St. Cloud, MN
Exciting day as we got a glimpse of the return of the NAHL upcoming season! The Norsemen selected 13 new faces in this years 2020 NAHL entry draft. Let Recap!
Round 1, Pick #3 ( John Opilka, Forward)
Hometown: St. Louis, MO
Position: Defense
Previous Team: Sioux City Musketeers
Height/ Weight: 6’2, 205 lbs
College Commit: St. Cloud State University
Summary:
The Norsemen selected St. Louis, MO native John Opilka with the third overall pick in the 2020 Entry Draft. Opilka is a defensemen that spent the 2019-20 season with the Sioux City Musketeers of the USHL. John is committed to play his college hockey at St. Cloud State University!
Round 2, Pick #30 (Nicholas Kent, Defense)
Hometown: Ladera Ranch, California
Position: Defense
Previous Team: Vernon Vipers (BCHL)
Weight/ Weight: 5’9, 165 lbs
Summary:
The Norsemen selected defensemen, Nicholas Kent with the 30th overall pick. Kent is a Ladera Ranch, CA native and played the 2019-20 season with the Vernon Vipers (BCHL). In 41 games, Kent posted 14 points (1 G, 13 A) from the Blue Line.
Round #3, Pick #67 (Blake Mesenburg, Forward)
Hometown: Orono, MN
Position: Forward
Previous Team: Benilde/ St. Margaret’s High School (USHS)
Height/ Weight: 5’10, 171 lbs
Summary:
With the 67th overall pick, the Norsemen selected forward, Blake Mesenburg. Mesenburg is Orono, MN native and played last year with Benilde/ St. Margaret’s High School in MN. In 25 games, Blake posted 25 points (11 G, 24 A). After the H. S season he went on to play 4 games with the Omaha Lancers of the USHL.
Round 4, Pick #84 (Noah Griswold, Forward)
Hometown: Apple Valley, MN
Position: Forward
Previous Team: Academy of Holy Angels (USHS)
Height/ Weight: 5’9, 175 lbs
Summary:
With the 84th overall selection, the Norsemen picked forward, Noah Griswold. Griswold is a Apple Valley, MN native and spent the 2019-20 season with the Academy of Holy Angels. In 25 games, Griswold had 50 points (18 G, 32 A).
Round 4, Pick #108 (Tanner Pochipinski, Forward)
Hometown: Colorado Springs, CO
Position: Forward
Previous Team: Selkirk Steelers (MJHL)
Height/ Weight: 5’10, 160 lbs
Summary:
With the 108th selection the Norsemen selected forward, Tanner Pochipinski. Pochipinski is a Colorado Springs, CO native and spent the 2019-20 season with the Selkirk Steelers of the MJHL. In 57 games, Tanner posted 39 points (17 G, 22 A). The CO native also spent time in the BCHL with Alberni Valley.
Round 6, Pick #138 (Nikolas Hong, Forward)
Hometown: Minneapolis, MN
Position: Forward
Previous Team: Shattuck St. Mary’s Sabres Prep
Height/ Weight: 5’11, 175 lbs
Summary:
With the 138th overall pick the Norsemen picked forward, Nikolas Hong. Hong is a Minneapolis, MN native and played the 2019-20 season with Shattuck St. Mary’s Prep. In 46 games Hong posted 34 points (13 G, 21 A).
Round 7, Pick #165 ( Samuel Duerr, Defense)
Hometown: Burr Ridge, Illinois
Position: Defense
Previous Team: Shattuck St. Mary’s Prep
Height/ Weight: 6’0, 200 lbs
College Commit: Maine University
Summary:
With the 165th overall pick the Norsemen selected defensemen, Samuel Duerr. Duerr is a Burr Ridge, IL native and played the 2019-20 season with Shattuck St. Mary’s Prep. In 44 games last season, Duerr posted 36 points (13 G, 23 A). Duerr is a teammate of Nikolas Hong (Pick #138) and committed to play his college hockey at Maine.
Round 8, Pick #192 (Blake Perbix, Forward)
Hometown: St. Cloud, MN
Position: Forward
Previous Team: St. Cloud Cathedral High School
Height/ Weight: 5’7, 166 lbs
College Commit: Northern Michigan University
Summary
With the 192nd overall pick the Norsemen selected forward and hometown kid, Blake Perbix. Perbix helped St. Cloud Cathedral High School reach the Minnesota State High School Tournament in 2019-20 and posted 74 points in 24 games (27 G, 47 A). Perbix is committed to play his college hockey at Northern Michigan University.
Round 9, Pick #219 (Caden Triggs, Forward)
Hometown: Moorhead, MN
Position: Forward
Previous Team: Moorhead High School (USHS)
Height/ Weight: 5’9, 165 lbs
Summary:
With the 219th overall selection the Norsemen picked forward, Caden Triggs. Triggs is a Moorhead, MN native and played the 2019-20 season for the Moorhead Spuds. In 24 games, Triggs posted 28 points (30 G, 18 A).
Round 10, Pick #246 (Noah Pickart, Defense)
Hometown: Fond du Lac, Wisconsin
Position: Defense
Previous Team: St. Mary’s Springs Academy
Height/ Weight: 5’10, 152 lbs
Summary:
With the 246th overall selection the Norsemen picked defensemen, Noah Pickart. Pickart, a Fond du Lac, WI native spent the 2019-20 season with St. Mary’s Springs Academy. In 24 games, Pickart posted 43 points (15 G, 28 A) from the blue line.
Round 11, Pick #273 (Charlie Skinner, Forward)
Hometown: Chicago, Illinois
Position: Forward
Previous Team: Cornwall Colts (CCHL)
Height/ Weight: 5’8, 180lbs
Summary:
With the 273rd overall selection, the Norsemen picked forward, Charlie Skinner. Skinners is a Chicago, IL native and played the 2019-20 season with the Cornwall Colts of the CCHL. In 56 games played, Skinners posted 21 points (9 G, 12 A).
Round 12, Pick #300 (Adam Karlsson, Forward)
Hometown: Mjölby, SWE
Position: Forward
Previous Team: HC Vita Hästen J20 / J20 Elit
Height/ Weight: 6’0, 183 lbs
Summary:
With the 300th overall selection, the Norsemen picked forward, Adam Karlsson. Karlsson is a Mjolby, Sweden native and played the 2019-20 season with the Vita Hasten HC J2.
Round 13, Pick #327 (Jake Santarelli, Forward)
Hometown: Buffalo, NY
Position: Forward
Previous Team: Willmar WarHawks (NA3HL)
Height/ Weight: 5’5, 165 lbs
Summary:
With the final Norsemen selection of the 2020 Entry we picked forward, Jake Santarelli. Santarelli is a Buffalo NY native and played the 2019-20 season for the Willmar WarHawks of the NA3HL. In 45 games, Santarelli had 33 points (13 G, 20 A).
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