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Fifteen Wisconsin prep players chosen in USHL Draft

By Michael Trzinski, 05/07/14, 8:00PM CDT

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Mason Appleton picked third overall in Phase 2 draft

The United States Hockey League held its annual draft on Monday and Tuesday and over a dozen Wisconsin high school players heard their names announced in the two-day session.

The USHL Draft was comprised of two phases: Phase 1 was for 1998 birthyear players only, while Phase 2 saw players from multiple birthyears selected.

In the Phase 1 draft, Appleton United's Carver Watson was picked 24th overall by Sioux City. The defenseman was chosen with the eighth pick in the second round. Also selected was Middleton defenseman Davis Bunz, who went to Sioux Falls with the 13th pick in the sixth round.

Other Wisconsin-born players chosen in Phase 1 were Alec Semandel (Waunakee), Grant Cruikshank (Delafield), Cole Hults (Madison), and Jake Nielsen (New Berlin).

On the second day in Phase 2, a baker's dozen of players was picked by various teams in the multiple birthyear phase.

Notre Dame forward Mason Appleton was tabbed as the third pick in the first round, going to Tri-City. In the next round, Player of the Year winner Jake Bresser was chosen by Chicago. The Eau Claire Memorial forward went 24th overall.

Notre Dame defenseman Luke Davison was selected by Fargo with pick 6-10 (#99 overall). Eight picks later, NDA teammate Brett Gruber was nabbed by Cedar Rapids (7-3, #107).

Defenseman Chuck Bennis (ECM) went to Fargo with the first pick in Round 8 (#121). 

Superior forward Aaron Miller was called by Waterloo with pick 8-15 (#135). In the ninth round, Charlie Parker of Verona was snagged by Chicago (9-15, #150). Two spots later, Collin Appleton was selected by Fargo with pick 10-1.

In the 12th round, Appleton United forward Trenton Bliss was chosen by Green Bay with the 193rd pick of the draft.

Blueliner Sean Driscoll of Homestead was tabbed by Des Moines in the 14th round (#219) and then it was quiet until the 19th round for Wisconsin players.

River Falls forward Billy Jerry went to newcomer Madison as the 303rd selection overall (19-8).

Cole Paskus of Madison West (21-14, #341) and Luke McElhenie of Sauk Prairie (23-8, #367) were the final two Wisconsin forwards selected.

Other Wisconsin-born players included Alec Broetzman (Hudson), Zach Metsa (Delafield), Drew Callin (Middleton), and Brendon Gysbers (Waupun).

PHASE 1 DRAFT

Pick Overall Team Player Team
2-8 24 Sioux City Carver Watson Appleton United
6-13 92 Sioux Falls Davis Bunz Middleton

PHASE 2 DRAFT

Pick Overall Team Player Team
1-3 3 Tri-City Mason Appleton Notre Dame
2-6 24 Chicago Jake Bresser Eau Claire Memorial
6-10 99 Fargo Luke Davison Notre Dame
7-3 107 Cedar Rapids Brett Gruber Notre Dame
8-1 121 Fargo Chuck Bennis Eau Claire Memorial
8-15 135 Waterloo Aaron Miller Superior
9-15 150 Chicago Charlie Parker Verona
10-1 152 Fargo Collin Appleton Notre Dame
12-10 193 Green Bay Trenton Bliss Appleton United
14-4 219 Des Moines Sean Driscoll Homestead
19-8 303 Madison Billy Jerry River Falls
21-14 341 Sioux City Cole Paskus Madison West
23-8 367 Madison Luke McElhenie Sauk Prairie