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06/27/2009
Byron Froese Selected in Fourth Round by Chicago
Everett Silvertips Press Release
Everett, WA - Everett Silvertips center Byron Froese was selected by the Chicago Blackhawks with the 28th pick in the fourth round (119th Overall) of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft at the Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec on Saturday. Froese becomes the tenth Everett player in franchise history to be selected in the NHL Draft.
The Winkler, Manitoba native finished with 57 points while playing all 72 games as a Silvertip rookie in 2008-09, tallying 19 goals and 38 assists. The 6'0, 175 pound center recently returned from the World Under-18 Championships in Fargo, North Dakota, where he tallied four goals and three assists for seven points in six games played. His four goals and +6 rating tied for second on the team while his hat trick on April 9 propelled Team Canada to an 11-2 victory over Germany.
Though undrafted by the Silvertips, Froese enjoyed a breakout rookie campaign as a two-way center with extensive special teams experience in 2008-09. He recorded a hat trick in a 6-3 victory over the Red Deer Rebels on December 31, 2008 as part of fourteen multi-point games in his debut season.
He becomes the second Silvertip selected in the 2009 draft, joining Cameron Abney, selected in the third round (82nd overall) by the Edmonton Oilers.
Froese was also instrumental in the team's efforts around the community and was recognized for his appearances at schools and his work with children in the community when the club presented him with its Community Relations Award at the conclusion of the season. He also received an Iron Man Award for appearing in all 72 games.
Silvertips who have previously been selected in the NHL Draft include Peter Mueller (Phoenix, 1st round - 2006), Leland Irving (Calgary, 1st - 2006), Ondrej Fiala (Minnesota, 2nd - 2006), Brady Calla (Florida, 3rd - 2006), Zach Hamill (Boston, 1st - 2007), Taylor Ellington (Vancouver, 2nd - 2007), Dan Gendur (Vancouver, 7th - 2007), Kyle Beach (Chicago, 1st - 2008) and Cameron Abney (Edmonton, 3rd - 2009).
Beginning with the 1980 Entry Draft and continuing today, all 18, 19 and 20-year old North American and non-North American born players have been eligible to be drafted. In addition, non-North American players aged 21-years or older are eligible for claim. From 1987 to 1991, the selection of 18 and 19-year-old players was restricted to the first three rounds of the draft, unless the player met qualifying criteria that dealt with hockey experience in major junior, U.S. college and high school or European hockey. Starting with the 1992 Draft, those players were available in all rounds.
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) and Radio-Canada provided the first live network television coverage in both English and French in 1984, coverage in the United States was first provided by SportsChannel America in 1989. This year's Entry Draft was seen in the United States on Versus and in Canada on TSN.
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