*** Information provided by the Sioux Falls Stampede

Sioux Falls SD—Former Stampede forward Kieffer Bellows became the fifth player in franchise history to be taken in the first round of the NHL Draft after he was selected 19th overall by the New York Islanders in Buffalo, NY Friday evening.

He joins Thomas Vanek (5th overall), Jamie Oleksiak (14th overall), T.J. Oshie (24th overall) and Joe Finley (25th overall) as other Stampede players selected in the first round.  Overall he becomes the 36th former Stampede player to be drafted by an NHL club.

Bellows was USHL Rookie of the Year during the 2014-15 season with the Stampede and played a key role in the Herd capturing their second ever Clark Cup title. That season he tallied 52 points (33g, 19a) in 58 games to finish second on the Stampede in team scoring. His 33 goals were the most scored by a 16-year-old in the USHL Tier 1 era (2002-present).  Bellows caught fire the second half of the season, scoring 22 of his 33 goals after the holiday break. He recorded six multi-goal games, including three hat tricks.

He went on to post 11 points (9g, 2a) and a plus-9 rating in 12 playoff games. Four of his nine goals were game-winners, tying the USHL Tier 1 era record for most game-winners in a single playoff era.

The native of Edina, Minnesota was selected by the Stampede in the first round (13th overall) of Phase One in the 2014 USHL Draft.  He spent last season playing with the U.S. National Development Program U-18 squad, recording 50 goals and 31 assists in just 62 games. He will attend Boston University starting this fall.

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