NAHL draft recap: Port Huron

The Port Huron Fighting Falcons believe they have filled their need for a more powerful offensive punch, as eight of their ten picks in Thursday’s NAHL Draft were forwards.

Only two of the second-year team’s selections come from outside the state of Michigan.

With 20 veteran and tendered players on the team’s protected list, the Fighting Falcons made 10 draft picks, as well as a selection from the NA3HL developmental league.

The Fighting Falcons would have held the third overall pick in the first round of the draft, following the expansion Kalamazoo Jr. K-Wings and Minotauros of Minot, N.D. Feeling that one of those teams may have selected goalie Max Milosek, the Fighting Falcons traded away their first-round pick to the Amarillo Bulls for a tender, allowing them to lock down the goalie before the draft.

Following a long, tense wait through the draft’s first round, coach Bill Warren and general manager Marty Haddad got their wish as Easton Powers, a Milford native, became the Fighting Falcons’ first-ever NAHL Draft pick.

Powers spent last season with the Blind River Beavers of the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League, where he earned 39 points on 16 goals and 23 assists in 49 games.

The Fighting Falcons would sit through over 50 more picks before making their next selection in the fourth round, 83rd overall. The team chose Joseph Colletti, a forward from Huntington Woods, who tallied 18 goals and 17 assists for 35 points in 46 games with the Trenton Golden Hawks.

With their remaining picks, the Fighting Falcons further strengthened their offense, while also adding a pair of offensive-minded defensemen. Russian Ronald Kotkin, who was very impressive at the pre-draft camp the team held earlier this month, was nabbed in the seventh round.

The Fighting Falcons picked up a pair of CCHA-bound forwards in the later rounds. Max Shuart, who has committed to the University of Michigan, was chosen in the eighth round. Nick Schilkey, who has signed a letter of intent at the Ohio State University, was selected in the 11th round.

The club also owns the rights to Brett D’Andrea, a forward from Marysville that was tendered earlier this month. D’Andrea has committed to play for Bowling Green State University, also of the CCHA.

The full list of 2011 Fighting Falcons draft selections are as follows:

Round (Overall) Name, Position, Last Team (League)
2. (31) Easton Powers, F, Blind River (NOJHL) 49 GP, 16 G, 23 A, 39 Pts, 16 PIM
4. (83) Joseph Colletti, F, Trenton (OJHL) 46 GP, 18 G, 17 A, 35 Pts, 23 PIM
5. (108) Kody Polin, F, Leamington (GOJHL) 48 GP, 12 G, 25 A, 37 Pts, 68 PIM
6. (128) Ryan Murray, D, Cranbrook-Kingswood HS (MIHL) 28 GP, 6 G, 17 A, 23 Pts, 18 PIM
7. (147) Ronald Kotkin, F, Klin Titan Russia, Stats not available
8. (163) Max Shuart, F, Victory Honda, 36 GP, 12 G, 20 A, 32 Pts, 32 PIM
9. (174) Alex Archibald, F, Honeybaked, 40 GP, 4 G, 10 A, 15 Pts, 4 PIM
10. (181) Derek Belke, D, Pittsburgh Viper Stars (NAPHL) 24 GP, 1 G, 10 A, 11 Pts, 34 PIM
11. (185) Nick Schilkey, F, Honeybaked, 39 GP, 20 G, 29 A, 49 Pts, 20 PIM
12. (189) Stephen Flood, F, Grandville HS, Stats not available

NA3HL Selection
Michael Marconi, F, Toledo Cherokee, 41 GP, 22 G, 25 A, 47 Pts, 26 PIM