2015 NHL Draft: Zach Werenski picked by Columbus Blue Jackets
By @MichaelCaples –
It didn’t take long for an NHL club to call the name of a Michigan native at the draft.
The Columbus Blue Jackets selected Grosse Pointe native Zach Werenski No. 8 overall on Friday night to make him the first Michigan product selected in the 2015 NHL Draft.
“It’s pretty unbelievable,” Werenski said on the official draft show. “There are really no words to describe it. I’m extremely excited and very fortunate for the Columbus Blue Jackets to select me.”
Werenski is the highest drafted player from Michigan since Ann Arbor native Jack Johnson (and fellow Wolverines alum) was selected No. 3 overall in 2005. Rochester native and Wolverines alum Jacob Trouba was selected No. 9 overall by the Jets in 2012.
The 17-year-old defenseman – he turns 18 on July 19 – graduated from high school a year early to join the Michigan Wolverines hockey program, and he shined as an under-aged defenseman. Werenski was named First Team All Big Ten after recording nine goals and 16 assists for 25 points in 35 games, along with a +9 plus/minus.
He’s no stranger to playing against older competition, either, after playing for the Little Caesars midget major club at 15.
“He’s such a cool, calm and collected player,” NHL Central Scouting’s Greg Rajanen said of Werenski, via NHL.com.”He’s smart, always in the right spot, moves the puck and makes all the right plays.”
Werenski spent the 2013-14 season with the USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program, recording 27 points in 47 games.
On the international stage, he won gold with the U.S. at the 2014 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge, and last winter he represented his country at the 2015 World Junior Championship.
The Werenski File
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All-B1G Teams announced
Five Michigan natives invited to U.S. World Juniors evaluation camp
Now that summer school’s over, Zach Werenski can focus on being a member of the Wolverines
Berenson on Werenski: “This is an exceptional player who is coming in a little younger than most players”
Zach Werenski to join the Michigan Wolverines for 2014-15 season
Tweets
Defenseman Zach Werenski selected eighth overall by the @BlueJacketsNHL. #NHLDraft pic.twitter.com/KFatb1psKx
— USA Hockey (@usahockey) June 27, 2015
Zach Werenski has been selected 8th overall by the @BlueJacketsNHL. Congrats Zach!! #UMichNHLDraft pic.twitter.com/ya9HDZcEWv
— Michigan Hockey (@umichhockey) June 27, 2015
Congrats to Grosse Pointe native & @umichhockey defenseman @ZachWerenski – the No. 8 pick by the Blue Jackets. pic.twitter.com/kx9qhFabUB
— MiHockey (@MiHockeyNow) June 27, 2015