Several California connections make NHL Draft Futures List
Two graduates of the Los Angeles Jr. Kings program – forward Kailer Yamamoto and defenseman Jack St. Ivany – were recognized by NHL Central Scouting on its Futures List for 2017 draft-eligibles, which was released on July 22.
Anaheim Jr. Ducks 18U AAA forward Cooper Haar was also listed, as was Erie Otters (Ontario Hockey League) forward Ivan Lodnia (Anaheim), an LA Hockey Club and Wildcats Hockey Club alum, Ottawa 67’s (OHL) forward Sasha Chmelevski (Huntington Beach), another Wildcats alum, and Newport Beach native Brannon McManus, a forward who played youth hockey for the Jr. Kings and LA Hockey Club and last season with the United States Hockey League’s Omaha Lancers.
Yamamoto, a Washington native, wrapped up his second season with the Western Hockey League’s Spokane Chiefs in 2015-16 and tallied 19 goals among 71 points in 57 regular-season games.
He is set to participate in the upcoming USA Hockey National Junior Evaluation Camp, which runs until Aug. 7 at USA Hockey Arena in Plymouth, Mich.
Last year, St. Ivany (pictured), a 1999-born Yale University commit, connected for three goals and 13 points in 31 Tier I Elite League games in the 16U AAA division for the Pacific District-champion Jr. Kings.
This coming season, St. Ivany will play for the Sioux Falls Stampede – the team that selected the Manhattan Beach native in Phase II of this year’s United States Hockey League Draft (fifth round, 73rd overall).
Pleasanton native and former Jr. Sharks forward Joey Cassetti is also listed. He played for the U.S. National Team Development Program’s Under-17 Team last year and will skate with the Under-18 Team this coming season.
The 2017 NHL Entry Draft will be conducted on June 23-24 at the United Center in Chicago.