RoughRiders go heavy on forwards in USHL draft

The Cedar Rapids RoughRiders lose their top five scorers, so there wasn't much doubt where the emphasis would be during Monday's United States Hockey League Entry Draft.

It was all about moving forward(s).

"We think we've got some pretty good pieces up front," said RoughRiders Coach/General Manager Mark Carlson. "Some guys that can make some plays, (have) some speed and some leadership ability."

The Riders selected 13 players Monday, nine forwards. That included first-round pick (15th overall) Jacob Barber, a St. Louis resident who scored 34 goals in 59 games this season for Wenatchee (Wash.) of the North American Hockey League.

The NAHL is considered a notch (or two) below the USHL.

"He knows a number of our guys," said Carlson, who had six St. Louis kids on his roster this season. "He's got two years of junior hockey under his belt. He's a strong kid, he can score. He had 21 5-on-5 goals in that league this year."

Other draft picks of note include forward Brent Norris, a Providence commitment. Defenseman Chris Dienes was taken two picks after Barber. He's a Western Michigan commit.

"A 6-foot-2 defenseman whose best days are ahead of him," Carlson said. "He's committed to a great program at Western Michigan. We're real happy to be able to get him."

"Chris is a young man I have watched grow into an outstanding hockey prospect," Western Michigan Coach Jeff Blashill said on WMU's Web site. "Chris has good size and reach. As he develops his defensive stick he will become a great defender. Chris passes the puck well an has the skating ability to get up and play and join the rush."

One striking thing about the Riders' draft was the diversity in the hometowns of the draftees. There were guys from traditional hockey states like Minnesota and Michigan, of course.

Norris and fellow forwards Dakota Mason and Marc-Andre Carre are from Canada. Forwards Austin Ortega and Alejandro Ochoa are from California and Colorado, respectively. Goaltender Peter Traber is from Dallas, forward Ryan McMurphy from Oklahoma.

The RoughRiders did lose an expected returnee over the weekend when defenseman Josiah Didier announced he is headed to the University of Denver a year earlier than planned.

Fellow defenseman Anthony DeAngelo visited Sarnia, Ontario, over the weekend. He was a second-round draft pick by the Sarnia Sting in the Major Junior OHL Priority Draft a couple of weeks ago and is trying to decide whether to go that route or remain in the USHL en route to Boston University, where he committed.

"Have not made any decision, yet," DeAngelo said Sunday. "It should be soon, though."

Here is a complete list of RoughRiders draft picks Monday by round:

1. Jacob Butler, FW (Dardenne Prairie, Mo./Wenatchee NAHL)

2. Chris Dienes, D (Traverse City, Mich./Traverse City NAHL)

2. Austin Ortega FW (Escondido, Calif./Colorado Thunderbirds T1 Major)

3. Riley Bourbannais, FW (Rochester, N.Y./Berkshire School, Massachusetts)

5. Peter Traber, G (Houston, Texas/Shattuck-St. Mary's Prep School, Minn.)

5. Taylor Fleming, FW (Waconia, Minn./St. Thomas High School, Minn.)

13. Alejandro Ochoa, FW (Aurora, Colo./Colorado Rampage Major Midget)

14. Blake Butzow, D (Plymouth, Mich./Victory Honda Major Midget)

15. Ryan McMurphy, FW (Broken Arrow, Okla./Dallas Stars Selects)

16. Brent Norris, FW (Ottawa, Ontario/Nepean CCHL)

17. Dylan Abood, D (Centennial, Colo./Colorado Thunderbirds)

18. Marc-Andre Carre, FW (Baie-Comeau, Quebec/LaRonge SJHL)

19. Dakota Mason, FW (Edmonton, Alberta/Dawson Creek NAHL)