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NHL Draft

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13 players with CCHA ties picked in 2011 NHL Entry Draft

Two CCHA players, Miami Ohio incoming freshmen Connor Murphy and Tyler Biggs, were selected in the first round of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft in St. Paul, Minn.

At least one CCHA player has been drafted in the first round for 11 consecutive years and NHL teams have accumulated 20 first-round selections overall from the conference during that time frame.

Connor Murphy of the U.S. NTDP was selected in the first round by the Phoenix Coyotes as the 20^th overall pick in the 2011 NHL Draft. Murphy lead all defenseman on the United States at the 2011 Under-18 World Championships, scoring three goals and adding an assist, while earning a +7 rating over the course of six games. Murphy was named the player of the game in the championship game of the tournament, scoring the game-winning goal in overtime, his second tally of the contest in a 4-3 win over Sweden. He was limited to just six goals and ten points this last season due to injury.

Also selected in the first round, the 22^nd overall pick of the draft was Tyler Biggs from the U.S. NTDP, who was selected by the Toronto Maple Leafs. The 6-foot-2, 210-pound forward will join Murphy as an incoming freshman at Miami in the upcoming season. Biggs captained the U.S. NTDP this past season, posting a 19-12-31 scoring chart. He won gold medals with the United States in 2010 and 2011 at the Under-18 World Championships. Biggs sat 22^nd in the final Central Scouting Rankings, second among all current and incoming collegiate skaters. Biggs was asked by TSN reporters about how it felt to be picked by the Toronto Maple Leafs. He responded by saying, "All of my family is from Toronto so I grew up watching them. It is still a big whirlwind right now and it’s a dream come true."

Early in the second round, the Anaheim Ducks selected future Michigan netminder John Gibson with the 39^th overall pick. Gibson, who played for the U.S. NTDP based out of Ann Arbor, Mich., backstopped Team USA to a gold medal at the U-18 World Championships in Germany. The Pittsburgh, Pa. native was honored as the best goaltender of the junior tournament, recording a .926 save percentage.

In the third round, Notre Dame sophomore forward T.J. Tynan was drafted by the Columbus Blue Jackets with the 66^th selection. Tynan was bypassed in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft in Los Angeles and following the non-selection, had a standout campaign in South Bend, Ind. He tallied 23 goals and 31 assists during his first year under Notre Dame coach Jeff Jackson, earning CCHA and HCA National Rookie-of-the-Year honors.

With the 72^nd overall pick in the NHL Draft, the New York Rangers selected future Fighting Irish forward Steven Fogarty. The Edina, Minn. native played for the Chicago Steel in the USHL during the 2010-11 season and collected two goals in six games. He’s slated to begin his collegiate career at Notre Dame in the fall of 2011.

Three picks later, another future CCHA player was drafted in center Blake Coleman — the New Jersey Devils selected Coleman with the 75^thoverall pick. The soon-to-be Miami RedHawk played in the USHL the past two seasons, splitting time between the Tri-City Storm and Indiana Ice. In 2010-11, he grabbed 34 goals and 58 assists to go along with a +52 rating. The Plano, Texas native will begin his freshman year in the fall in Oxford, Ohio.

Following the selection of Coleman, future Wolverine defenseman Brennan Serville (2011) was selected by the Winnipeg Jets with the 78^thoverall pick. Serville just completed his second season with the Stouffville Spirit of the Ontario Junior Hockey League where he tallied six goals and added 39 assists during the campaign.

Early in the the fourth round, the New York Islanders picked future Fighting Irish defenseman Robbie Russo with the 95^th overall selection. Russo played the past two seasons with the U.S. NTDP and registered three goals and 23 assists over 58 games.

In the fifth round, the fourth soon-to-be Miami RedHawk was drafted in forward Sean Kuraly (2011). With the 133^rd pick, the San Jose Sharks selected the Dublin, Ohio native. Kuraly, whose father is the RedHawks career scoring leader, played for the Indiana Ice in the USHL from 2009-11 — through 56 games, he recorded nine goals and 23 assists.

After the selection of Kuraly, two future Ohio State Buckeyes were selected in the sixth round. The Chicago Blackhawks picked defenseman Sam Jardine with the 169^th overall selection while the Nashville Predators claimed Western Michigan sophomore forward Chase Balisy with the 170^th pick.

Jardine played for the Camrose Kodiaks in the Alberta Junior Hockey League over the past two years. The Lacombe, Alberta native tallied six goals and 16 assists over 53 games to go along with 58 penalty minutes. He’s slated to begin his collegiate career in Columbus, Ohio in 2011.

Balisy just finished his freshman year in Kalamazoo, Mich. where he was named to the CCHA All-Rookie team after scoring 12 goals and 18 assists under Western Michigan first-year coach Jeff Blashill. Prior to being a Bronco, Balisy skated for the U.S. NTDP for two seasons with both the U-17 and U-18 teams. He registered 13 goals and 20 assists in 60 games played while also tallying a +17 rating.

Late in the sixth round, another future Buckeye was drafted in forward Max McCormick (2011). The Ottawa Senators selected McCormick with the 171^st selection of the 2011 NHL Draft. The 5-foot-11 forward played for the Sioux City Musketeers last season in the USHL where he tallied 21 goals and 21 assists along with 102 penalty minutes.

To conclude the CCHA players who were drafted was Ryan Dzingel of Wheaton, Ill. The Ottawa Senators drafted the future Buckeye with the 204^th pick in the seventh round.

Here’s a breakdown of CCHA draftees:

Miami (4)
Ohio State (3)
Notre Dame (3)
Michigan (2)
Western Michigan (1)
Michigan State (1)

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