Courtersy: Marquette Junior Hockey and the USHL
Former Marquette Electrician Joel Benson, 18, of Marquette was selected as the second first round pick (fourth overall) of the Chicago Steel in the 2010 United States Hockey League Entry Draft that was held online today. Tanner Kero, 17, a Hancock native, was the first round pick (fourteenth overall) of the Fargo Force. Benson played last season for the Alpena Ice Diggers and Kero played for the Marquette Rangers, both of the North American Junior Hockey League.
Benson and Kero were also the first two Michigan players selected in the Draft. In all, 24 Michigan players were selected in the 18 rounds. Five played last season in the NAJHL, 7 were High School players (3 – Detroit Catholic Central, 2 – Orchard Lake St. Marys, 1 each Midland and Brighton) 11 came out of Detroit AAA, and one player played Junior in Canada.
Meanwhile another Upper Peninsula hockey player was selected in the fourth round of the USHL Futures Draft by the Fargo Force. Calumet forward Ben Johnson scores 29 goals and collected 30 assists in 29 high school games, including a hat trick in the Division III quarterfinal against Cadillac last March.
Players chosen in the Futures Draft can compete in the USHL next season, but many often start at a lower level to build experience and maturity.
The Force will retain Johnson's USHL rights for three years.
Fargo was the runner-up in the USHL's Clark Cup, losing to the Green Bay Gamblers in five games.
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