Thrashers Select Daultan Leveille with 29th Overall Pick in 2008 NHL Entry Draft

The Atlanta Thrashers have selected forward Daultan Leveille with their first-round choice, 29th overall, in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft at Scotiabank Place in Ottawa, Ontario, according to Executive Vice President and General Manager Don Waddell.

Leveille, 17, appeared in 45 games for the St. Catherines Falcons of the Golden Horseshoe Junior Hockey League (GHL) last season. He led the team with 29 goals and ranked third with 56 points and 27 assists. Leveille paced the GHL with six shorthanded goals and recorded three points (one goal, two assists) in the 2008 GHL All-Star Game.

The 5-11, 165-pound center led the Falcons with 30 points (14 goals, 16 assists) in 16 post-season contests. He tied for first in the league in goals (14), including three game-winning goals and eight multiple-point games during the playoff run. Leveille recorded at least one point in 15-out-of-16 playoff games, including a 10-game point streak from Feb. 29 – March 26, tallying 21 points (nine goals, 12 assists) in that span.

The St. Catherines, Ontario native has registered 101 points (48 goals, 53 assists) in 93 career games over two seasons with the Falcons. Leveille will attend Michigan State University in the fall of 2008.

Earlier tonight (June 20, 2008) the Thrashers selected defenseman Zach Bogosian with the third overall choice. Bogosian appeared in 60 games with the Peterborough Petes of the Ontario Hockey League last season and was the only defenseman to lead his team in points with 61 (11 goals, 50 assists).

The native of Massena, N.Y. has recorded 94 points (18 goals, 76 assists) and 135 penalty minutes in 127 career games over two seasons with Peterborough. He represented the Eastern Conference at the 2008 OHL All-Star Classic and participated in the CHL Top Prospects Game.

Prior to his time in Peterborough, Bogosian played two seasons at Cushing Academy (Mass.) from 2004-2006 where former NHL All-Star Ray Bourque was an assistant coach.
The Thrashers own five additional choices in this year’s draft, beginning in the third round. The seven-round draft resumes Saturday with the second round starting at 10 a.m.