Soo Indians are USHL picks
Two members of the major midget Soo Indians were selected by the Muskegon Lumberjacks at this week’s United States Hockey League draft.
1997 birth-year defenceman Andrew Barbeau was selected by Muskegon in the 26th round of the main USHL draft.
The 5-foot-10, 180 pound Barbeau captained the Indians to the 2013-2014, Michigan Amateur Hockey Association state championship tournament.
A hard-nosed defender, Barbeau had 7 goals, 9 assists, 16 points in 51 games during the 2013-2014 campaign.
Muskegon selected another member of the Indians in a separate futures draft process for players born in 1998, tapping forward Casey Gilling in the seventh round.
The 5-foot-11, 165 pound Gilling was third on the Indians in scoring in 2013-2014 with 19 goals, 29 assists, 48 points in 56 games.
Barbeau and Gilling are both Sault Ste. Marie products.
Barbeau hails from the Canadian Soo while Gilling is from the Michigan Soo.
Of note, former Ontario Hockey League (Soo Greyhounds) and National Hockey League (New York Rangers, Florida Panthers, Philadelphia Flyers, New York Islanders, New Jersey Devils) goalie John Vanbiesbrouck is general manager of the Muskegon team.
PHOTO: Defenceman Andrew Barbeau. (Photo by Mark Krupiarz.)