Thirteen New England players were selected in the 2023 USHL Phase 1 Draft on Tuesday.
It was a 10-round event in which all 15 teams made selections from the 2007 birth year. With the first pick, the Madison Capitols snagged Sam Kappell. A native of Appleton, Wis., the 6-foot, 184-pound center played for Notre Dame Academy this season. The Chicago Steel took Ryder Betzold, a forward out of Farmington, Minn., with the second pick.
The first New England player selected was Anthony Bongo (Ridgefield, Conn.), who was taken with the 18th overall pick in the second round by the Sioux Falls Stampede. Bongo is a standout defenseman who was invited to USA Hockey NTDP Evaluation Camp but didn't make the team. He played this past season for the Mid Fairfield Junior Rangers 15O.
Following Bongo from New England were Teddy Mutryn (Norwell, Mass.) and Tyler Russo (South Hamilton, Mass.). Mutryn was selected in the second round (22nd overall) to Chicago, while Russo was taken in the third round (33rd overall) to the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders.
Of the 15 possible first-round picks, eight teams had used their tender, eliminating their ability to pick in the first round. The Youngstown Phantoms used both of their two possible tenders, taking away their second-round selection, too.
Sioux Falls tendered Matthew Grimes. The 5-foot-10, 159-pound defenseman played for the Mount Saint Charles 15O team this season, posting 56 points in 63 games. Liam Kilfoil, who played for Salisbury this season, was tendered by the Dubuque Fighting Saints. He had nine goals and 18 points in 25 games.
Last year, 14 New England prospects from the 2006 birth year were taken in the Phase 1 Draft along with a boatload of players with connections to the regions.
Phase 2 of the draft will take place on Wednesday beginning at 12 p.m. ET. Any player eligible to play junior hockey and not protected by another USHL team can be selected.
New Englanders chosen in USHL Phase 1 Draft
- Anthony Bongo, D, Mid Fairfield 15O — Sioux Falls (2nd Rd./18th overall)
- Teddy Mutryn, C/RW, St. Sebastian's/Jr. Eagles 16U — Chicago (2nd Rd./22nd overall)
- Tyler Russo, D, Cushing — Cedar Rapids (3rd Rd./33rd overall)
- Shayne Gould, D, BK Selects 15O — Chicago (3rd Rd./45th overall)
- Cam Caron, C, New Hampton — Muskegon (4th Rd./51st overall)
- Everett Baldwin, D, St. George's — Cedar Rapids (4th Rd./59th overall)
- Egan Beveridge, C, Chicago Mission 15O — Madison (6th Rd./76th overall)
- Michael Munroe, LW, Avon Old Farms — Youngstown (6th Rd./87th overall)
- Patrick Woods, RW, Belmont Hill/Jr. Eagles 15O — Cedar Rapids (7th Rd./104th overall)
- Alexander Donovan, C, Shattuck-St. Mary's — Sioux Falls (8th Rd./108th overall)
- Jack McDonough, LW, Lovell Academy 15O — Sioux Falls (9th Rd./123rd overall)
- Billy MacAusland, C, Nobles/Jr. Eagles 15O — Sioux City (10th Rd./141st overall)
- Dylan Krayer, C/RW, Mount Saint Charles 15O — Tri-City (10th Rd./145th overall)
New England connections chosen in USHL Phase 1 Draft
- Drew Allison, D, South Kent Selects Academy 15O — Waterloo (6th Rd./77th overall)
- Samuel Doyon-Cataquiz, G, Mount Saint Charles 15O — Muskegon (6th Rd./85th overall)
- Tommy Bleyl, D, Mid Fairfield Jr. Rangers 15O — Dubuque (8th Rd./113th overall)
- Tyson Goguen, FWD, South Kent Selects Academy 15O — Lincoln (8th Rd./116th overall)
