Expansion Draft Complete

Press Release

The United States Hockey League (USHL) completed an expansion draft on Monday, as 10 players currently on the roster or affiliate list of the League's 12 USHL Member Clubs were selected by the League's new Youngstown, Ohio entry, which will commence play next season.

The procedure implemented by the Commissioner's Office adhered to prior USHL expansion drafts. Each current USHL Member Club submitted a protected list of (up to) 23 players on its active roster or affiliate list. Current USHL teams were allowed to protect a maximum of eight "veteran" players – that is, players who had played in 10 or more games during the 2008-09 season. Veterans still enrolled in high school were automatically protected by their respective Member Clubs, in order to insure stability and scholastic continuity for the League's younger players.

Per expansion draft rules, no USHL teams lose more than one player in the expansion draft.

Players selected in the 2009 Expansion Draft:

(Alphabetical listing and previous team)

Jack Callahan (F) – Lincoln Stars (affiliate list)

Jefferson Dahl (F) – Green Bay Gamblers

David Donnellan (D) – Tri-City Storm

Brett Gensler (F) – Cedar Rapids RoughRiders

Taylor Holstrom (F) – Omaha Lancers

Matt Lindblad (F) – Chicago Steel

Doug Marshall (D) – Sioux Falls Stampede (affiliate list)

Nick Mattson (D) – Des Moines Buccaneers (affiliate list)

J.T. Osborn (F) – Indiana Ice (affiliate list)

Tom Serratore (F) – Sioux City Musketeers

"Through this draft, the USHL has provided a great opportunity for an expansion club to enter the league and be competitive," stated Bob Mainhardt, Youngstown Head Coach. "Our organization expected to acquire some key contributors to our team for next season and we are very happy with the system which the USHL has put in place."

USHL clubs that had players chosen in the expansion draft are allowed to adjust their protected list leading into the Futures Draft on Tuesday, May 12th.

USHL.com will provide complete coverage of the 2009 Futures Draft. To follow each of the five rounds live, visit www.ushldraft.com and visit www.ushl.com for additional information regarding the draft.

The USHL celebrated its 30th season of junior hockey in 2008-09. With over 170 players already committed to NCAA Division I schools and 16 NHL Draft picks that played in the league this season, the USHL is the nation's foremost producer of junior hockey talent. For more information, visit us on the web at www.ushl.com.



(Nathan also is a writer for Maineiacs Post to Post and the Maine Hockey Journal. He can be reached at fourniern@students.nescom.edu)