NAPHL enjoys another successful showing at USHL Draft

May 2, 2017

Meijer AAA 18U defenseman and NAPHL All-Star Jared Kucharek was the first NAPHL player selected in Phase II of the USHL Draft on May 2nd.

It was another successful year for the North American Prospects Hockey League (NAPHL) in the 2017 USHL Draft. The NAPHL had six players drafted in Phase I on May 1st, and 12 players drafted in Phase II on May 2nd. A total of 18 NAPHL players were drafted this season. 36 NAPHL players have been drafted in the past two years of the USHL Draft.

"The fact that our numbers remained exactly the same from 2016 to 2017 is very encouraging," said newly named NAPHL Director Tony Zasowski. "As somone who played in the USHL and coached in the NAPHL, I can tell you first hand that USHL teams are regulars at all our events and we have some great, young talent that will be future stars in junior hockey. This is a great first step for them and we hope to see even more draft picks and scouts at NAPHL events in 2017-18."

The NAPHL, which will be celebrating its ninth season in 2017-18, is composed of Midget Major (18U) and Midget Minor (16U and 15U) teams from across North America that compete at the USA Hockey Tier I level. The NAPHL has proved over the years that this league is a great stepping-stone for development and training for young hockey players looking to gain experience and knowledge to work their way up to the National level.

Phase I of the USHL Draft took place on May 1st, consisting of 10 rounds for the “Futures” age players, which are all 2001 birth year players only. This phase of the draft gives teams a chance to draft these younger players who may not necessarily be ready for the league that following season. This gives the players that have been drafted an opportunity to grow and develop while their respective USHL team still owns their rights as a player.

Phase II of the draft, which took place on May 2nd, is a chance for all other age eligible players to be drafted with no ties to another USHL team.

Here is a summary of those NAPHL players selected in the 2017 USHL Draft:

PHASE I

Leo Bacallao, F, Madison Capitols 16U (Round 4, #53) Madison Capitols

Max Mulawka, F, Pursuit of Excellence 18U (Round 4, #60) Youngstown Phantoms

Reid Pabich, F, Madison Capitols 16U (Round 6, #89) Madison Capitols

Adam Varga, F, Washington Little Caps 15U (Round 8, #113) Cedar Rapids RoughRiders

Max Ruoho, D, Madison Capitols 16U (Round 9, #133) Madison Capitols

Cullen Ward, F, Meijer AAA 16U (Round 10, #151) Lincoln Stars

PHASE II

Jared Kucharek, D, Meijer AAA 18U (Round 5, #68) Omaha Lancers

Aaron Swanson, F, Madison Capitols 18U (Round 7, #104) Madison Capitols