CENTRAL COLLEGIATE HOCKEY ASSOCIATION 23995 Freeway Park Drive, Suite 201 Farmington Hills, MI 48335 Phone: (248) 888-0600 • Fax: (248) 888-0664
[email protected] • www.ccha.com FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Fred Pletsch Sunday, June 23, 2007 (248) 888-0600 24 CCHA PLAYERS & RECRUITS TAKEN IN THE 2007 NHL ENTRY DRAFT FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich. – The Central Collegiate Hockey Association placed 24 players from 10 different schools in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft in Columbus, Ohio, including two fi rst-round draft picks. It marks the seventh straight season that at least a pair of players with CCHA ties have been taken in the fi rst round and gives the conference 16 fi rst-round selections during that period. Notre Dame incoming defenseman Ian Cole of USA Hockey’s NTDP Under-18 Team in Ann Arbor, Mich., became the fi rst player with CCHA ties taken when St. Louis selected him 18th overall. Incoming Michigan freshman forward Max Pacioretty, the USHL Rookie of the Year with Sioux City, went four picks later, 22nd overall, to Montreal. Recruits for the same two teams were nabbed in the second round with Michigan-bound forward Aaron Palushaj taken by St. Louis and Notre Dame defenseman-to-be Ted Ruth becoming property of Washington. Ryan Thang, a 2006 CCHA All-Rookie Team performer for Notre Dame, was selected in the third round, 81st overall, by Nashville with incoming Bowling Green goalie Josh Unice taken by Chicago with the 89th pick and Buffalo selecting forward Corey Tropp, who is headed to national champion Michigan State, with the 89th pick and Buffalo getting Michigan recruit Louie Caporusso one slot later.