Cedar Rapids RoughRiders looked beyond skill in 2024 United States Hockey League draft

CEDAR RAPIDS — They looked for a type.

Of course, the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders wanted guys who could skate, who had skill, who could make plays, score goals and all that. Every hockey club wants those things when they look for players.

But in the recently concluded United States Hockey League Draft, head coach/general manager Mark Carlson and his coaching and scouting staff went beyond that.

“We did a lot of research, a lot of homework, had a lot of conversations with the players and the coaches and the parents,” Carlson said late Tuesday afternoon, at the conclusion of Phase II of the two-day draft. “We feel like we’ve got a whole bunch of guys who love hockey. Who are second and third-effort guys. Good mental toughness, character guys. Guys that love doing extra work. Getting on the ice before practice, do extra work in the weight room, work hard in the offseason. Guys with a lot of charisma. Those things are really, really important for us.”

Carlson generally isn’t overly effusive with praise of groups his club drafts. They’ve got to earn it.

But this seemed different. Way different.

Cedar Rapids selected eight players in Monday’s Phase I draft of players with 2008 birthdates and 17 players Tuesday in Phase II.

“There is just a real hunger level with this group,” he said. “A lot of guys that want to earn it, get better. Guys that want to be great. Certainly we were looking for skill. But all those characteristics I just went over, those were the things that were paramount. Our staff did a tremendous job of identifying those traits. This is going to be one exciting group with a lot of personality. And we’re going to let them show that personality.”

Cedar Rapids drafted second in both phases, taking Gabriel Eliasson in the first round of the main Phase II portion. He’s a 6-foot-6 defenseman from Kungsbacka, Sweden, who has committed to the University of Michigan and who is considered certain to be taken in this summer’s NHL Draft, possibly as high as the second round.

“He’s a real good defenseman,” Carlson said. “Very well rounded, gets around the rink well, makes a good simple first pass. And he’s a physical, nasty customer that really enjoys the physical side of the game. He’s got a great personality. We’re thrilled to have him here. His teammates and the fan base are really going to love him. He’s going to be a favorite in The Stable, that’s for sure.”

In the second round, the Riders selected forward Charles Blanchard from the Yale Jr. Bulldogs AAA and Avon Old Farms junior programs in Connecticut. He’s a Miami of Ohio commit.

“A good two-way center,” Carlson said. “A hard-working character guy, has leadership ability ... He’s got a lot of RoughRider in him.”

Winger Jack Sadowski was C.R.’s third-round pick, a New Hampshire commit. With two fourth-round selections, the RoughRiders selected goaltender A.J. Reyelts and defenseman Max Vig.

Reyelts is a Minnesota high school product who played six games as well this past season in the junior North American Hockey League. He’ll team with returnee Rudy Guimond in net this coming season.

Vig is a Bemidji State recruit.

The RoughRiders took a player from Sweden and Finland in the Phase II portion of the draft and six players from Canada. They also tendered forward Thomas Vandenberg from Ontario and selected Quebec defenseman Cameron Chartrand in the second round of the Phase I draft.

Chartrand is expected to be a high pick in the upcoming Quebec Major Junior Hockey League in Canada, but Carlson said Chartrand has told the club he is coming to Cedar Rapids.

“I would just speak for the USHL as a whole,” Carlson said. “I think it’s becoming very well known throughout the world that this is the best development junior league in the world. You are hearing people say that all over the place now. Not just in the USHL, but you’re hearing it all over the hockey world. Literally the best players in the world want to play in this league.

“So we believe that because the whole league is so strong, and also because of what we can offer here in Cedar Rapids, that we can go after the best players. Every team feels that way. That’s how we go about our business.”

The draft picks, the 20 players on C.R.’s protected list and free-agent invitees will compete in tryout camp in June.

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