2014 NAHL Draft, FYI
The North American Hockey League will hold its annual draft on Tuesday, June 3 at 1 p.m. Central time.
Fans and players will be able to following the draft on-line via NAHL.com.
Following — courtesy NAHL.com — is some key information pertaining to the upcoming draft.
What is the order of the NAHL Entry Draft? Eligible teams shall make selections in each round in reverse order of their finish in the 2013-14 NAHL regular-season standings.
2014 NAHL Entry Draft Order (minus any traded picks)
1. Odessa Jackalopes
2. Brookings Blizzard
3. Corpus Christi IceRays
4. Minnesota Magicians
5. Lone Star Brahmas
6. Minot Minotauros
7. Soo Eagles
8. Springfield Jr. Blues
9. Johnstown Tomahawks
10. Coulee Region Chill
11. Kenai River Brown Bears
12. Wenatchee Wild
13. Wichita Falls Wildcats
14. Bismarck Bobcats
15. Janesville Jets
16. Michigan Warriors
17. Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees
18. Keystone Ice Miners
19. Aberdeen Wings
20. Austin Bruins
21. Minnesota Wilderness
22. Topeka RoadRunners
23. Amarillo Bulls
24. Fairbanks Ice Dogs
Who is eligible for the NAHL Entry Draft? Amateur players less than 21 years of age on December 31, 2014 who are not listed on an NAHL team roster or are listed on an NAHL team roster but played less than (10) NAHL regular season and/or playoff games during the 2013-14 season and did not accept a tender from an NAHL team prior to the 2014 NAHL Entry Draft are eligible for selection in the draft.
Does a player register for the draft? No. If a player is eligible for the draft, each team will draft individual players largely based upon scouting throughout the season and/or a team’s needs.
How many players can each team select in the NAHL Entry Draft? The number of players each team is able to draft varies on that team’s current roster (protected list) minus the number 30. Each team’s roster is comprised of veteran players and signed tenders only. For example, if a team has 15 veterans rostered and 8 tenders (23 total), that team is allowed seven (7) draft picks.
Are tenders or drafted players eligible to try out for other NAHL teams? Unless agreed upon in writing by the two NAHL teams, tendered or drafted players are not eligible to try out for other NAHL teams.
Are drafted players eligible to try out for teams in other junior leagues? Yes, all tendered and drafted players are eligible to try out for any team in any league other than the NAHL in the U.S. and Canada.
Are the NAHL tender signings posted on NAHL.com? No, all tender signings are not posted on NAHL.com. NAHL teams may make their tender signings public, but are not required to do so.
What if a prospective player is not drafted, but is still interested in playing the NAHL? Players not drafted but who still want to play in the NAHL are encouraged to attend individual team’s open tryout camps.
PHOTO: Defenceman Michael Caruso was an 11th-round pick of the Soo Eagles from the Soo Thunderbirds of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League at the 2013 North American Hockey League Draft. Not only did Caruso become a top defender for the Eagles during the 2013-2014 season, he was selected to play in the NAHL Top Prospects Showcase Tournament. (Photo by Mark Krupiarz.)