BLOOMINGTON, Ill. — The Bloomington Thunder rounded out its 45-man roster on Tuesday, selecting 19 players in Phase II of the 2017 USHL Draft.

 

Similar to Phase I on Monday, the Thunder’s Phase II breakdown was concentrated with forwards, as 12 of the 19 picks fell into that classification. But unlike Phase I where Bloomington did not take a goaltender, Phase II saw the Thunder pick up a pair of netminders in the late rounds in addition to taking five defenseman.

 

Following a trade prior to the start of Phase II, the Thunder started the final phase of the USHL Draft with five picks in the first three rounds, including two picks in the first round. Bloomington used its first two selections on a pair of 1999 forwards, Tyler Madden (Parkland, FL) and Michal Stinil (Decin, CZE). With its second-round pick, the Thunder tabbed defenseman Cory Babichuk (Edmonton, AB) before drafting defenseman Davis Bunz (Middleton, WI) and forward Andrew Bellant (Smithfield, RI) in the third round.

 

Several trends emerged in Phase II, including one that carried over from Phase I. Bloomington drafted five more Minnesota natives after selecting four in Phase I. The Thunder were also heavy on North American Hockey League picks, drafting six different NAHL players in Phase II. A year ago, Bloomington picked up four NAHL players in Phase II. Four more college commitments were added to the roster in Phase II, giving Bloomington eight total between the two phases.

 

Below is a breakdown of the Thunder’s 19 selections and a complete list of their Phase II picks.

 

BY THE NUMBERS

BIRTH YEAR: 1997 (4), 1998 (7), 1999 (4), 2000 (3), 2001 (1)

COUNTRY: United States (11), Russia (3), Canada (2), Germany (1), Slovakia (1), Czech Republic (1)

LEAGUE: Bantam (1), BCHL (2), DEL2 (1), MHL (1), NAHL (6), Russia U17 (1), Slovakia U20 (1), USHS (5), USPHL Premier (1)

STATE/PROVINCE: Minnesota (5), Michigan (2), Wisconsin (2), Alberta (1), Florida (1), Nova Scotia (1), Rhode Island (1)

COLLEGE COMMITMENTS: 4 — Northeastern (Tyler Madden), Quinnipiac (Peter Diliberatore), RPI (Cory Babichuk), Wisconsin (Roman Ahcan)

 

COMPLETE PHASE II DRAFT RESULTS

Round 1 | 3rd Overall | Tyler Madden - F

Last team: Avon Old Farms School (USHS)

 

At a glance: The 5-foot-10, 145-pound forward posted 35 points in 22 games for Avon Old Farms School in 2016-17. A Northeastern University commit, Madden is the Thunder’s third draft choice in as many years to play for Avon Old Farms. Bloomington took defenseman Ben Mirageas in the 2015 USHL Phase I Draft and Drew Elser in the 2016 USHL Phase I Draft.

 

Round 1 | 6th Overall | Michal Stinil - LW

Last team: Springfield Jr. Pics (USHPL Premier)

 

At a glance: The 5-foot-11, 180-pound winger had a strong first campaign in the United States, posting 39 points (16 G, 23 A) in 37 games for Springfield after playing the first part of his career in the Czech Republic.

 

Round 2 | 22nd Overall | Cory Babichuk - LD

Last team: Surrey Eagles (BCHL)

 

At a glance: An RPI commit, Babichuk had 31 points (6 G, 25 A) in 47 games for Surrey this past season, his first in the BCHL. Babichuk measures in at 5-foot-10, 170 pounds.

 

Round 3 | 38th Overall | Davis Bunz - RD

Last team: Chilliwack Chiefs (BCHL)

 

At a glance: Another BCHL product, Bunz posted 27 points in 49 games for Chilliwack during the 2016-17 campaign. His older brother, Jake, played two seasons for the Chicago Steel from 2013-15 and currently plays for the University of Wisconsin. Garry Bunz, Davis’ father, also played his college hockey for Wisconsin.

 

Round 3 | 45th Overall | Andrew Bellant - F

Last team: Aston Rebels (NAHL)

 

At a glance: Bellant led Aston in scoring during the regular season and was nearly a point-per-game player for the Rebels with 55 points in 56 games. A 5-foot-9, 165-pound, right-handed shot, Bellant was the first 1997 birth year chosen by the Thunder.

 

Round 4 | 54th Overall | Maxim Andreev - LW

Last team: New Jersey Titans (NAHL)

 

At a glance: Another NAHL product, Andreev had 43 points in his first season with New Jersey in 2016-17 after posting 22 points in 29 games with the New York Bobcats of the EHL in 2015-16.

 

Round 5 | 70th Overall | Larry Jungwirth - RW

Last Team: Corpus Christi Ice Rays (NAHL)

 

At a glance: A Bloomington, Minnesota, native, Jungwirth has played junior hockey in each of the last three seasons, including 47 games with the Waterloo Blackhawks in 2014-15. The 5-foot-11, 170-pound forward split this past season between the Coulee Region Chill and Corpus Christi, both members of the NAHL.

 

Round 5 | 81st Overall | Brady Meyer - F

Last team: North Branch High School (USHS)

 

At a glance: The Thunder’s tallest Phase II pick at 6-foot-4, Meyer had a breakout sophomore season at North Branch in 2016-17, as he registered 54 points in just 24 games.

 

Round 6 | 88th Overall | Lucas McGregor - LW

Last team: Centennial High School (USHS)

 

At a glance: McGregor also had a strong sophomore season, posting 46 points, including 25 goals, for Centennial. The 5-foot-10, 147-pound winger is a native of Lino Lakes, Minnesota.

 

Round 6 | 91st Overall | Blake Evennou - RD

Last team: Lone Star Brahmas (NAHL)

 

At a glance: One of two right defenseman that the Thunder drafted in Phase II, Evennou had 16 points in 50 games as a member of Lone Star’s defensive corps during the 2016-17 season. In 2015-16, the Macomb, Michigan, native averaged more than a point per game for the Oakland Jr. Grizzlies.

 

Round 8 | 121st Overall | Roman Ahcan - F

Last team: Burnsville High School (USHS)

 

At a glance: A University of Wisconsin commit, Ahcan had a 51-point season for Burnsville in 2016-2017 and served as an assistant captain. Ahcan’s older brother, Jack, was the USHL Defenseman of the Year in 2015-16 and currently plays for St. Cloud State University.

 

Round 9 | 137th Overall | Peter Diliberatore - LD

Last team: Salisbury School (USHS)

 

At a glance: Diliberatore put up 18 points on six goals and 12 assists during the 2016-17 campaign for Salisbury. He is committed to Quinnipiac and stands at 5-foot-9, 133 pounds.

 

Round 10 | 153rd Overall | Ryan Burnett - C

Last team: Wichita Falls Wildcats (NAHL)

 

At a glance: Burnett has more than 100 games of junior hockey experience over the last two seasons. He posted 45 points in 56 games in his second year with Wichita Falls this season.

 

Round 11 | 169th Overall | Andrew Quetell - LD

Last team: Johnstown Tomahawks (NAHL)

 

At a glance: The final pick to come from the NAHL, Quetell recently finished his first season with Johnstown. A Green Bay, Wisconsin, native, Quetell had 12 points for the Tomahawks and played in all but one game.

 

Round 12 | 186th Overall | Mirko Pantkowski - G

Last team: EC Kassel Huskies (DEL2)

 

At a glance: The first goaltender that the Thunder selected, Pantkowski is a native of Kassel, Germany.

 

Round 13 | 203rd Overall | Tyler Braccini - F

Last team: Buffalo (MN) 14UAA (Bantam)

 

At a glance: The twin brother of Bloomington’s first-round Phase I selection, Braccini had 117 points in just 42 games for Buffalo this past season.

 

Round 14 | 217th Overall | Marko Sturma - G

Last team: HK SKP Poprad U20 (Slovakia U20)

 

At a glance: The second of the Thunder’s two goaltender picks, Sturma hails from Slovakia and stands at 5-foot-8, 172 pounds. He posted a 2.88 goals-against-average and a .908 save percentage in 36 games this past season.

 

Round 15 | 233rd Overall | Alexander Poluektov - LW

Last team: MHK Krylia Sovetov Moskva (MHL)

 

At a glance: One of three Russian draft picks in Phase II, Poluektov had 32 points in 35 games in the MHL in 2016-17. The winger measures 5-foot-10 and 194 pounds.

 

Round 16 | 249th Overall | Nikita Dolgopyatov - RW

Last team: CSKA Moskva U17 (Russia U17)

 

At a glance: Bloomington’s last pick of the Phase II Draft, Dolgopyatov was one of three 2000 birth year selections by the Thunder. The winger stands 5-foot-6 and 132 pounds.

 

With the USHL Draft now complete, the Thunder now focus on their Main Camp, which will take place from June 8-11 at the Leafs Ice Centre in West Dundee, Illinois. Following that tryout camp, Bloomington will have until July 10 to decide on a 30-man roster and 18-player affiliate list.

 

Season tickets for the 2017-18 season are on sale now starting as low as $9 per game. Call the Thunder at 309-434-2980 for more information. 

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