Cannata, Bigos Selected in 2009 NHL Entry Draft

MONTREAL, QUE – Goaltender Joe Cannata (Wakefield, MA) and incoming freshman Kyle Bigos (Upland, CA) were selected in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft Saturday, marking the first time two Warriors were taken in the same draft since 2001.

They are also the first players from Merrimack to be selected since Matt Foy was taken in the sixth round (175th overall) by the Minnesota Wild in 2002.

“We are real happy for Joe and Kyle,” said Merrimack head coach Mark Dennehy. “It’s a testament to their hard work and dedication. As part of the Merrimack family, we’re obviously real excited. It’s an honor to have two players selected in the same draft. It’s just another step towards where we’re going as a hockey program, and we are eagerly looking forward to next season.”

Cannata, the top-ranked undrafted goaltender from collegiate hockey according to Central Draft Services, was chosen by the Vancouver Canucks in the sixth round (173rd overall). The former goaltender from the U.S. Under-18 National Team posted a 2.35 goals-against and a .918 save percentage as a freshman at Merrimack in 2008-09, while earning four Hockey East weekly honors.

Bigos, who will enroll at Merrimack in the fall, was selected by the Edmonton Oilers in the fourth round (99th overall). The six-foot, five-inch defenseman led the Vernon Vipers (BCHL) to the Royal Bank Cup National Junior A Hockey Championship, earning tournament MVP and Top Defenseman honors, while tallying nine points in six playoff games. In 80 regular season games, Bigos posted 43 points (10 goals, 33 assists) to go with 173 penalty minutes.

Merrimack players who were drafted in the NHL Entry Draft
Bob Magnuson (Montreal), 1978 18th round
Mark Ziliotto (Pittsburgh), 1984 12th round
Jim Vesey - 1984, 8th round (St. Louis)
Chris Kiene - 1984, 12th round (New Jersey)
Doug Greschuk - 1985, 11th round (Pittsburgh)
Alex Weinrich (Toronto), 1987 12th round
Rob Fowler - 1987, Supplemental (Winnipeg)
Bob Lebeau (Winnipeg), 1988 5th round
Dave Schofield (Minnesota), 1988 Supplemental
Matt Hentges - 1988, 9th round (Chicago)
Mike Doneghey (Chicago), 1989 12th round
Jim Hrivnak (Washinton), 1986 3rd round
Howie Rosenblatt - 1990, Supplemental (Boston)
Claude Maillet (Chicago), 1990 Supplemental
Dan Hodge (Boston), 1991 9th round
Dan Gravelle (Chicago), 1991 Supplemental
Brendan Locke - 1991, Supplemental (Philadelphia)
John Jakopin (Detroit), 1993 4th round
Gaethan Porier - 1996, 6th round (Florida)
Anthony Aquino (Dallas), 2001 3rd round
Marco Rosa (Dallas), 2001 8th round
Matt Foy (Minnesota), 2002 6th round
Kyle Bigos (Edmonton), 2009 4th round
Joe Cannata (Vancouver), 2009 6th round