For many people -- especially the puckheads that follow all levels of hockey -- June 26 is an important date to mark down on the calendar. This day marks the start of the 2015 NHL Entry Draft.
There are currently 35 players in the Frozen Four who have had the privilege of hearing their name called on draft day -- a number that undoubtedly will grow on June 26.
The Chicago Blackhawks and Calgary Flames have the most amount of draftees playing in the Frozen Four.
Of the draftees, there are 17 forwards and 16 defensemen. The only two goaltenders to be drafted are North Dakota's Zane McIntyre and Providence's John Gilles.
Nick Schmaltz -- drafted higher than anyone playing in the Frozen Four -- and his older brother, UND defenseman Jordan Schmaltz, are two of the three former first-rounders still playing for the national championship.
Brandon Hickey's future parent club, the Calgary Flames, has drafted four players vying for the Frozen Four crown, which is tied for the most with the Chicago Blackhawks.
Mark Jankowski is the third player in Providence's history to be selected in the first round. The first two were Tom Fitzgerald (1986, NY Islanders, 13th overall) and Joe Hulbig (1992, Edmonton, 17th).
Tanner Lane was drafted by the Atlanta Thrashers in 2010 (6th round, 160th overall). The Thrashers were relocated and became the Winnipeg Jets in 2011. The Jets also drafted North Dakota defenseman Tucker Poolman in 2013.
