2018 NAHL Draft Recap: Rebels target forward position

Jun 5, 2018

The North American Hockey League held its annual player draft today with the Rebels having the twenty-second out of twenty-fourth pick in the first round due to the team having the third best winning percentage during the 2017-18 regular season. Overall, the Rebels took ten players broken down by the following positions: one (1) goaltender; three (3) defensemen and six (6) forwards.

“We went into the draft selecting players by need” stated Rebels Director of Scouting Billy Pugliese. We needed to fill gaps and wanted to establish a solid defensive corps and move on out. We felt we accomplished this” stated Pugliese.

“I thought our draft went very well” said Pugliese. “I’m happy with all of our picks, and I’m looking forward to bringing them all together and having them in camp” concluded Pugliese.

The following is a recap of the players selected by the Rebels.

Round 1 – 22nd Pick
Alexandre Roy, defenseman; Andre-Laurendeau; Shoots left; Born 9-21-1998. Hometown: St-Vallier, Que. Height: 5’8”; Weight: 130.

Season                 Team                                     GP          G             A             Pts          PIM        PPG       SHG
’17-18 Season    Andre-Laurendeau          36           6              18           24           20           2              0
’16-17 Season    Andre-Laurendeau          34           2              9              11           12           1              0

Round 2 – 35th Pick
Noah West, goaltender; Oakland Jr. Grizzlies 18U; Catches left; Born 11-25-2000. Hometown: Pittsboro, IN. Height: 6’0”; Weight: 190.

Season                 Team                                     GPI         Mins      GA          SO          W            L              T              SV%       AVG       OTL
’17-18 Season    Oakland Jr. Grizz. 18        11           457         19           2              6              4              0              0.884     2.12
’16-17 Season    Chi. Fury 18                         16           849         39           3              5              9                              0.913     2.48        1

Round 2 – 46th Pick
Joshua Tripp, forward; Swan Valley; Shoots left; Born 4-29-1998. Hometown: Swan River, MB. Height: 5’6”; Weight: 155.

Season                 Team                     GP          G             A             Pts          PIM        PPG       SHG
’17-18 Season    Swan Valley        38           28           14           42           28           11           4
’17-18 Season    Corpus Christi    13           3              6              9              20           2              0

Round 3 – 54th Pick
Brayden Richards, defenseman; Whitecourt Wolverines; Shoots left; Born 8-12-1998. Hometown: Calgary, AB. Height: 6’0”; Weight: 180.

Season                 Team                     GP          G             A             Pts          PIM        PPG       SHG
’17-18 Season    Drayton Valley  28           4              4              8              26           0              0
’17-18 Season    Whitecourt         27           1              5              6              2              1              0

Round 3 – 70th Pick
Antonio Venuto, forward; Detroit Compuware 18U; Shoots left; Born 2-26-2000; Hometown: Whitmore Lake, MI. Height: 6’1”. Weight: 195

Season                 Team                                     GP          G             A             Pts          PIM        PPG       SHG
’17-18 Season    Det. Compuware 18        20           6              9              15           6              1              0
’17-18 Season    Minot                                    1              0              0              0              0              0              0

Round 5 – 118th Pick
Caleb Price, defenseman; Northern Cyclones; Shoots left; Born 4-4-2000. Hometown: Hooksett, NH. Height: 5’7”; Weight: 155.

Season                 Team                                     GP          G             A             Pts          PIM        PPG       SHG
’17-18 Season    North. Cyclones                 50           6              12           18           27           1              0
18 Playoffs          North. Cyclones 3              0              0              0              0              0              0

Round 6 – 142nd Pick
Cannon Green, forward; Detroit Compuware 18U; Shoots left; Born 3-27-2000. Hometown: Birmingham, MI. Height: 5’11”; Weight: 184.

Season                 Team                                     GP          G             A             Pts          PIM        PPG       SHG
’17-18 Season    Det. Compuware 18        18           6              4              10           4              0              0
’16-17 Season    Oakland Jr. Grizz 18         45           17           30           47           2

Round 7 – 166th Pick
Campbell Balk, forward; Yarmouth Mariners; Shoots right; Born 4-5-1998. Hometown: West Olive, MI. Height: 5’11”. Weight: 176.

Season                 Team                     GP          G             A             Pts          PIM        PPG       SHG
’17-18 Season    Yarmouth            43           2              18           20           48           0              0
18 Playoffs          Yarmouth            18           1              5              6              8              0              0

Round 8 – 190th Pick
Seth Benson, forward; Omaha AAA HC 18U; Shoots left; Born: 2-5-1999. Hometown: Moorhead, MN. Height: 6’3”. Weight: 170.

Season                 Team                                     GP          G             A             Pts          PIM        PPG       SHG
’17-18 Season    Portage                                 2              0              0              0              4              0              0
’17-18 Season    Omaha AAA 18                  9              3              4              7              14           0              0

Round 9 – 214th Pick
Max Johnson, forward; Hearst Lumberjacks; Shoots left; Born: 4-7-1999. Hometown: Maple Grove, MN. Height: 5’11”. Weight: 165.

Season                 Team                     GP          G             A             Pts          PIM        PPG       SHG
’17-18 Season    Hearst                   46           20           30           50           76           3              1
18 Playoffs          Hearst                   3              2              1              3              0              1              0

The draft was available for any amateur player who will be less than 21 years of age on December 31, 2018 and was not listed on an NAHL team roster nor listed on an NAHL team roster but played less than (10) NAHL regular season and/or playoff games during the 2017-18 season and did not accept a tender from an NAHL team prior to the 2018 NAHL Entry Draft were eligible for the draft.