Everett Silvertips goaltender Carter Hart was not drafted in the first round of the NHL Draft Friday in Buffalo, N.Y., but the netminder likely won’t be on the board for long today when the second round begins at 7 a.m. Pacific on NHL Network.
No goaltenders were taken in the first round Friday. Hart, ranked No. 2 among North American goalies, was considered a possible first-round selection, but projected as a second-round selection according to many prognosticators. Rounds two through seven will be held today at the First Niagara Center in Buffalo.
The first round was historic nonetheless as a dozen Americans were taken. That broke the record of 11 first-rounders from the United States in 2010.
As expected, Auston Matthews went first overall to the Toronto Maple Leafs. The former Silvertips bantam selection played his draft year with Zurich in the Swiss League. The Scottsdale, Arizona, native became just the seventh American taken No. 1 overall and the first since Patrick Kane in 2007.
Fellow Silvertips bantam pick Tyson Jost, Everett’s first-round pick in 2013, went No. 10 overall to the Colorado Avalanche. Jost, who played with the BCHL’s Penticton Vees, is committed to the University of North Dakota for the upcoming year. Jost was just the second BCHL player ever taken in the top 10.
Three years after he went undrafted in the Western Hockey League bantam draft, Jake Bean was the first WHL player taken as the Calgary Hitmen defenseman went No. 13 overall to the Carolina Hurricanes. The 6-foot-1, 170-pound blueliner is a Calgary native and the son of Calgary Flames COO John Bean.
The BCHL did well and finished with three picks in the first round. Dante Fabbro, whose WHL rights are held by the Seattle Thunderbirds, soon joined his Penticton teammate Jost as he went to Nashville at No. 17. Dennis Cholowski of the Chilliwack Chiefs became the third BCHL first-rounder when he was picked No. 20 overall by the Detroit Red Wings.
Brett Howden of the Moose Jaw Warriors went No. 27 overall to the Tampa Bay Lightning and was just the second WHL player selected.
Lucas Johansen of Kelowna followed at No. 28 when he was selected by the Washington Capitals.
Regina Pats forward Sam Steel, like Hart a native of Sherwood Park, Alberta, was the final selection of the opening round as he went No. 30 to Anaheim as the WHL finished with four total first-round selections.
For the latest Silvertips news follow Jesse Geleynse on Twitter @jessegeleynse.
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