Last weekend, the NHL Draft was held at the Peacock Theater in downtown Los Angeles.

At the end of the two-day event, two Scottsdale natives and Jr. Coyotes alums were chosen by NHL clubs, taking the next step towards the ultimate goal of playing in “The Show” and continuing the trend of players from the desert becoming legitimate NHL prospects.

Sean Barnhill went in the third round (70th overall) to the New York Rangers, followed by Brandon Gorzynski in the fourth round (126th overall) to the Dallas Stars.

Barnhill, a defenseman for the USHL’s Dubuque Fighting Saints, skated in 54 games for the Fighting Saints last season, netting four goals and eight assists for 12 points with a plus-8 rating.

He is committed to play college hockey at NCAA Division I Northeastern and is slated for his second USHL season with the Fighting Saints this fall.

Gorzynski appeared in 68 games for the WHL’s Calgary Hitmen, registering 42 points (17 goals, 25 assists) with a plus/minus rating of plus-27.

“He had a good second half of the season,” said Joe McDonnell, the Stars’ director of amateur scouting, to DallasStars.com. “He had a slow start, but second half he took off and the Western guys were pounding the table for him.”

Photo/NHL.com

— Matt Mackinder

(June 29, 2025)