16 players from inaugural Elite Prospects Pre-Draft Invitational taken in USHL/OHL drafts

It's been a busy last few weeks in junior hockey. Both the USHL and OHL drafts welcomed the best '06-birth year players to their respective leagues, a few participants in the inaugural Elite Prospects Pre-Draft Invitational among them.

All told, 16 of the participants in the Elite Prospects Pre-Draft Invitational heard their names called at the USHL and OHL drafts -- 16 in the USHL, three among them also selected in the OHL Draft.

That list is highlighted at the top by Colin Frank (27th overall in the second round to the Dubuque Fighting Saints), a power forward from the Anaheim Jr. Ducks, and Grant Young (20th overall in the second round to the Youngstown Phantoms), a crafty puckhandler from the Windy City Storm.

The OHL class, meanwhile, is comprised of Liam Storch (204th overall in the 11th round to the Saginaw Spirit), Evan Sofikitis (262nd overall in the 13th round to the Windsor Spitfires), and Connor Bewick (244th overall in the 13th round to the Saginaw Spirit). All three of them also found a potential home in the USHL Draft, too.

Of our standout performers from the Invitational, eight were selected in the USHL Draft. Jonah Jasser, a standout forward from Dallas Stars Elite, was not selected in the OHL or USHL drafts, but was taken last year by the Red Deer Rebels in the second round of the WHL US Prospects Draft.

The full list of players includes Frank, Young, Storch, Sofikitis, Bewick, Jasser, Grant Dillard (77th overall in the sixth round to the Sioux Falls Stampede), Jake Merens (39th overall in the third round to the Fargo Force), Paul Spino (73rd overall in the fifth round to the Sioux City Musketeers), Jason Davenport (59th overall in the fourth round to the Sioux Falls Stampede), Ryan Lukko (67th overall in the fifth round to the Madison Capitols), Tommy Prendergast (63rd overall in the fifth round to the Green Bay Gamblers), Patrick Fortune (135th overall in the ninth round to the Dubuque Fighting Saints), Tommy Holtby (233rd overall in the 16th round to the Fargo Force) Easton Jacobs (237th overall in the 16th round to the Youngstown Phantoms), Nelson Vickar (310th overall in the 21st round to the Madison Capitols).

Congratulations to all of our Elite Prospects Pre-Draft Invitational participants who got drafted this year -- every one of them is an exceptional talent with a bright future in the sport. We look forward to hosting the second Elite Prospects Invitational next year, highlighting some of the best '07-birth years in the country.