23 players with WCHA ties taken in NHL draft

Twenty-three present or future WCHA players from eight different schools were picked in the WCHA draft on Friday or Saturday at the X. The Gophers, with five, had the most. Here is the list:

Gophers (5)

F Kyle Rau, Eden Prairie H.S., 3rd rd., No. 91 by Florida ... jumped way up based on Central Scouting rating

D Mike Reilly, Shattuck-SM, 4th rd., No. 98 by Columbus ... going to play at Penticton of BCHL

F Seth Ambroz, 5th rd., No. 128 by Columbus ... slipped way down, rated No. 31 by Central Scouting

F Travis Boyd, U.S. natl development team, 6th rd., No. 177 by Washington ... 11-21--32

G Adam Wilcox, Green Bay, USHL, 6th rd. No. 178 by Tampa Bay ... 2.2 goals-against avg.

Denver (4)

D Scott Mayfield, Youngstown, USHL, 2nd rd., No. 34 by NY Islanders ... 6-3, 203

F Nick Shore, DU soph., 3rd., No. 82 by Los Angeles ... middle of three hockey-playing brothers

D Josiah Didier, Cedar Rapids, USHL, 4th rd., No. 97 by Montreal ... born in Littleton, Colo.

F Zac Larraza, US. natl development team, 7th rd., No. 196 by Phoenix .... born in Scottsdale, Ariz.

F Joe Labate, Holy Angels, 4th rd., No. 101 by Vancouver ... Canucks used pick they got from Wild in trade

F Michael Mersch, Wisconsin soph., 4th rd., No. 110 by Los Angeles ... 8 G, 10 A as Badgers freshman

D Patrick Daly, Benilde-St. Margaret's, 7th rd., No. 189 by New Jersey ... 34 assists, 3 goals

F Brad Navin, Waupaca HS, 7th rd., No. 197 by Buffalo ... 29 goals, 52 points

North Dakota (3)

F Rocco Grimaldi, U.S. natl team, 2nd rd., No. 33 by Florida ... 5-6, 160 dynamo

D Dillon Simpson, NoDak soph., 4th rd., No. 92 by Edmonton ... born in Edmonton

Nebraska Omaha (3)

D Nick Seeler, Eden Prairie HS, 5th rd., No. 131 by Wild ... grown lately by Wild's measurements

F Josh Archibald, Brainerd HS, 6th rd., No. 174 by Pittsburgh ... 46 assists, 73 points

UMD (2)

D Andy Welinski, Green Bay (USHL), 3rd rd., No. 83 by Anaheim ... born in Duluth

F Tony Cameranesi, Wayzata, 5th rd., No. 130 by Toronto ... 39 assists, known for speed

Michigan Tech (1)

F Blake Pietila, U.S. natl team 5th rd., No. 129 by New Jersey ... born in Milford, Mich.

D Aaron Harstad, Green Bay, USHL, 7th rd., No. 187 by Winnipeg ... born in Fargo, N.D.

Four other Minnesotans also were picked:

F Mario Lucia, Wayzata HS, 2nd rd., No. 60 by Wild, undecided ... son of Gophers coach

F Steve Fogarty, Edina HS, 3rd rd., No. 72 by NY Rangers, Notre Dame ... born in Chambersburg, Pa.

D Ed Wittchow, Burnsville H.S., 6th rd., No. 154 by Florida, undecided ... turned down Wisconsin offer

Draft notes

* This is the second time the NHL draft was held in Minnesota; it was at the old Met Center in Bloomington in 1989

* With two picks Vancouver got from Wild in trade, Canucks took G David Honzik of Czech Republic who played in QMJHL and Labate

* Of 210 players taken, 19 were goalies, 72 were defensemen, 58 were centers. 54 wings and seven were unidentified.

* Three players in WCHA last season were taken, four in Hockey East, 25 in USHL.