Sproul, Cousins, Catenacci, Broll selected at NHL draft

Ryan Sproul became the first Soo Greyhound taken in the 2011 National Hockey League Entry Draft.

In round two on Saturday morning in Minnesota, Sproul (pictured) was selected by the Detroit Red Wings with the 25th pick, 55th overall.

Then early in the third round, Nick Cousins became the second Hound selected by going to the Philadelphia Flyers with the seventh pick, 68th overall.

Daniel Catenacci was the next to go just nine picks later as the Buffalo Sabres took Catenacci with the 16th pick, 77th overall.

With the first pick in the sixth round, the Toronto Maple Leafs took big left winger David Broll, 152nd overall.

Sproul's stock shot up the draft board during the season with rapidly improving play. He was rated 124th in the midterm rankings and finished 54th among North American skaters.

The six-foot-three, 175-pound defensman registered 14 goals and 33 points last season. His 10 goals after January 1 was second to only Windsor's Ryan Ellis among OHL defensman.

The rookie from Mississauga led all Greyhound defenseman in scoring.

Cousins, a Belleville native, averaged a point-per-game last season with 29 goals and 39 assists for 68 points.

Cousins saw his stock rise as a member of Canada's Under-18 Team this spring with four goals and an assist in seven games at the World Championships while showing an ability to elevate his play in the clutch.

Catenacci, a Richmond Hill product, may have went lower in the draft then most would have expected. The five-foot-10, 183-pound centre was the top rated Hound at 37th among North American skaters.

In 67 games, Catenacci recorded 26 goals and 45 assists for 71 points to lead the Greyhounds offensively. He had two point streaks going last season that lasted 13 and 14 games each.

Catenacci has been a part of the Canadian National Program and was crowned the fastest skater at the Top Prospects Game skills competition.

Broll, who stands at six-foot-two and weighs in at 216 pounds, saw his draft stock fall from 78th to 139th during the season.

In 65 games, Broll, a product of Mississauga, scored 13 times and picked up 21 assists to go with 85 penalty minutes.