Jr. Blues Select 13 in 2022 NAHL Entry Draft

Jun 16, 2022

Springfield, Illinois – The Springfield Jr. Blues, proud members of the North American Hockey League (NAHL), are pleased to present our 2022 NAHL Draft Class! 

Join us in welcoming Tomas Tomek, Adrian Franco, Drew Berres, Tanner Brouwer, Trey Jefferis, Tyler Dale, Paul Desaro, Jake Peterson, Connor Stoffel, Michael Gallagher, Tomasz Szczerbac, Johnny Thrasher, and Jeremiah Konkel!

The 2022 NAHL Entry Draft totalled 214 picks and the Jr. Blues had 13 of those picks – the second consecutive summer that we’ve had more than 10 picks in the draft. Five of our 15 picks from the 2021 draft were on our playoff roster so the bar has been set!

“Draft day is such an exciting time for us, the players, and the league,” said Head Coach Tyler Rennette. “The players get to hear their name called and see their hard work be recognized. But the work is only just getting started, and we are eager to see what these young men are able to do at camp!”

Draft Class by the Numbers:

  • Nine forwards and four defenseman
  • 11 Americans, one Canadian, and one Czech
  • Three 2002’s, five 2003’s, three 2004’s, and two 2005’s
  • Six players with junior hockey experience
  • Two 16U AAA and five 18U AAA players
  • One Pennsylvania, one Wisconsin, and three Minnesota High School players
  • Tallest: Tanner Brouwer (6’4”) & Shortest: Jeremiah Konkel (5’8”)

We start off with our first selection – which didn’t take place until late in the 3rd Round. With the 76th overall pick in the draft we selected defenseman Tomas Tomek, a left handed offensive blueliner from Praha, Czechia. In 39 games for HC Sparta Praha U20 this past season he recorded 16 goals and 36 assists. 

Our next pick was in the 5th Round Pick #139 and we selected forward Adrian Franco. The left handed forward out of Grosse Pointe, MI played this past season for Sollentuna HC J20 in Sweden where he tallied 7 goals and 4 assists in 21 games played. Prior to his time in Europe, he played for the Northeast Generals, New Jersey Rockets (NCDC), and Skipjacks Hockey Club (USPHL).

From here on in the draft we had a selection in each round concluding in the 16th round. The pick numbers do not reflect the *actual* number of players selected in the draft (teams pass once they have reached their protected list limit).

The third selection in our 2022 Draft Class in the 6th Round Pick #168 was defenseman Drew Berres. The Waunakee, WI native played this past season for the Windy City Storm 16U AAA team, scoring 2 goals and 7 assists in 33 games played. He is one of our two 2005 birth years that we selected in this year’s draft. 

In the 7th Round Pick #197 we selected forward Tanner Brouwer, a left handed shot out of Pine City, MN. The 6’4” 225 lbs Brouwer played this past season for the Dauphin Kings where he was part of their MJHL Championship team. In 43 regular season games he had 3 goals and 10 assists while adding 1 goal and 2 assists in 7 playoff appearances.

Our next pick was left handed forward Trey Jefferis in the 8th Round Pick #226. He played in 40 games this past year for the Philadelphia Jr. Flyers 16U AAA team, recording 38 goals and 27 assists. Jefferis also appeared in 10 games for high school squad – West Chester East High (PA) – and he registered 10 goals and 11 assists. 

The sixth selection in our Draft Class occurred in the 9th Round Pick #255 as we brought in forward Tyler Dale. The Waukesha, WI native recently concluded his high school career at Waukesha High with a 50 goal and 40 assist senior season that saw him named a Wisconsin Prep Hockey Player of the Year Finalist. He also appeared in 28 games for Team Wisconsin 18U AAA where he had 8 goals and 13 assists.

In Round 10 we selected forward Paul Desaro with the 284th pick in the draft. The Manorville, NY native split this past season between the Janesville Jets and the P.A.L. Junior Islanders (NCDC). In 12 games with the Jets he recorded 1 assists while in 12 games with the Junior Islanders he had 2 assists. Desaro previously played for the Selects Academy – both 16U & 18U AAA – where he tallied back to back 24+ point seasons prior to playing juniors. 

Our next addition to the 2022 Draft Class occurred in the 11th Round Pick #313 when we picked defenseman Jake Peterson. The Rosemount, MN native recently wrapped up his high school career at Rosemount High where he had 10 goals and 23 assists in his senior season. In addition to his high school games, he appeared in 21 games for the Minnesota Grey Ducks 18U AAA squad and scored 9 goals and 15 assists. He is former teammates with 2021 Draft Pick Zach Bade – making it two seasons in a row that we have selected a player from Rosemount High.

We stayed in the State of Hockey for our next selection in right handed forward Connor Stoffel. Selected in the 12th Round Pick #342, the Hastings, MN native and co-Captain at Hastings High amassed 30 goals and 33 assists in 27 games this past season. He also added 8 games for the Chippewa Falls Steel 18U AAA (NAPHL) where he scored 6 goals and 2 assists. 

Our next pick was in the 13th Round Pick #371 when we selected forward Michael Gallagher. The Northville, MI native played for Victory Honda 18U AAA team where he skated in 79 games this year, totaling 21 goals and 31 assists between T1EHL 18U and 18U AAA seasons. The left handed shot was teammates with tender signee Hadley Hudak as well as 2021 Draft Pick Andrew Schultz. 

Our lone selection from Canada this year was made in the 14th Round Pick #400 when we took left handed forward Tomasz Szczerba. The Toronto, ON, Canada native spent this past season playing for the Aurora Tigers of the OJHL. In 26 appearances this season he had 2 goals after tallying 4 goals and 4 assists in 33 games for the Mississauga Rebels 16U AAA team in 2020-21.

We picked defenseman Johnny Thrasher with the 429th pick in the 15th Round as our final high school selection in the draft. The Minnetonka, MN native split his season between Totino-Grace High and the Minnesota Blizzard 18U AAA teams. In 26 games for TG he tallied 3 goals and 12 assists while in 12 games for the Blizzard he had 2 goals and 4 assists. He is former teammates with 2022 tender signee Tyler Bishop.

Our final addition to our 2022 Draft Class was made in the 16th Round Pick #458 when we picked forward Jeremiah Konkel. The right handed shot out of Bloomington, MN played this past season for the Willmar Warhawks (NA3HL), scoring 25 goals and 27 assists. He joins 2022 tender signee Tucker Skime (Granite City Lumberjacks) as one of two NA3HL products signed on for the upcoming season.

These selectees will join our 2022 Tender Class, returning players from last season, and other main camp invitees for our 2022 Main Tryout Camp in July at The Nelson Center! We want to congratulate these young men for the hard work and dedication they have put in and we are excited to see everyone soon!