Stampede Select Chad Duchense In USHL Draft

SIOUX FALLS, SD -- With their first pick in the USHL Entry Draft -- the 14^th overall -- the Sioux Falls Stampede selected defenseman Chad Duchense from Inverary, Ontario.

The 5-foot-11, 175-pound defender spent this past season playing with the Kingston Voyageurs of the Ontario Junior Hockey League (OJHL). He was second leading defenseman on the team with 24 points (7g, 17a) in 51 games while leading the Voyageurs to the playoffs. He has already committed to play Division I hockey at Northeastern.

With their second pick (29^th overall), Sioux Falls selected forward Michael Buonincontri of Montreal, Quebec. The 6-foot-1, 200-pound left winger spent this past season playing with Smiths Falls of the Canadian Hockey League (CHL). In 27 games, Buonincontri recorded 36 points (18g, 18a) in 27 games. He posted six power play goals and is already committed to play for former Stampede head coach Bob Motzko at St. Cloud State University.

Sioux Falls did not have a selection in the third round. In the fourth round (59^th overall) the Herd selected goaltender Shane Starrett from Bellingham, MA. The 6-foot, 180-pound netminder went 25-15-5 with Selects Academy this past season, posting a 1.96 GAA and a .914 save percentage.

In the fifth round (74^th overall), the Herd selected defenseman Dan Fritz from Harwood, MD. The 6-foot-1, 188-pound, left-handed shot skated with Canterbury High School in Connecticut where he tallied 26 points (3g, 23a) in 27 games.  He was one of just two defensemen to be selected as a Western New England Hockey All-Star.

In the sixth round, (80^th overall), the Herd chose forward Keith Burchett from the Chicago Mission Major Midget team. The Hinsdale, IL native recorded 39 points (17g, 22a) in 31 games with the Mission during the 2012-13 season. The 6-foot, 190-pound winger tallied four goals on the power play and helped lead the Mission to a first place finish.

With their seventh round selection (104^th overall), the Herd took defenseman Paul Stoykewych of Winnipeg, Manitoba. He skated this past season with the Winnipeg South Blues, recording 28 points (4g, 24a) in 52 games. The 6-foot-2, 198-pound left-handed shot recorded 72 penalty minutes in those 52 games.  He played with Canada Jr. A West in the World Junior A Challenge in November, posting two assists in four games while helping lead his team to a Silver Medal. His older brother, Peter, skated with the Des Moines Buccaneers in 2010-11 before moving on to Colorado College and is a 2010 draft pick of the Winnipeg Jets.

In round eight (119^th overall), Sioux Falls selected center Bryan Sienerth. The Erie, PA native finished second on the team in scoring with the Pittsburgh Penguins Elite team in the Tier I Elite Hockey League. In 35 games the 5-foot-10, 165-pound forward posted 41 points (20g, 21a). He tallied eight game winning goals and eight on the power play while leading the Penguins to a second place finish in the Mid-Am Division.

With the their ninth selection (134^th overall), the Stampede went with a familiar hockey name in Louis Nanne. He is the grandson of former Minnesota North Star Lou Nanne. Louis recorded 41 points (19g, 22a) in 45 games with the Penticton last year. In 2011-12, he tallied 20 points (12g, 8a) in 24 games with Edina High School. The 5-foot-10, 165-pound left winger was a seventh round draft pick of the Minnesota Wild last June and has already committed to play college hockey at the University of Minnesota.

With their 10^th pick in the draft, Sioux Falls took forward Parker Tuomie of Germany. The 5-foot-10, 170-pound left winger skated on Germany’s U18 World Junior Championship team and for Jungadler Mannheim U18 as well, recording 72 points (26g, 46a) in 36 games.

In the 11^th round, the Herd took another German native, this time defenseman Janik Moser. The 6-foot, 181-pound left handed shot spent this past season playing for EHC Neuwied where he tallied five points (1g, 4a) in 20 games. He is considered to be one of the top prospects coming out of Germany.

Sioux Falls stayed on the defensive side of things in Round 12 (179^th overall), taking Alexandre Coulombe Granby, Quebec. The left defenseman has good size at 6-foot-4, 189-pounds and recorded three points (1g, 2a) in 13 games with Stanstead High School.

In the 13^th round (194^th overall), the Herd took forward Connor O’Connor of Calgary, Alberta. The 5-foot-11, 165-pound winger recorded 23 points (7g, 16a) in 34 games for the Calgary Royals Midget AAA team. He helped lead the Royals into the playoffs where he posted four points (1g, 3a) in five games.

With their 14^th pick (209^th overall), Sioux Falls grabbed goaltender Aaron Johnson from the Bismarck Bobcats (NAHL). The 5-foot-9, 165-pound Bismarck native went 24-7-6 with a 1.88 GAA and a .931 save percentage for the Bobcats while leading them to a second place finish in the Central Division and into the Robertson Cup Finals that begin this weekend.

In round 15 (224^th overall), Sioux Falls selected forward Jake O’Borsky of Red Wing, MN. He has good size at 6-foot-2, 198-pounds and posted 40 points (13g, 27a) in 50 games with the Minot Minotauros (NAHL).

In the 16^th round (239^th overall), the Herd chose defenseman Adam Roeder from Ballwin, MO. He spent this past season skating with the St. Louis Blues Minor Midget where he collected 42 points (12g, 30a) in 40 games. A 1996 birth date, Roeder stands at 5-foot-11, 165-pounds.

In round 17, Sioux Falls went with defenseman Gordi Myer from the Cleveland Barons Major Midget team. He recorded 24 points (8g, 16a) in 36 games this season with the Barons.

Courtesy:  Sioux Falls Stampede