FAIRPORT, NY – The picks are in and it’s time to welcome the Rochester Jr. Americans 2023 NAHL Draft class! For their inaugural draft, the Jr. Amerks made 12 selections, headlined by their second overall pick Drew Haxton.
Haxton, a forward, already has a full season of junior hockey under his belt. He most recently played 45 games in the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL) with the Cowichan Valley Capitals. The year prior, Haxton played with Nobles & Greenough School where he recorded 17 points in 26 games.
Haxton turns 21-years-old on January 13th. If he makes the team, he’ll likely be one of the oldest players on the roster. Haxton is uncommitted and is hoping to land a Division I scholarship by the conclusion of the season. The Jr. Amerks hope he can contribute immediately to the team’s success and aid the team to a playoff berth in their first year.
GOT OUR GUY!!!!
With the second overall pick, the Rochester Jr. Americans are proud to select Drew Haxton! #AmerksHockey pic.twitter.com/t628fXbl0t
— Rochester Jr. Americans (NAHL) (@JrAmerksNAHL) June 14, 2023
The Jr. Americans asked Kyle O’Donnell to announce the Haxton selection. Kyle, a passionate Amerks fan, is currently beating cancer. It was a special moment for him and our organization. Learn more about Kyle’s Slap Shot Challenge fundraising event on August 4th and 5th: https://kylesslapshot.org/.
For our first ever selection in the NAHL Draft we asked Kyle O’Donnell, who’s beating cancer, to make the selection.
What a special moment for him and our organization. 💙❤️ pic.twitter.com/rvBCaknBkt
— Rochester Jr. Americans (NAHL) (@JrAmerksNAHL) June 14, 2023
Rounds three, four, and five the Jr. Americans narrowed their focus on defense. They selected Wilson Farrow, Mitch Kneidel, and Tristan Caldwell respectively. Head Coach and General Manager Francois Methot has emphasized the importance of having depth on the back end with a mix of skill and shutdown play.
The draft class has some familiar faces. The Jr. Americans drafted four players with ties to the Bishop Kearney Selects program: Mitch Kneidel, Michael Sandruck, Jaden Dyke, and Jack Henry. The program plays out of the Rochester Ice Center and has seen plenty of recent success. In 2022 they won the 14U, 15O and 18U New York State Championships. In that same year, they won the 16U National Championship. The collaboration between the two teams could end up being extremely beneficial for both. The Jr. Americans can recruit and pick Bishop Kearney’s top tier talent, while Bishop Kearney can promote their player advancement. The four draft picks add their names alongside Dexter Kichline and Florian Wade as players with Bishop Kearney connections.
The Jr. Americans also drafted Conor Humphrey in the 10th round. Humphrey is a forward from Penfield, NY who played this past season with the Charlotte Rush of the USPHL. Conor’s father, John, is the Director of Hockey Operations for the Jr. Americans.
The Rochester Jr. Americans are beyond proud to select hometown forward Conor Humphrey!
Congratulations Conor! #AmerksHockey pic.twitter.com/iNNxFsGhfR
— Rochester Jr. Americans (NAHL) (@JrAmerksNAHL) June 14, 2023
Being drafted in no form guarantees a spot on the roster. In fact, even if you signed a tender contract, you still must earn your spot. The Rochester Jr. Americans will hold their 2023 main camp on July 20-23 at the Rochester Ice Center and Rochester Institute of Technology. Because the Jr. Americans are a first year team, there is even more emphasis on this main camp than others around the NAHL. As it stands now, nobody’s spot has been solidified. The Jr. Amerks will have tough decisions to make when they commence in late July.
Regardless, the Jr. Americans are proud of their selections and tenders, and are looking forward to seeing how it unfolds as the season approaches.
Full selections:
- Round 1, Pick 2: Drew Haxton
- Round 3, Pick 66: Wilson Farrow
- Round 4, Pick 98: Mitch Kneidel
- Round 5, Pick 130: Tristan Caldwell
- Round 6, Pick 162: Keanan Dewberry
- Round 7, Pick 194: Michael Sandruck
- Round 8, Pick 226: Jaden Dyke
- Round 9, Pick 258: Cole Bianchin
- Round 10, Pick 290: Conor Humphrey
- Round 11, Pick 322: Liam Chapman
- Round 12, Pick 354: Thomas Rockey
- Round 13, Pick 386: Jack Henry
Stay connected during the season by following the Jr. Amerks @JrAmerksNAHL on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and online at rochesterjramerks.com.
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The Rochester Jr. Americans are members of the NAHL which is the oldest and largest junior hockey league of its kind in the United States and one of only two USA Hockey-certified leagues that operate under the non pay-to-play model. The NAHL is also one of the best at advancing players to NCAA and professional hockey. All league games are viewable via HockeyTV. For more information, visit rochesterjramerks.com.
