Springfield, Illinois – The 2019 North American Hockey League (NAHL) Draft is scheduled for tomorrow afternoon at 1:00 PM (Central Time). Each team will have the opportunity to draft players who are not currently signed, or protected, by another NAHL team.
During the 2018 NAHL Draft the Jr. Blues selected four players: Jonathan Panisa, Joey Abate, Jacob Buch, and Reed Stark. Two of those players, Panisa and Stark, saw time here in Springfield while Abate (USHL) and Buch (OJHL/PJCHL) did not. This year’s draft class will be vital to the success of the upcoming season due to the large number of players from last year’s team who are heading off to college.
In the last five drafts the Jr. Blues have drafted a total of 33 players, with just over half of them playing in Springfield in their junior careers. Only one season in recent memory have we drafted double digit players in the draft (2016) and that year eight out of the 12 players drafted spent time wearing the Jr. Blues jersey.
Being drafted in the NAHL Draft does not guarantee a spot on the roster, but simply an opportunity for that player to shine at our main camp. You can catch each pick live on HockeyTV, and make sure to follow our social media pages for updates on our selections.
