Ice Wolves pick up trio of players with junior hockey experience in 2021 NAHL Supplemental Draft
The New Mexico Ice Wolves today announced in the second-ever NAHL Supplemental Draft, the team drafted three players in center Wilmer Svensson, forward Parker Lindauer and defenseman Gustav Blom, adding them to the Ice Wolves’ protected list.
Svensson is a center from Stockholm, Sweden, selected 11th overall, while the team’s 17th overall pick went to Lindauer from Madison, Wis., and with its final and 39th overall pick in the draft, the team selected Blom, another player from Sweden.
Coming into the draft, Ice Wolves head coach Phil Fox said he was looking to add depth to the roster with players who have prior junior hockey experience, and the team accomplished that goal.
“We are very happy about this year’s supplemental draft picks as these three players have all played at the junior level and will be relied upon to provide an offensive boost to our team,” said Fox.
The NAHL Supplemental Draft was held yesterday, June 2, with the regular NAHL Entry Draft scheduled to be held on Wednesday, July 14. The supplemental draft consisted of 87 selections with each of the 29 NAHL teams receiving three picks. The draft order was determined by the order of the NAHL Entry Draft.
Traditionally, NAHL Teams utilize a mix of in-season evaluation along with team tryout camps and NAHL Combines to select players in the entry draft. The entry draft order will remain unaffected by the implementation of the supplemental draft. Prior to the entry draft, NAHL teams will turn in their protected list of tenders and veterans in order to determine the number of picks they will have in the entry draft.
The Ice Wolves’ recruiting class for the 2021-22 season includes tendered players Ian Skinner, Kyrree Hellerud, Caleb Wall, Grant Ellings, Aidan Emerson, Blayde Pogreba, Brenden Coon, Jake Keller, Sullivan Scholle, JD Metz and Brayden Ring.
The Ice Wolves wrapped their 2020-21 season winning two games out of a three-game series in Albuquerque against the Wichita Falls Warriors. The team played most of its games on the road this season in Texas and Louisiana due to strict public health guidelines in New Mexico that prohibited competition and travel for much of the year. Fans can expect a normal season for 2021-22 with all home games at Outpost Ice Arenas in Albuquerque.
(June 3, 2021)