Trenton’s Calderone 1st overall in USHL Draft; list of all MI players selected

Here’s a look at the Michigan natives selected in tonight’s USHL Draft.

1^st overall – Tony Calderone – Trenton (Victory Honda Midget Major)

It didn’t take long for a Michigan native to pop up on the USHL Draft board. Tony Calderone, a Trenton native, was selected first overall by the Sioux Falls Stampede.

Calderone scored 65 points (38 goals and 27 assists) for Victory Honda’s Midget Major squad this past season, making him the leading scorer in all of the Tier I Elite League.

From the Stampede’s official website:

“Tony is a very talented player,” said Stampede Director of Player Personnel Craig Sarner. “He is a natural goal scorer who finds the back of the net when given the opportunity. He is a leader and someone who we feel can come in and contribute right away.”

The 6-foot, 185-pound can play wing and center and is already committed to Princeton University for the fall of 2014.

4^th overall – Mackenzie MacEachern – Troy (Brother Rice HS)

Mackenzie MacEachern, who was Mr. Hockey for the state of Michigan just weeks ago, was selected fourth overall by the Chicago Steel. He helped lead Brother Rice to the Division II state title, posting 90 points in 29 games along the way. The Spartan commit led the Michigan Interscholastic Hockey League in scoring, and finished plus-50 in his senior season.

21st overall – Joe Ballmer – Kalamazoo (Jamestown Ironmen of the NAHL)

Joe Ballmer, who spent last year with the Jamestown Ironmen of the NAHL, will take his talents to the Sioux City Musketeers next season. As a member of the Ironmen, Ballmer was 13-19-5, with a 3.16 goals-against average, and .910 save percentage.

30^th overall – Christian Wolanin – Rochester (Little Caesars Midget Major)

Green Bay should have some Michigan flavor on their blue line next season, as they selected Rochester native Christian Wolanin 30th overall in the USHL Draft. As a member of the Little Caesars Midget Major squad, Wolanin recorded three goals and ten assists in 22 games, along with 28 penalty minutes.

33^rd overall – Nolan Valleau – Novi (Port Huron Fighting Falcons of the NAHL)

Nolan Valleau, a Novi native, was selected 33rd overall by Des Moines. Last season, Valleau played in 42 games with the Port Huron Fighting Falcons of the NAHL, and registered four goals, 20 assists, a plus-17, and 46 penalty minutes.

34^th overall – Thomas Ebbing – Troy (Brother Rice HS)

For the second time in this year’s draft, the Chicago Steel not only picked a Michigan-born player, but they picked from the same high school. The Steel selected Thomas Ebbing, who played with MacEachern at Brother Rice, 34th overall. The forward had 67 points last year in the MIHL, second only to MacEachern.

50^th overall – Dawson Cook – Cadillac (USA U17 Team)

58^th overall – Zack Pittman – Macomb (Honeybaked Midget Minor)

62^nd overall – Ben Storm – Calumet (Calumet HS)

68^th overall – Charles Hemstrom – Romeo (St. Louis Bandits of the NAHL)

70th overall – Jared Dedenbach – Warren (Oakland Grizzlies Midget Major)

74^th overall – Michael McCarron – Macomb (USA U17 Team)

76^th overall – Reid Sturos – South Lyon (Alexandria Blizzard of the NAHL)

108^th overall – Tyler Dorantes – Waterford (Compuware Midget Major)

212^th overall – Tyler Ross – Warren (Estevan Bruins of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League)

218^th overall – Chris Sitler – Canton (Springfield Jr. Blues)

219^th overall – Michael Szmatula – Commerce Township (Summerside Western Capitals)

264^th overall – Cameron Heath – Troy (Cranbrook HS)

286^th overall – Jack Stander – Grosse Pointe Woods (HS)

318^th overall – Benjamin Israel – Bloomfield Hills (Honeybaked Midget Major)

326^th overall – Alex Pawelczyk – Sterling Heights (Compuware Midget Minor)