NA3HL announces results of 2016 Draft

June 15, 2016

The North American 3 Hockey League (NA3HL) has concluded and announced the results of the 2016 NA3HL Draft, which was held on Tuesday, June 14th. 

 

In total, 379 players were selected in the draft, which took just under three and a half hours to complete. 

 

Click here to listen to the archive of the draft through FASTHockey

 

“It was an exciting day for all 48 of our NA3HL teams and 379 players. The draft is one of the essential ways that our teams are able to build their rosters for the upcoming season,” said NA3HL Commissioner Denny Scanlon. “This is the first step for many of these players on the road to realizing their hockey dreams. We congratulate all the teams and their respective staffs for their hard work and also congratulate all the players who were selected.”

 

The first player taken in the draft was forward Mikhail Akatnov, who was selected by the expansion Missoula Junior Bruins. Akatnov played last season in Missoula for the team that was a part of another junior league. The first defenseman taken in the draft was Thomas Harrison (Cleveland Jr. Lumberjacks 18U) who was drafted 3rd overall by the West Michigan Wolves. The first goaltender taken was Jake Kucharski of the NAPHL’s Esmark Stars 16U team, who was taken 6th overall by the Southern Tier Xpress.

 

Breakdown of positions drafted:

Forwards: 249

Defense: 116

Goalies: 14

 

Breakdown of teams/levels/leagues where players were selected from:

Midget: 131

High School: 107

Other junior: 53

NAPHL: 40

Prep Schools/Academies: 20

NAHL: 15

European Teams: 13

 

The NAPHL had a big presence in player advancement in both the NAHL and NA3HL. 40 players from the NAPHL were selected in the NA3HL draft. That is in addition to the 29 NAPHL players who were signed to a tender over the course of the 2015-16 season, bringing the total number of NAPHL players who played in the league in 2015-16 that were either tendered or drafted into the NA3HL to 69.

 

During the NAHL Draft last week, a total of 17 NAPHL players were drafted. That is in addition to the 47 NAPHL players who were signed to a tender over the course of the 2015-16 season, bringing the total number of NAPHL players who played in the league in 2015-16 that were either tendered or drafted into the NAHL to 64.

 

In addition, 15 players who played in the NAHL last season were selected in the Draft.

 

Players not drafted or tendered by NA3HL teams are still able to participate in each team's respective open tryout camps.  Remaining tryout camps are listed here.

 

All rosters must be reduced to 25 players by September 1st and 23 players by October 1st.