University of Massachusets Athletics
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Three Incoming Massachusetts Hockey Freshmen Selected On Day Two Of 2023 NHL Entry Draft
June 29, 2023 | Hockey
NASHVILLE – Three members of University of Massachusetts hockey's incoming freshmen class had their names called on day two of the 2023 NHL Entry Draft on Thursday at Bridgestone Arena. Goaltender Michael Hrabal was the sixth selection on day two, going 38th overall in the second round to the Arizona Coyotes. Forward Aydar Suniev was chosen 80th overall in the third round by the Calgary Flames and forward Nicholas VanTassell was picked by the Ottawa Senators in the seventh round at No. 215.
It marked the seventh straight year the Minutemen have had at least one player drafted and the fourth out of the past five drafts where multiple UMass players were selected. At 38th overall, Hrabal becomes the second-highest pick in program history, following only Cale Makar, who was chosen in 2017 at No. 4 overall.
Hrabal and Suniev are the eighth and ninth players in program history to hear their names called in the first three rounds – six of those nine draft selections have come during head coach Greg Carvel's tenure at UMass.
"Three incoming freshmen players provided UMass hockey with another productive NHL Entry Draft," said Carvel. "Hrabal is a high-end goaltending prospect, while Suniev and VanTassell are skilled forwards with great size. They will join two other previously drafted players in our next freshmen class, Dans Locmelis (4th RD 2022, Boston) and Cameron O'Neill (5th RD 2022, Ottawa). UMass is recognized as one of the top developmental programs in college hockey and we look forward to helping this entire bunch of Minutemen to one day sign NHL contracts."
Hrabal is a 6-6, 209-pound left-catch goaltender from Prague, Czechia who spent the 2022-23 season in the United States Hockey League (USHL) playing for the Omaha Lancers. With the Lancers, Hrabal appeared in 31 games and posted a 2.86 goals against average and a .908 save percentage while being named to the USHL All-Rookie Team.
In international competition for his native Czechia, Hrabal registered a 3.11 GAA and a .920 save percentage at the 2023 U-18 World Hockey Championship and was named one of Czechia's top-3 players of the tournament. At the Hlinka Gretzky Cup in 2022, he had a 2.73 GAA and a .917 save percentage over four contests.
Suniev, a 6-2, 205-pound left-shot forward, is a native of Kazan, Russia who spent the past two seasons with the Penticton Vees of the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL) where he logged 123 points over 83 games on 59 goals and 64 assists and averaged 1.64 points per-game in regular season contests.
In addition to his First Team All-Star recognition, Suniev led the BCHL in goals with 45 and was an all-rookie team honoree in 2022-23. In 2021-22, he saw action in 17 regular season games and 10 playoff contests, putting up a total of 24 points in the Vees' BCHL championship run.
A 6-4, 196-pound right-shot forward, VanTassell is a native of Basking Ridge, New Jersey who registered 56 points in 123 games on 31 goals and 25 assists, including three postseason contests over two seasons with the Green Bay Gamblers of the United States Hockey League (USHL).
This past year with the Gamblers, VanTassell totaled 19 goals and 18 assists for 37 points during the 2022-23 regular season.
For continued coverage of UMass hockey, follow the team on Twitter and Instagram (@UMassHockey) and on Facebook at facebook.com/UMassHockey.
It marked the seventh straight year the Minutemen have had at least one player drafted and the fourth out of the past five drafts where multiple UMass players were selected. At 38th overall, Hrabal becomes the second-highest pick in program history, following only Cale Makar, who was chosen in 2017 at No. 4 overall.
Hrabal and Suniev are the eighth and ninth players in program history to hear their names called in the first three rounds – six of those nine draft selections have come during head coach Greg Carvel's tenure at UMass.
"Three incoming freshmen players provided UMass hockey with another productive NHL Entry Draft," said Carvel. "Hrabal is a high-end goaltending prospect, while Suniev and VanTassell are skilled forwards with great size. They will join two other previously drafted players in our next freshmen class, Dans Locmelis (4th RD 2022, Boston) and Cameron O'Neill (5th RD 2022, Ottawa). UMass is recognized as one of the top developmental programs in college hockey and we look forward to helping this entire bunch of Minutemen to one day sign NHL contracts."
Hrabal is a 6-6, 209-pound left-catch goaltender from Prague, Czechia who spent the 2022-23 season in the United States Hockey League (USHL) playing for the Omaha Lancers. With the Lancers, Hrabal appeared in 31 games and posted a 2.86 goals against average and a .908 save percentage while being named to the USHL All-Rookie Team.
In international competition for his native Czechia, Hrabal registered a 3.11 GAA and a .920 save percentage at the 2023 U-18 World Hockey Championship and was named one of Czechia's top-3 players of the tournament. At the Hlinka Gretzky Cup in 2022, he had a 2.73 GAA and a .917 save percentage over four contests.
Suniev, a 6-2, 205-pound left-shot forward, is a native of Kazan, Russia who spent the past two seasons with the Penticton Vees of the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL) where he logged 123 points over 83 games on 59 goals and 64 assists and averaged 1.64 points per-game in regular season contests.
In addition to his First Team All-Star recognition, Suniev led the BCHL in goals with 45 and was an all-rookie team honoree in 2022-23. In 2021-22, he saw action in 17 regular season games and 10 playoff contests, putting up a total of 24 points in the Vees' BCHL championship run.
A 6-4, 196-pound right-shot forward, VanTassell is a native of Basking Ridge, New Jersey who registered 56 points in 123 games on 31 goals and 25 assists, including three postseason contests over two seasons with the Green Bay Gamblers of the United States Hockey League (USHL).
This past year with the Gamblers, VanTassell totaled 19 goals and 18 assists for 37 points during the 2022-23 regular season.
For continued coverage of UMass hockey, follow the team on Twitter and Instagram (@UMassHockey) and on Facebook at facebook.com/UMassHockey.
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