RoughRiders' Peterson taken by Sabres in NHL Draft

CEDAR RAPIDS –

Judd Peterson

Cedar Rapids RoughRiders rookie forward Judd Peterson was selected Saturday in the 2012

National Hockey League Draft. Peterson, 18, was taken in the seventh round by the

Buffalo Sabres, the 204th player overall to be selected. The recent graduate of Marshall High School in Duluth, Minn., was the RoughRiders' first pick (second round) in last month's United States Hockey League Entry Draft.

The 6-foot, 185-pounder is expected to play in Cedar Rapids at least this coming season before moving on to play college hockey at St. Cloud State. The USHL had six players selected in the first round of the NHL draft, including two from the Dubuque Fighting Saints: forward Zemgus Girgensons (14th overall to Buffalo) and defenseman Mike Matheson (23rd overall to Florida).

A record 28 players who spent time this past season in the USHL were taken in the NHL draft.