Lone Star Brahmas Busy At 2014 NAHL Entry Draft

The Lone Star Brahmas, Head Coach Dan Wildfong and Assistant Coach Jeff Potter participated in their first NAHL Entry Draft since the franchise was relocated to the NyTex Sports Centre in North Richland Hills, TX.

The Brahmas held a total of 12 picks going into the draft, but made only nine selections as three spots were used for mid-season trades in 2012/13. Picks that were involved in the trades were the first round to Odessa (#5 overall), second round to Coulee Region (#29 overall) and fourth round to Fairbanks (#77 overall). Lone Star made their first pick with the #53 overall pick in round three. In all they selected five forwards and four defensemen. A round by round rundown of the selections follows.

Caleb Thompson #53 – 3^RD Round

Defenseman Caleb Thompson spent last season with the Chilliwack Chiefs of the British Columbia Hockey League. Thompson who is a native of Oklahoma City will be playing much closer to home next season. Thompson will add some size to the blueline standing 6’ 0” and weighing in at 185 pounds. He may be familiar to local hockey fans as he played two seasons with the Dallas Stars U18 team. Caleb was born 04/07/1994 and is a right shot.

Quinn Carroll #85 – 4^th Round

The Brahmas moved up front for the round four selection taking Quinn Carroll, from Amhurst, NH. Carroll is a 20 year old born 03/02/94 who is 5’ 9” and 173 pounds. Quinn plays center and is a left shot who received Honorable Mention as Player of the Week in the Central Canada Hockey League playing for the Kemptville 73’s.

Joe Nolan #100 – 5^th Round

Nolan is a big defenseman who impressed the coaches at the Pre-Draft Camp earlier this month. He is 6’ 4” and 216 pounds who is only 17 having been born 06/10/1997, so may well show further growth prior to the opening of training camp. Nolan sees the ice well and moves the puck with confidence. He is a right shot and played for Team Illinois U16 last season.

Nick Ford #121 – 6^th Round

Ford is the second of three players who participated in the Pre-Draft Camp to earn a draft pick with his strong play. He is a right shot forward from Chicago, IL. The 6’ 0” 185 pounder was born 11/02/1995. Ford called the Central Canada Hockey League home last season competing with the Cumberland Grads.

Chad Malinowski #141 – 7^th Round

Malinowski is another defenseman with some size. Standing 6’ 2” and 196 pounds he was born 08/03/1995. The native of Cortland Manor, NY spent the last two seasons playing with Milton Academy and wore the “C” in 2013/14. He is a right shot.

Peter Kessel #158 – 8^th Round

Kessel is a 6’ 2” 175 pound forward from Bloomfield Hills, MI with a birth date of 01/19/96. He has spent the past two seasons with the well respected Honey Baked organization. Kessel scored a goal in the Tier 1 U16 Championship game.

Jake McLaughlin #170 – 9^th Round

Jake is the third and final player selected from the Brahmas Pre-Draft Camp. At 5’ 10” and 146 pound, McLaughlin is not the largest guy on the ice, but he possesses speed and the ability to move the puck out of the zone. Jake is a smart player who makes good decisions with the puck. The 18 year old Hinsdale, IL native was born 03/26/1996. McLaughlin will see at least one familiar face at the main camp having skated with Team Illinois with Joe Nolan.

Eric Carreras #182 – 10^th Round

Carreras is a product of the Philadelphia Jr Flyers organization. Carreras is a small nimble forward from West Chester, PA who has a knack for finding the back of the net. The 5’ 7” and 141 pounder is a left shot who was born 08/09/1995.

Zach Evancho #193 – 11^th Round

For their final selection of the draft, the Brahmas reached out to the USHL and selected Evancho from the Youngstown Phantoms. Evancho is a left handed shooting forward who was born 06/02/1995. The 5’ 8” and 150 pound native of Derby, NY has spent the past two and one half seasons with the Phantoms.

The Brahmas will next hold an Open Tryout Camp June 27– 29 on their home ice at the NyTex Sports Centre. Main Camp, which is by invitation only, will be held July 24 – 27 at the Taylor Sportsplex in Detroit, MI.