Yesterday the North American Hockey League held its annual draft. Since the Aston Rebels finished in first during the regular season the team selected last beginning with the twenty third pick.
With the loss of Gvido Jansons, Brennan Kapcheck, Andrew Noel and Ryan Solomon, the focus for the Rebels was defense. It was so much so that five of the team’s nine picks were defensemen (three forwards and one goalie also were chosen).
To sum up the draft, Head Coach and General Manager Joe Coombs was very pleased with the way the it went. “We knew we needed defensemen” stated Coombs. “We went after the best players available. We feel that with the players we selected along with our tenders that we will have another formable core of blueliners. While we are very pleased with the draft we will certainly attempt to fill our holes. We also will continue to look for free agents” concluded Coombs.
The following is a recap of the players selected by the Rebels.
Round 1 – 23rd Pick
Jeremy Smith, Toronto Jr. Canadiens. Position: Left Defenseman. Shoots: Right. Born: July 19, 1998. Hometown: Toronto, ON. Height: 5’9”. Weight: 158 lbs.
Season Team GP G A Pts PIM
’16-’17 Season Jr. Canadiens 42 7 10 17 47
17 Playoffs Jr. Canadiens 11 3 8 11 10
Round 2 – 36th Pick
Brandon Stanley, Waywayseecappo Wolverines. Position: Forward. Born: May 3, 1997. Hometown: Sioux Lookout, ON. Height: 6’2”. Weight: 205 lbs.
Season Team GP G A Pts PIM
’16-’17 Season Portage 5 1 3 4 12
’16-’17 Season Waywayseecappo 53 23 44 67 48
Round 3 – 69th Pick
Seth Bergeron, Las Vegas Storm. Position: Left Defenseman. Shoots: Left. Born: August 3, 2000. Hometown: Las Vegas, NV. Height: 5’11”. Weight: 170 lbs.
Season Team GP G A Pts PIM
’16-’17 Season Las Vegas Storm 38 4 13 17 18
Round 4 – 93rd Pick
Ryan Keane, Omaha Lancers. Position: Goaltender. Catches: Left. Born: March 15, 1998. Hometown: Lewisville, TX. Height: 5’9”. Weight: 157 lbs.
Season Team GPI Mins GA SO W L SV% AVG
’16-’17 Season Omaha 9 507 36 0 2 5 0.876 4.26
Round 5 – 117Th Pick
Darren Rizzolo, Alberni Valley Bulldogs. Position: Left Defenseman. Shoots: Left. Born: January 12, 1998. Hometown: Mission, BC. Height: 5’10”. Weight: 173 lbs.
Season Team GP G A Pts PIM
’16-’17 Season Vernon 5 0 0 0 4
’16-’17 Season Alberni 44 1 7 8 67
Round 6 – 140th Pick
No pick. Traded to Johnstown
Round 7 – 163rd Pick
Corey Clifton, North Jersey Avalanche 18U. Position: Forward. Shoots: Left. Born: February 3, 1999. Hometown: Matawan, NJ. Height: 5’8”. Weight: 160 lbs.
Season Team GP G A Pts PIM
’16-’17 Season North Jersey Avs 18 31 5 16 21 12
’16-17 Playoffs North Jersey Avs 18 5 1 1 2 2
Round 8 – 186th Pick
Jacob Nordqvist, Vastra Frolunda HC Jr. Position: Left Defenseman. Shoots: Right. Born: February 12, 1998. Hometown: Sweden. Height: 5’7”. Weight: 158 lbs.
Season Team GP G A Pts PIM
’16-’17 Season V. Frolunda 1 0 0 0 0
‘16-17 Euro One Frolunda 27 2 12 14 12
‘16-17 Euro Two Frolunda 17 0 4 4 14
’16-1717 Playoffs Frolunda 5 1 0 1 4
Round 9 – 209th Pick
Noah Finstrom, Detroit Little Caesars 18U. Position: Forward. Shoots: Left. Born: September 17, 1999. Hometown: Detroit, MI. Height: 5’6”. Weight: 130 lbs.
Season Team GP G A Pts PIM
’16-’17 Season Det. Little Caesers 18 21 6 9 15 36
Round 10 – 232nd Pick
Carson Moniz, St. Thomas Stars. Position: Right Defenseman. Shoots: Right. Born: October 25, 1998. Hometown: Lambeth, ON. Height: 5’11”. Weight: 198 lbs.
Season Team GP G A Pts PIM
’16-’17 Season St. Thomas 19 3 8 11 56
’16-’17 Season Amarillo 14 0 4 4 14
17 Playoffs St. Thomas 4 1 0 1 22
