NAPHL alumni selected in 2017 NHL Draft

June 26, 2017

It was another exciting weekend for NAPHL alumni at the 2017 NHL Draft, which was held at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois this past weekend on June 23-24.

 

The NAPHL is proud to announce that two alumni were selected in the annual draft, which was hosted by the NHL’s Chicago Blackhawks.

 

During the past five NHL Drafts a total of 23 NAPHL alumni have been selected.

 

The first NAPHL alum taken was goaltender Jeremy Swayman, who was selected by the Boston Bruins in Round 4, #111 overall.

 

Swayman, 18, played the entire 2015-16 season in the NAPHL for the Pikes Peak Miners 18U team. In 18 regular season games played, Swayman posted a 9-8-1 record with a 1.79 goals against average and a 94.0% save percentage. His four shutouts tied for the NAPHL 18U lead and he ranked 3rd in save percentage last season. Swayman (6’2/185) also was selected to and played in the 2015-16 NAPHL 18U All-Star Game in Troy, Michigan.

 

Swayman made the 2016-17 Sioux Falls Stampede roster this season in the USHL. He appeared in 32 games during the regular season and posted a 2.90 goals against average and 91.4% save percentage. He also made an NCAA Division I commitment to the University of Maine in October.

 

The second NAPHL alumni taken was defenseman Cole Hults, who was selected by the Los Angeles Kings in Round 5, #134 overall.

 

Hults, 19, played the entire 2014-15 season for the Madison Capitols 18U team in the NAPHL. In 24 regular season games, Hults recorded 17 points (4 goals, 13 assists) from the blueline. He also had one assist in four playoff games.

 

The native of Stoughton, Wisconsin, then played for the USHL’s Madison Capitols the next two seasons, appearing in 122 career USHL games and recording 42 career points. He also committed to play NCAA Division I hockey earlier this season to Penn State University.