The 2024 USHL Draft was held on Monday and Tuesday, with New Jersey talent sprinkled throughout.
The United States Hockey League is the premier junior hockey league in the United States and is often a big step toward a college and/or professional career for young players.
There were 908 former USHL players on NCAA Division I rosters this season.
John Carlson, Connor Clifton, Johnny Gaudreau, Eric Robinson, Ross Colton, Anthony DeAngelo, John Leonard, Mattias Samuelsson, Kyle Criscuolo and Caden Primeau, all from New Jersey, played this season. He has ties to the league and played in the NHL.
Let's check out the players selected in last year's draft.
The USHL Draft is divided into two phases.
The Phase I draft is made up of U-17 players, and this 2024 draft will have players born in 2008 or earlier. Phase II is open to players of all ages who are not under the protection of a USHL team and are eligible to play junior hockey.
Phase 1 Draft
Blake Zielinski, Eastern, F
– 1st round, 3rd place overall
– Des Moines Buccaneers
Although Eastern University is not a member of the NJSIAA for hockey, Zielinski still plays on the school's club hockey team and competes in the South Jersey High School Hockey League. He had 15 goals and nine assists in the 2022-23 season. He played the 2023-24 season with the North Jersey Avalanche 15U AAA team.
Nicholas Desiderio, Christian Brothers, F
– 1st round, 14th place overall
– Dubuque Fighting Saints
The sophomore had a breakout season for Christian Brothers, scoring 20 goals and dishing out 25 assists. When he's not skating for the Colts, Desiderio plays for his New Jersey Rockets 15U AAA team. Desiderio, a sophomore, shined in 15 games, including four multi-goals.
Liam Donnelly, Delbarton, F
– 6th round, 87th overall
– Madison Capitols
Donnelly scored 13 points as a freshman in Delbarton's 2022-23 season and took it to another level this winter. He had 14 goals and 17 assists, helping Delbarton reach the Gordon Cup final and non-public semifinals.
Nate Bienstock, Hillsboro, D
– 7th round, 97th overall
– Green Bay Gamblers
Bianstock was one of the most talented blueliners on offense last season. He was second on the Hillsboro team with 70 points, 48 of which came on assists. In just two seasons, the sophomore scored 110 points.
Phase 2 Draft
Chase Pirtle, Delbarton, F
– 8 rounds, 114th overall
– Tricity Storm
This is the third time Pirtle has been selected in the past four drafts. He was selected 16th overall in the Phase 1 Draft by the Youngstown Phantoms in 2021 and in the 15th round of the Phase 2 Draft last year by the Tri-City Storm. He had 10 goals and 10 assists in two seasons with the Green Wave. Pirtle spent the 2023-24 season with the Victoria Grizzlies of the British Columbia Hockey League, scoring 52 points in 57 games.
Teddy Mallgrave, Summit, D
– 9 rounds, 130th overall
– Waterloo Blackhawks
Mallgrave competed in the Summit for two seasons from 2019-2021. The defenseman had one goal and four assists as a freshman in 2019-20 and added another assist the following season. He attended Kent School and has played the last three seasons. He is committed to St. Lawrence University from 2025-2026.
Aidan Pacik, Delbarton, F
– 10 rounds, 150th overall
– Muskegon Lumberjack
Pasic had two goals and five assists as a freshman and took another leap forward as a sophomore last winter. In 2023-24, Pasic lit the lamp six times and added 15 assists. He also plays for the North Jersey Avalanche.
Cooper Snee, Don Bosco Preparation/Ramapo, F
– 12 rounds, 176th overall
– Madison Capitols
Snee made his high school debut at Don Bosco Prep during the 2021-22 season. He had six goals and 19 assists before transferring to Ramapo. In 2022-23, Snee was a game-changer with 13 goals and 19 assists. He changed schools again before last season, attending Avon Old Farms and scoring 18 points in 27 games. He plans to attend Providence College in 2025-2026.
Max Pendy, Delbarton, F
– 12 rounds, 179th overall
– Green Bay Gamblers
Pendy was one of the state's most dynamic forwards last season, earning first-team all-state honors by season's end. He had the best year of his career. He had 26 goals and 25 assists, surpassing 50 points for the first time in his career. Pendy finished his career with 86 points in three seasons as a starter. He is committed to Princeton.
Alex Hriczov, West Essex Caldwell, Democrat
– 16 rounds, 228th overall
– Omaha Lancers
The sophomore just completed his second season patrolling the blue line for West Essex Caldwell. He set a career high with 10 points. Frikusov graduated from high school in New Jersey where he was a key player on his 15U AAA team, the Rockets.
Joe Fenton, Edison, Metuchen-JP Stevens, F
– 19 rounds, 274th overall
– Cedar Rapids Roughriders
Fenton had eight goals and nine assists as a sophomore in 2021-22. He spent all of the 2022-23 season with the New Jersey Rockets, but returned to high school hockey last winter. He had 29 goals and 23 assists. Fenton has committed to play at Union College in the 2026-27 season.
Frantisek Netusil, Don Bosco Prep, F
– 22 rounds, 329th overall
– Green Bay Gamblers
The Czech junior had a stellar debut season at Don Bosco Prep. He lit the lamp 15 times and assisted on 16 other goals for 31 points. Netusil scored two goals and added an assist in the Gordon Cup final against Delbarton. He is committed to Western Michigan for the 2026-27 season.
Brian Bobal can be contacted at: bbobal@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on X @Brian Bobal.
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