Six players with Gophers ties were among the 25 current or future WCHA players selected in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft this past weekend in Montreal, Quebec.

Nick Leddy, Mr. Hockey in 2009 from Eden Prairie, was the first future Gopher picked at No. 16 by the Wild. He also was the first player with WCHA picked, a bit of a surprise.

Sophomore center Jordan Schroeder, rated No. 5 among North American players by Central Scouting, was taken at No. 22 by Vancouver.

Others with Minnesota ties picked:
* Zach Budish, a forward from Edina, No. 41, second round by Nashville
* Josh Birkholz, a forward for the Fargo Force (USHL), No. 67, third round by Florida
* Seth Helgeson, a defenseman for Sioux City (USHL), No. 114, fourth round by New Jersey

Those three are joining the Gophers this season.

* Erik Haula, a junior forward for Shattuck-St. Mary’s, No. 210 by Wild.

He will join the U in 2010.

In the past four years, 24 players with Gophers connectiions have been taken in the NHL Draft.

A WCHA release on the draft:

Included in the 25 current or future WCHA players take in the NHL Entry Draft were four first round selections in defenseman Nick Leddy (Eden Prairie, MN/Eden Prairie HS), a University of Minnesota recruit taken by Minnesota at No. 16 overall, defenseman John Moore (Chicago, IL/Chicago-USHL), a Colorado College recruit chosen by Columbus at No. 21 overall, current Golden Gophers forward Jordan Schroeder (So., Prior Lake, MN), the 2008-09 WCHA Rookie of the Year who was selected by Vancouver at No. 22, and defenseman Dylan Olsen (Salt Lake City, UT/Camrose-AJHL), a University of Minnesota Duluth recruit who was drafted by Chicago at No. 28.

Chosen in Round Two of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft were forward Zach Budish (Edina, MN/Edina HS), a Minnesota recruit taken by Nashville at No. 41 overall, and two University of Denver incoming recruits in defenseman William Wrenn (Anchorage, AK/U.S. NDTP), taken by San Jose at No. 43 and forward Drew Shore (Denver, CO/U.S. NDTP), chosen by Florida at No. 44.

Round Three of the NHL Draft saw five future WCHA member-team players selected. They were forward Ben Hanowski (Little Falls, MN/Little Falls HS), a St. Cloud State University recruit taken by 2009 Stanley Cup-champion Pittsburgh at No. 63 overall, forward Josh Birkholz (St. Louis Park, MN/Fargo-USHL), a Golden Gopher recruit taken by Florida at No. 67, defenseman Troy Hesketh (Minnetonka, MN/Minnetonka HS), a 2011 University of Wisconsin recruit chosen by Edmonton at No. 71, forward Daniel Delisle (Fridley, MN/Totino Grace HS), a Minnesota Duluth recruit selected by Chicago at No. 89, and goaltender Michael Lee (Fargo, ND/Fargo-USHL), a St. Cloud State recruit taken by Phoenix at the No. 91 spot overall.

Taken in Round Four were Wisconsin recruit and defenseman Craig Smith (Madison, WI/Waterloo-USHL), selected by Nashville at No. 98, St. Cloud State recruit and forward Nick Oliver (Grand Forks, ND/Roseau HS), selected by Nashville at No. 110, and Minnesota recruit and forward Seth Helgeson (Faribault, MN/Sioux City-USHL), chosen by New Jersey with the No. 114th selection overall.

Round Five of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft featured four players with WCHA ties selected as forward Corbin Knight (Oliver, BC/Okotoks-AJHL), a University of North Dakota recruit, was taken by Florida at No. 135, forward Spencer Bennett (White Rock, BC/Surrey-BCHL), a 2010 University of Alaska Anchorage recruit was taken by Calgary at No. 141, forward Derek Rodwell (Taber, AB/Okotoks-AJHL), a 2010 North Dakota recruit was chosen by New Jersey at No. 144, and defenseman Nick Jensen (St. Paul, MN/Green Bay-USHL), a 2010 St. Cloud State recruit was drafted by Detroit at No. 150 overall.

And in Round Seven, there were six players with WCHA ties chosen. Forward Erik Haula (Faribault, MN/Shattuck St. Mary’s) a 2010 Minnesota recruit, was selected by the Minnesota Wild at No. 182, Denver recruit and defenseman Paul Phillips (Darien, IL/Cedar Rapids-USHL) was taken by Chicago at No. 195, current St. Cloud State defenseman Oliver Lauridsen (Gentofte, Demark) was taken by Philadelphia at No. 196, 2010 St. Cloud State recruit and forward Nic Dowd (Huntsville, AL/Wenatchee-NAHL) was chosen by Los Angeles at No. 198, North Dakota recruit and forward Michael Cichy (New Britain, CT/Indiana-USHL) was drafted by Montreal at No. 199, and Minnesota Duluth recruit and forward Maxwell Tardy (Duluth, MN/Duluth East HS) was chosen by St. Louis at No. 202 overall.

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