18 AYHL players selected in 2016 NAHL Draft
Release Date : 06/09/2016
FRISCO, TX. – 18 current Atlantic Youth Hockey League (AYHL) players and 15 alumni were selected among the 253 players chosen in the 2016 North American Hockey League (NAHL) Draft conducted online on Tuesday.
Four Metropolitan Junior Hockey League alumni were also selected.
13 of the 24 NAHL teams selected a current AYHL player or alumnus. New Jersey Colonials alumnus David Tomeo (West Caldwell, NJ) was the first overall selection, being the first-ever draft choice of the Northeast Generals.
The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights led the way, drafting nine AYHL players or alumni. The New Jersey Titans selected five, the Johnstown Tomahakws selected three, the Aberdeen Wings, the Springfield Jr. Blues, the Aston Rebels, and the Generals selected two, while the Coulee Region Chill, the Kenai River Brown Bears, the Wichita Falls Wildcats, the Amarillo Bulls, the Brookings Blizzard, and the Lone Star Brahmas each selected one.
Among the 18 current AYHL players chosen, the North Jersey Avalanche had six players selected directly from their program. Virtua Hockey, formerly Team Comcast, had four. The New Jersey Junior Titans and the Philadelphia Junior Flyers each had three players chosen from their programs and the Long Island Gulls and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights each had one.
Current player selections:
Carson Beckett (Haddonfield, N.J.)
Years in AYHL: 2008-present
Organizations: Virtua Hockey/Team Comcast
Draft Information: Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights (Round 11/Pick 5/245th overall)
Notable Facts: Beckett has registered double-digit points in seven of eight AYHL seasons…Was featured in an article the Haddonfield-Haddon Township Patch regarding a community service project with Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Burlington, Camden and Gloucester counties, introducing youth involved with the Big Brothers and Big Sisters program, to the game of hockey.
Jonathan Bendorf (Yardville, NJ/RPI)
Years in AYHL: 2007-present
Organizations: Mercer Chiefs (2007-2013), Virtua Hockey/Team Comcast (2014-16)
Draft Information: Wichita Falls Wildcats (Round 1/Pick 23/23rd overall)
Notable Facts: Also a star forward for the Hun School, Bendorf recorded his 100th high school point in one-and-a-half seasons…was a 2015 United States Hockey League Phase I selection of the Madison Capitols.
Noah Bradley (Lititz, Pa.)
Years in AYHL: 2007-13, 2014-present
Organizations: Philadelphia Little Flyers (2008-09, 2012-13), Valley Forge Minutemen (2011-12), Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Junior Knights (2014-15), Philadelphia Junior Flyers (2007-08, 2009-11, 2015-16)
Draft Information: Northeast Generals (Round 6/Pick 1/121st overall)
Notable Facts: Took part in an outdoor game as a youth, with the Lancaster Youth Hockey League…served as captain of Manheim Township’s varsity high school program for the 2015-16.
Brandon Bussi (Sound Beach, N.Y.)
Years in AYHL: 2007-14, 2015-16
Organizations: Suffolk PAL Hockey (2007-10), Long Island Royals (2010-14), Long Island Gulls (2015-16)
Draft Information: New Jersey Titans (Round 10/Pick 6/232nd overall)
Notable Facts: Sound Beach, New York native finished fourth in the AYHL in save percentage (.927). Bussi was a participant at the USA Hockey Select-16 and 17 festivals.
Hunter Canestra (Gilbertsville, Pa.)
Years in AYHL: 2008-present
Organizations: Philadelphia Little Flyers (2009-10), New Jersey Colonials (2010-11), Valley Forge Minutemen (2011-13), Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Junior Knights (2014-15), Philadelphia Junior Flyers (2008-09, 2013-14, 2015-16)
Draft Information: Brookings Blizzard (Round 3/Pick 20/68th overall)
Notable Facts: Finished as the sixth-leading scorer in the Tier 1 Elite Hockey League and 20th in the AYHL…has scored at least 29 points a season during his eight years in the AYHL…played in the 2015 OHL Cup, leading to an 11th round selection by the Niagara IceDogs.
Paul Cimilluca (Colonia, N.J.)
Years in AYHL: 2006-present
Organizations: New Jersey Rockets (2006-12), North Jersey Avalanche (2012-16)
Draft Information: Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights (Round 2/Pick 16/40th overall)
Notable Facts: Was named the Home Tribune’s Greater Middlesex Conference Co-Ice Hockey Player of the Year in 2015…a steady presence on the blue line for one of the country’s busiest teams, Cimilluca sees top-pair ice time and has averaged less than one-half penalty-per-game over his AYHL.
Tim Clifton (Farmingdale, N.J.)
Years in AYHL: 2011-14, 2015-present
Organizations: New Jersey Rockets (2011-12), New Jersey Devils Youth (2012-14), North Jersey Avalanche (2015-16)
Draft Information: Johnstown Tomahawks (Round 12/Pick 13/277th overall)
Notable Facts: Clifton was the 10th, and final, player from the Avalanche organization drafted into the USHL. Clifton scored the game-winning, overtime, goal that gave the Avalanche a 2-1 victory over Selects Academy in the 18U national quarterfinals.
Nicholas Fea (Oak Ridge, N.J.)
Years in AYHL: 2009-11, 2013-14, 2015-present
Organizations: New Jersey Rockets (2009-11), New Jersey Colonials (2013-14), North Jersey Avalanche (2015-16)
Draft Information: Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights (Round 2/Pick 5/29th overall)
Notable Fact: Played eight junior games in 2015, scoring two goals with two assists, without committing a penalty.
Shane Haviland (Sea Girt, N.J.)
Years in AYHL: 2007-09, 2010-11, 2012-present
Organizations: New Jersey Junior Titans
Draft Information: New Jersey Titans (Round 13/Pick 9/239th overall)
Notable Fact: Set a career-high with 17 assists in the 2015-16 season.
Jordin Holmes (Willow Grove, Pa.)
Years in AYHL: 2011-present
Organizations: Virtua Hockey/Team Comcast
Draft Information: Kenai River Brown Bears (Round 2/Pick 3/27th overall)
Notable Fact: Was part of the Upper Moreland varsity hockey team that won its first Flyers Cup game
Matthew Kidney (Middletown, N.J.)
Years in AYHL: 2010-present
Organizations: New Jersey Junior Titans (2010-14), North Jersey Avalanche (2015-16)
Draft Information: Wilkes-Bare/Scranton Knights (Round 1/Pick 5/5th overall)
Notable Facts: Led the Avalanche in scoring in both the AYHL and the T1EHL…the All-Shore First Team center at St. John Vianney was the highest AYHL player selected in any of the 2016 drafts (OHL, USHL, NAHL)…played four junior games in 2013-14 with the New Jersey Junior Titans, scoring three goals with one assist…was a North American Prospects Hockey League Second All-Star in 2014.
Elijah Latimer (Clifford Township, Pa.)
Years in AYHL: 2010-present
Organizations: Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Junior Knights
Draft Information: Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights (Round 6/Pick 5/125th overall)
Notable Facts: Defenseman finished sixth in points on his team, the only blueliner to reach double-digits…dressed for three games with the Knights NAHL team.
Jared Lombardi (Camp Hill, Pa.)
Years in AYHL: 2008-09, 2014-present
Organizations: Hershey Junior Bears (2008-09), Wilkes-Barre-Scranton Junior Knights (2014-15), Philadelphia Junior Flyers (2015-16)
Draft Information: Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights (Round 12/Pick 5/269th overall)
Notable Fact: Has made the playoffs with both Cumberland High School and his AYHL team in three consecutive seasons.
Conor Matsinger (New Britain, Pa.)
Years in AYHL: 2007-13, 2014-present
Organizations: Valley Forge Minutemen (2007-08), Philadelphia Little Flyers (2008-09), New Jersey Colonials (2009-11), Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Junior Knights (2014-15), Virtua Hockey/Team Comcast (2011-13, 2015-16)
Draft Information: Springfield Jr. Blues (Round 3/Pick 9/57th overall)
Notable Fact: Named All-Intelligencer Ice Hockey Player of the Year on April 16.
Zach Noble (Toms River, N.J.)
Years in AYHL: 2009-10, 2014-present
Organizations: New Jersey Rockets (2009-10), New Jersey Junior Titans (2014-16)
Draft Information: Aberdeen Wings (Round 8/Pick 6/174th overall)
Notable Facts: Named a 2016 Second Team All-Shore selection by the Asbury Park Press after logging 187 points in four seasons for Toms River East High School. Noble was also selected as a 2015-16 NAPHL All-Star.
Joshua Sarlo (Lynbrook, N.Y.)
Years in AYHL/MJHL: 2005-13, 2014-present
Organizations: Long Island Gulls (2005-2009), Mid-Fairfield Youth Hockey (2009-2012), New Jersey Rockets (2012-13), North Jersey Avalanche (2014-16)
Draft Information: Springfield Jr. Blues (Round 3/Pick 12/60th overall)
Notable Facts: One year away from the AMHL was spent playing juniors with the Connecticut Oilers…only player on the list to appear in Tier I Youth Nationals and Tier III Junior Nationals…medaled at youth nationals in back-to-back seasons.
Jordan Seyfert (Annville, Pa/Merrimack)
Years in AYHL: 2008-present
Organizations: Philadelphia Junior Flyers (2008-14), Connecticut Wolfpack (2014-15), North Jersey Avalanche (2015-16)
Draft Information: Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights (Round 13/Pick 5/293rd overall)
Notable Fact: Merrimack-committed forward has averaged 1.57 points-per-game over his eight-year AYHL career.
Thomas Walker (Spotswood, N.J.)
Years in AYHL: 2008-09, 2010-11, 2012-present
Organizations: New Jersey Junior Titans
Draft Information: New Jersey Titans (Round 11/Pick 16/256th overall)
Notable Facts: Had the best GAA (1.60) in the AYHL…named a Second Team All-Star by the NAPHL.
Alumni Selections:
Carter Dwyer (Exton, Pa.)
Years in AYHL: 2007-14
Organizations: Philadelphia Junior Flyers
Draft Information: Aston Rebels (Round 8/Pick 17/209th overall)
Cole Edgerton (Morris Plains, N.J.)
Years in AYHL: 2009-12, 2014-15
Organizations: New Jersey Colonials (2009-12), Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Junior Knights (2014-15)
Draft Information: Johnstown Tomahawks (Round 15/Pick 13/349th overall)
Drew Hotte (Lower Gwynedd, Pa.)
Years in AYHL: 2009-12
Organizations: Philadelphia Little Flyers
Draft Information: Johnstown Tomahawks (Round 1/Pick 13/13th overall)
Jordan Kaplan (Bridgewater, N.J.)
Years in MJHL: 2006-14
Organizations: New Jersey Rockets
Draft Information: New Jersey Titans (Round 9/Pick 16/208th overall)
Markuss Komuls (Riga, Latvia)
Years in MJHL: 2014-15
Organizations: Vermont Lumberjacks
Draft Information: Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights (Round 4/Pick 13/85th overall)
Joey Kubachka (Downingtown, Pa/Cornell)
Years in AYHL: 2010-15
Organizations: Philadelphia Little Flyers (2010-13), Philadelphia Junior Flyers (2013-15)
Draft Information: Coulee Region Chill (Round 10/Pick 14/230th overall)
Richie McCartney (Hershey, Pa)
Years in AYHL/MJHL: 2009-10, 2011-15)
Organizations: Hershey Junior Bears (2009-10, 2011-12), Central Penn Panthers (2012-14), New Jersey Junior Titans (2014-15)
Draft Information: Northeast Generals (Round 4/Pick 1/73rd overall)
Aaron Maguyon (Galloway, N.J.)
Years in AYHL: 2008-14
Organizations: Virtua Hockey/Team Comcast
Draft Information: Aston Rebels (Round 8/Pick 17/185th overall)
Nicholas Minerva (Monroe, N.J.)
Years in AYHL: 2007-12
Organizations: New Jersey Junior Titans (2007-08, 2009-12), Valley Forge Minutemen (2008-09)
Draft Information: Aberdeen Wings (Round 1/Pick 6/6th overall)
Nolan Moyle (Briarcliff Manor, NY/Michigan State)
Years in AYHL: 2010-13, 2014-15
Organizations: Mid-Fairfield Youth Hockey (2010-12), New Jersey Colonials (2012-13), North Jersey Avalanche (2014-15)
Draft Information: Amarillo Bulls (Round 2/Pick 13/37th overall)
Austin O’Rourke (White, Ga.)
Years in MJHL: 2014-15
Organizations: Valley Junior Warriors
Draft Information: Lone Star Brahmas (Round 3/Pick 18/66th overall)
Donovan Ott (Lebanon, Pa/Cornell)
Years in AYHL: 2009-12
Organizations: Hershey Junior Bears (2008-10), Philadelphia Junior Flyers (2010-12)
Draft Information: Johnstown Tomahawks (Round 2/Pick 4/28th overall)
David Tomeo (West Caldwell, N.J.)
Years in AYHL: 2008-13
Organizations: New Jersey Colonials
Draft Information: Northeast Generals (Round 1/Pick 1/1st overall)
Griffin Uftring (Richmond, Va.)
Years in AYHL: 2012-13
Organizations: Washington Little Capitals
Draft Information: Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights (Round 10/Pick 13/229th overall)
Evan Wisocky (Hoboken, NJ/UCONN)
Years in AYHL: 2006-15
Organizations: North Jersey Avalanche (2006-10, 2014-15), New Jersey Colonials (2010-12), Long Island Gulls (2012-14)
Draft Information: New Jersey Titans (Round 14/Pick 16/328rd overall)
