Thirteen Players With CCHA Ties Eye NHL Draft This Weekend
Big Rapids, Mich. - A total of 13 players with CCHA ties, including a pair from Ferris State University, hope to hear their name called at the 2021 NHL Draft this weekend. For the second consecutive year, the NHL Draft will be held virtually over two days this Friday & Saturday beginning tonight at 8 p.m. (ET).
Of the 13 players, six are defenseman, five are forwards and two are goaltenders. Minnesota State University (MSU) leads the way with four potential players to be selected this weekend, while incoming Michigan Technological University (MTU) freshman Kyle Kukkonen is the highest rated player, ranked 78th among North American Skaters by NHL's Central Scouting. Bemidji State University's Gustavs Ozolins, who is comitted to play for the Beavers for the 2022-23 season, is ranked #199 by Future Considerations Hockey (FCHockey). Ferris State University's Logan Stein earned a Gold Medal as a goaltender for Team USA at this past year's 2021 World Junior Hockey Championships in Edmonton, Alta.
National television coverage for the first round begins tonight/Friday at 8 p.m. (ET) on ESPN2 in the United States, Sportsnet in Canada, and in French on TVA Sports in Canada. International radio coverage begins at 7 p.m. (ET) on SiriusXM NHL Network, Channel 91. Coverage of rounds 2-7 begins Saturday morning at 11:00 a.m. (ET) on the NHL Network in the United States and on Sportsnet in Canada.
Of note, one-third of all NHL players played NCAA hockey. Seven of the first 16 selections in the 2019 NHL Draft were college players, the most ever. An impressive 14 NHL general managers played NCAA hockey as well.
The Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA), plays in the top level of U.S. college hockey as an NCAA Division I men's ice hockey conference. The CCHA has eight member institutions across three states including Bemidji State University, Bowling Green State University, Ferris State University, Lake Superior State University, Michigan Technological University, Minnesota State University, Mankato, Northern Michigan University and University of St. Thomas.
| CCHA ties to 2021 NHL Draft | ||
| Player | Position | Status |
| Bemidji State | ||
| Gustavs Ozolins | D | 2022-23 |
| Bowling Green State | ||
| Anton Malmstrom | D | Freshman |
| Eric Parker | D | 2021-22 |
| Ben Wozney | D | 2021-22 |
| Ferris State | ||
| Nico DeVita | D | 2021-22 |
| Logan Stein | G | Freshman |
| Lake Superior State | ||
| Peteris Purmalis | F | 2022-23 |
| Michigan Tech | ||
| Kyle Kukkonen | F | 2021-22 |
| Minnesota State | ||
| Yusaku Ando | F | 2022-23 |
| Christian Fitzgerald | F | 2021-22 |
| Luc Wilson | F | 2022-23 |
| Bennett Zmolek | D | 2022-23 |
| Northern Michigan | ||
| Rico DiMatteo | G | Freshman |
| St. Thomas | ||
| None | ||
Below is complete list of order for the first-round of the 2021 NHL Draft:
Round 1
1. Buffalo
2. Seattle
3. Anaheim
4. New Jersey
5. Columbus
6. Detroit
7. San Jose
8. Los Angeles
9. Vancouver
10. Ottawa
11. Forfeited pick
12. Chicago
13. Calgary
14. Philadelphia
15. Dallas
16. NY Rangers
17. St. Louis
18. Winnipeg
19. Nashville
20. Edmonton
21. Boston
22. Minnesota
23. Detroit (from WSH)
24. Florida
25. Columbus (from TOR)
26. Minnesota (from PIT)
27. Carolina
28. Colorado
29. New Jersey (from NYI)
30. Vegas
31. Montreal
32. Columbus (from TBL)
Pick 11 - The NHL directed the forfeiture of this pick in sanctions against the Arizona Coyotes announced Aug. 26, 2020.
For media inquires, contact:
Dominic Hennig
Director of Strategic Communications & Brand Advancement
Central Collegiate Hockey Association
Hennig@ccha.com
(586) 925-6095