USHL Futures Draft

Plenty of Wisconsinites were selected tonight in the USHL Futures Draft. The first was defenseman Eric "Moose" Johnson from the Madison Capitols who was selected in the second round, 19th overall by the Cedar Rapids Roughriders. Hockey in Wisconsin was seeing & hearing rumblings early in 2006 of his exceptional play.

Current Elite League leading scorer Nate Condon was selected by the new Fargo franchise with the first pick in the fifth round, 53rd overall. Tyler Barnes, who is rumored to have given a verbal commitment to UW, was selected by the Waterloo Blackhawks 58th overall. UW recruit Jake Gardiner was also selected in the fifth round, 61st overall by the Green Bay Gamblers. Fellow UW recruit Derek Stepan was selected in the 6th round, 68th overall by the Lincoln Stars.

Waukesha Catholic Memorial's Jeff Costello was selected by the Cedar Rapids Rough Riders 83rd overall, in the 7th round. Hockey in Wisconsin reported on how impressed we were with him on the first weekend of the Elite League this season. Fellow Team Wisconsin member defenseman Tim Smith from Superior was selected by Sioux Falls 89th overall in the 8th round. Finally, former Madison Edgewood and Russell Stover Midget Minor forward Jordan George, who is currently playing with Topeka in the NAHL, was selected 92nd by Fargo in the 8th round.

As with last year, there were five Wisconsin players taken in the USHL Futures Draft.