ODESSA, TX — On Tuesday, July 21 the North American Hockey League held it’s 2020 Entry Draft. The Odessa Jackalopes had the 2nd overall pick and took nine players, including five college commits, to help bolster the ranks heading into the Jackalopes main camp and fall training camp. The Odessa Jackalopes are proud to introduce fans to their picks in the 2020 NAHL Entry Draft.
EVAN ORR – Defenseman – Rd 1 | Pick 2
Orr is a 2001 birth-year from Detroit, Michigan near. Orr stands at 5’10’’ and weighs 185 lbs. The defenseman most recently played for the Prince George Spruce Kings of the British Columbia Hockey League. Orr is currently committed to play Division I college hockey at Michigan Tech University.
OWEN GONTER – Defenseman – Rd 2 | Pick 2
Defenseman Owen Gonter is a 2000 birth year from Boston, New York. He stands at 5’11’’ and weighs 168 lbs. Gonter is coming off his first season in the Central Canada Hockey League where he garnered 24 points (one goal, 23 assists) with the Hawkesbury Hawks.
JACOB BADAL – Forward – Rd 2 | Pick 20
A 2001 birth-year forward, Badal hails from Flushing, Michigan. Standing at 6’1’’ and weighing 200 lbs, Badal spent this past season playing in Canada for the Powell River Kings of the British Columbia Hockey League. In his first BCHL season Badal garnered 14 goals and 18 assists for 32 points in 48 games played. Badal is currently committed to play Division I college hockey at Western Michigan University.
TIMO BAKOS – Forward – Rd 2 | Pick 21
The first European to be taken in this year’s NAHL draft, Timo Bakos is a 2000 birth year from Augsburg, Germany. Bakos stands at 5’11’’ and weighs 147 lbs. He is also the first United States Hockey League veteran drafted by the Jackalopes this year having finished his first year in the USHL with the Sioux Falls Stampede. Bakos is currently committed to play Division I college hockey with the University of New Hampshire.
JACK CRONIN – Forward – Rd 3 | Pick 9
Jack Cronin is a 2001 birth year forward from South Hamilton, Massachusetts. Cronin stands at 5’11’’ at weighs 175 lbs. After a successful prep high school season, Cronin was slated to join the West Kelowna Warriors of the British Columbia Hockey League. Jacks head coach Jason Fortier is hoping that instead of going north, Cronin will come south to Odessa and the NAHL. Cronin is currently committed to play Division I college hockey for the Princeton University Tigers.
LUCAS COON – Forward – Rd 3 | Pick 10
A native son of Steamboat Springs, Colorado, Lucas Coon is a 2001 born forward that stands at 6’1’’ and weighs 190 lbs. This makes him the tallest of this year’s draft picks for Odessa. Coon has played the last four seasons with the famed Shattuck St. Mary’s program and is most recently coming off a 34-point season (18 goals, 16 assists) with their high school prep U18 team.
MATTHEW DEBOER – Forward – Rd 4 | Pick 2
A 2002 birth year forward, DeBoer stands at 6’0’’ and weighs 165 lbs. The Madison, New Jersey native has three games of USHL experience him with the Green Bay Gamblers but he has spent most of his time playing with the Salisbury School in Connecticut. DeBoer is currently committed to play Division I College hockey for the Holy Cross Crusaders.
MICHAEL STEGMANN – Forward – Rd 5 | Pick 2
The first and only Canadian taken by the Jackalopes in this draft, Stegmann stands at 6’0’’ and weighs 161 lbs. A native of Gatineau, Quebec, Stegmann played this past season for both the Gatineau Flames and the Saint-Jèrôme Panthères in the Quebec Junior AAA Hockey League. Stegmann had 48 points (20 goals, 28 assists) during the 2019-20 campaign.
GARRETT WILDERMAN – Forward – Rd 6 | Pick 2
A name that should be familiar to Jackalope fans, GarretT Wilderman played nine games for the Jackalopes last season before finding a home with the Texas Roadrunners, Odessa’s NA3HL affiliate. Wilderman stands at 6’0’’, weighs 170 lbs and is a native of Waukesha, Wisconsin. He put up productive numbers for the Roadrunners last season boasting 22 goals, 17 assists for 39 points in his first NA3HL season.
Overall the Jackalopes took two defensemen, and seven forwards in this year’s draft. All players selected were 5’11’’ or taller and included five NCAA Division I college commits, one European, one Canadian and seven Americans. The Jackalopes will now get set for their main summer camp in Chicago leading up to training camp in Odessa as fall approaches.
