Two Irish Players Picked in First Round of NHL Entry Draft
Farmington Hills, Mich. - Two CCHA players, Notre Dame sophomore forward Riley Sheahan and Fighting Irish incoming freshmen defenseman Jarred Tinordi, were selected in the first round of the 2010 NHL Entry Draft in Los Angeles.
At least one CCHA player has been drafted in the first round for 10 consecutive years and NHL teams have accumulated 18 first-round selections overall from the conference during that time frame.
Sheahan, a 6-2, 202-pound center, was taken by the Detroit Red Wings with the 21st overall selection. The St. Catharines, Ont., native produced six goals and 17 points in 37 games for the Fighting Irish in his freshman campaign.
Tinordi, whose father Mark played a dozen seasons in the NHL, heard his name called by the Montreal Canadiens with the 22nd overall pick. The 6-6, 205-pound rearguard, served as captain of the USA Hockey’s NTDP U-18 Team this past season, logging a 6-14-20 scoring line in 67 games while also leading the U.S. to a gold medal at the 2010 IIHF Under-18 World Championships.
Tinordi was one of a record 11 American- born players taken in the opening round.
The draft continues on Saturday with rounds two through seven.