offensive Player of the Week after registering four points {3-1-4} and a plus-five rating in leading the Ice to three wins to close out 2011. Of those three goals, two of them were game winners, including an overtime thriller against the Muskegon Lumberjacks.
Kuraly also saw international play as he helped lead the U.S. Select Team {made up of mostly USHL players} to a Bronze medal at the 2011 World Junior A Championships in Langley, B.C. Kuraly finished as the tournament leader in scoring with six points {3-3-6} in five games played and had a two-goal game against Russia on Nov. 10, 2011.
This upcoming fall, Kuraly will head to Miami {OH}, a school he verbally committed to back on May 26, 2010, and will become the first alum’s son to play for the Redhawks. His father, Rick, played for the Redhawks from 1979-83 and holds the records for most career goals {101}, power play goals {36}, and most goals in a game {5}.
In his two years {Kuraly played in the final five games of the 2009-10 season} with the Ice, Kuraly registered 102 points {41-61-102} with 93 penalty minutes in 110 regular season games and eight points {4-4-8} in 11 playoff games.
Photo courtesy of www.indy.com
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Isaac MacLeod {@MacDinga}
Defenseman
Born 2/22/1992 – Nelson, British Columbia
6’4″, 205 pounds, Left shot
Drafted by San Jose in fifth round {#136 overall} of 2010 NHL Entry Draft
The youngest of the Boston College Eagles six defensemen and the lone underclassman on the Eagles blue line, MacLeod, a sophomore, was paired with senior defenseman Edwin Shea and registered six assists in helping lead the Eagles to their third NCAA National Championship in the last five seasons.
A sound solid defenseman, MacLeod appeared in all 44 games and killed penalties while also eating up minutes so the top Eagles players wouldn’t get tired. The Eagles finished the season on a 19 game winning streak {33-10-1} and outscored their opponents 77-21.
MacLeod, who finished the season a plus-13, plans to attend the Sharks’ Prospect Camp this summer for the first time. In his two seasons with the Eagles, MacLeod has registered nine assists and 32 penalty minutes in 66 games played.
Photo courtesy of www.hockeysfuture.com
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Lee Moffie {@LJMoffie}
Defenseman
Born 8/29/1990 – Wallingford, Connecticut
6’1″, 200 pounds, Left shot
Drafted by San Jose in seventh round {#188 overall} of 2010 NHL Entry Draft
In his junior season on the Michigan Wolverines blue line, Moffie registered 32 points {7-25-32} in 41 games played. Moffie’s 25 assists were a career high and led the Wolverines while his 32 points were also a career high, ranking him third on the team and first among defensemen. From Feb. 3 to Feb. 18, Moffie had a career high six game point streak {3-6-9}.
Despite a heartbreaking overtime loss to the Cornell Big Red in the NCAA Regional Semifinals and a loss to Western Michigan in the CCHA Final, Moffie was named to the CCHA All-Tournament Team. In addition, Moffie was honored twice as the CCHA Gladiator Defensive Player of the Week for Feb. 5 and Feb. 20 respectively.
At the Wolverines annual Dekers Blue Line Club Awards Banquet on March 31, Moffie won the Alton Simms Award for Most Improved. On April 4, Wolverines head coach Red Berenson announced Moffie would serve as an alternate captain for the Wolverines during the 2012-13 season.
In his three seasons with the Wolverines, Moffie has registered 61 points {19-42-61} with 69 penalty minutes in 102 games played.
Photo courtesy of uscho.photoshelter.com
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Matt Nieto {@Matt_Nieto}
Forward
Born 11/5/1992 – Long Beach, California
5’11”, 183 pounds, Right shot
Drafted by San Jose in second round {#47 overall} of 2011 NHL Entry Draft
In his sophomore season with the Boston University Terriers, Nieto finished as the team’s second leading scorer {and seventh in Hockey East} with 42 points {16-26-42} in 37 games played and finished fifth on the team in shots on goal with 111. Of Nieto’s 42 points, 17 {5-12-17} came on the power play and Nieto finished second on the team in plus-minus with plus-18.
Despite losing to the Minnesota Golden Gophers in the NCAA West Regional and to the Maine Black Bears in the Hockey East semifinals, Nieto was named an Honorable Mention All-Star by Hockey East after extending his point streak to seven games {4-5-9} by registering his first collegiate two goal game in the 5-3 loss to Maine on March 16.
During the season, Nieto had seven multi-point games, including a career high four points {1-3-4} against the Providence College Friars at Providence on Jan. 21, and scored a goal in the Terriers first six games.
A runner up for both the Hockey East Player of the Month for October 2011 and INCH National Player of the Week for Nov. 1, 2011, Nieto was named GoTerriers Student-Athlete of the Week on Nov. 1, 2011.
At the Boston University Hockey Banquet on April 23, Nieto was a co-recipient of the Friends Albert Sidd Unsung Hero Award, which is given to the player who contributes with little recognition.
In his two seasons with the Terriers, Nieto has registered 65 points {26-39-65} and 42 penalty minutes in 76 games played.
Photo courtesy of www.flickr.com
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Travis Oleksuk
Forward
Born 2/3/1989 – Thunder Bay, Ontario
6’0″, 200 pounds, Left shot
Undrafted {Signed by San Jose to entry-level contract on March 30, 2012}
In his senior season with the Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs, Oleksuk finished as the Bulldogs second leading scorer with 53 points {21-32-53} and only had six penalty minutes. The fourth leading scorer in all Division 1 hockey, Oleksuk earned All-WCHA Third Team Honors and was named the Red Baron WCHA Offensive Player of the Week for the week of Jan. 10 after registering four points {2-2-4}, including a game winning goal, in a road weekend series sweep of the Western Michigan Broncos.
The 43rd all-time leading scorer in Bulldogs history, Oleksuk registered 115 points {45-70-115} in 134 career games and tied a school record with 15 game-winning goals. In addition, Oleksuk played in 115 straight games to close out his career and assisted on Kyle Schmidt’s game-winning goal in the 2011 championship game that won the Bulldogs their first National Championship.
After completing his senior season with the Bulldogs, Oleksuk was signed by the San Jose Sharks to entry-level contract on March 30. Opting to wait until this upcoming fall to join the Worcester Sharks, Oleksuk finished out the school year and recently graduated from Minnesota-Duluth with a degree in management.
Photo seen on www.hockeysfuture.com and courtesy of Fred Kfoury/Icon SMI
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Daniil Sobchenko
Forward
Born 4/13/1991 – Kiev, Ukraine
6’0″, 180 pounds, Left shot
Drafted by San Jose in sixth round {#166 overall} of 2011 NHL Entry Draft
Hockey fans around the world will never forget the day of Sept. 7, 2011. On that day, a Yakovlev Yak-42 passenger aircraft carrying the Lokomotiv Yaroslavl hockey team of the Kontinental Hockey League {KHL} crashed at Tunoshna Airport, just outside the city of Yaroslavl.
The team was traveling with the coaching staff and prospect players to Minsk to play their opening game of the 2011-12 season. According to reports, the aircraft ran off the runway before lifting off, failed to gain altitude, struck a tower mast, caught fire and crashed 1.2 miles from Tunoshna Airport. Of the 45 people on the flight, 43 died at the scene and Alexander Galimov died five days later. Only the flight engineer, Alexander Sizov, survived.
Among those that perished in the crash were Sobchenko, former NHL players Pavol Demitra, Ruslan Salei, Josef Vasicek, Karel Rachunek, Jan Marek, Alexander Vasyunov, Karlis Skrastins, Stefan Liv and coach Brad McCrimmon.
On Feb. 21, HBO Real Sports aired a 20 minute in-depth feature on the incident and said that not only were the two pilots not properly trained to fly the aircraft but one pilot applied the brakes while the other pilot hit the accelerator.
Even though his time with the Sharks organization was brief, Sobchenko left a lasting impression with those he came in contact with. “Daniil attended our development camp this past July and everyone on our staff agreed that he had a bright future with our organization,” said San Jose Sharks Executive Vice President and General Manager Doug Wilson in a statement on the San Jose Sharks website in the hours after the plane crash. “He was an amazing person with a fun-loving personality and his attitude and energy during his time in San Jose was infectious.”
Sobchenko will best be remembered by fans for helping lead Russia to the Gold medal at the 2011 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships. Showcasing his talents, Sobchenko registered seven points {4-3-7} in seven games while centering the top line alongside Maxim Kitsyn and Vladimir Tarasenko
Photo courtesy of www.eliteprospects.com
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Justin Sefton {@JustinSefton}
Defenseman
Born 4/14/1993 – Thunder Bay, Ontario
6’3″, 226 pounds, Right shot
Drafted by San Jose in third round {#89 overall} of 2011 NHL Entry Draft
In his third season with the Sudbury Wolves of the OHL, Sefton registered 19 points {3-16-19} and set career highs in points {19}, assists {16} and penalty minutes {143}. Sefton’s 143 penalty minutes were a team high and eighth highest in the league.
Despite going pointless with eight penalty minutes in the Wolves’ four playoff games, Sefton, a shutdown defenseman, was presented with the Ken Burgess Playoff MVP award and the team Community Service Award at the Wolves’ Team Banquet on March 29.
In October 2011, Sefton was presented with the Travelodge Hotel Community Service Award for representing the Wolves at various community events, including the Greater Sudbury Fire Services Fire Prevention Week at the New Sudbury Centre.
In his three seasons with the Wolves, Sefton has registered 37 points {9-28-37} with 350 penalty minutes in 194 regular season games and one assist with 18 penalty minutes in 16 playoff games.
Photo courtesy of hfboards.hockeysfuture.com
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William Wrenn {@WWrenn91}
Defenseman
Born 3/16/1991 – Anchorage, Alaska
6’1″, 200 pounds, Right shot
Drafted by San Jose in second round {#43 overall) of 2009 NHL Entry Draft
One of three graduating 20-year olds on the Portland Winterhawks of the Western Hockey League {WHL}, Wrenn captained the Winterhawks to a 102-point regular season and their second consecutive WHL Western Conference Championship before suffering a heartbreaking 4-1 game 7 loss to the Edmonton Oil Kings in the WHL Finals.
Wrenn registered 16 points {3-13-16} with 27 penalty minutes in 60 games played, all of which {points, goals assists, penalty minutes, games played} were career highs. In the Winterhawks’ 20 playoff games, Wrenn registered four assists with 10 penalty minutes.
The Winterhawks’ 2011 Co-Defensive Player of the Year, Wrenn made headlines in January 2011 when he announced he was walking away from Denver University in the middle of his sophomore year to play for the Winterhawks, who had drafted Wrenn in the 2006 WHL Bantam Draft when he was 14 years old {The Winterhawks kept Wrenn on their 50 player protected list despite Wrenn telling them his intentions to play collegiate hockey}.
In his season and a half with the Winterhawks, Wrenn registered 29 points {5-24-29} with 44 penalty minutes in 89 regular season games and nine points {1-8-9} with 20 penalty minutes in 43 playoff games.
Photo courtesy of www.sportsnet.ca
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[Author’s Note: Yanni Gourde, Sebastian Stalberg and Matt Tennyson will be featured in my Worcester Sharks player recaps coming later this summer.]
Player headshots courtesy of: www.theqmjhl.ca, www.ontariohockeyleague.com, www.gocrimson.com, www.ohiostatebuckeyes.com, www.gonu.com, www.msumavericks.com, www.indianaice.com, www.bceagles.com, www.mgoblue.com, www.goterriers.com, www.umdbulldogs.com, www.lfpress.com, www.whl.ca
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