In the first two rounds of the 2012 NHL Draft, three players with ties to the University of Michigan were selected. Defenseman Jacob Trouba, an incoming freshman, was the first player with Michigan ties to be selected, as he was picked ninth overall by the Winnipeg Jets on Friday. On Saturday, current Michigan forward Phil Di Giuseppe went 38th overall to the Carolina Hurricanes. Later on Saturday and still in the second round, incoming freshman Cristoval "Boo" Nieves was selected 59th overall by the New York Rangers.
Nieves, who barring a change of plans will join the Michigan hockey team this upcoming season, is from Syracuse, New York. He played hockey for Kent School in Connecticut last season and had seven goals and 32 assists for 39 points in 26 games. He also played for Kent School in 2010-11 and had 11 goals and 28 assists for 39 points in 22 games. He briefly was with the Indiana Ice of the USHL last season, but he appeared in only 13 games before returning to Kent School.
With three current or future players already selected, Michigan will now be looking to see where incoming freshman Connor Carrick and 2013 commit Alex Kile end up, as both players are expected to be drafted.
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