Hibbing native Ryan Ullan is leaving the U.S. National Team Development Program after one season and heading to the United States Hockey League to play for the Green Bay Gamblers in 2017-18.
Ullan, a goaltender who turns 17 in July, was selected in the third round, No. 44 overall, by the Gamblers on Tuesday in Phase II of the USHL Draft, which is for players born between 1997 and 2001 who will try out to play in the USHL in the fall.
Ullan, who left Hibbing-Chisholm after a standout freshman season, posted a 3.63 goals-against average and .875 save percentage in 21 games for the USNTDP Under-17 squad in 2016-17. He had one shutout and was 7-10-0 as a starter.
Four U-17 players - including Ullan and the goalie he played behind, Keegan Karki of St. Cloud Cathedral - are leaving the USNTDP after one season. Three of the four went in the top three rounds of the draft.
• Four other players with ties to the Northland went in Tuesday's draft. Forward Alex Adams, a 2016 graduate of Grand Rapids who is committed to Air Force, went in the third round, No. 39 overall, to the Sioux City (Iowa) Musketeers. He played all of 2016-17 with the Minot (N.D.) Minotauros of the North American Hockey League. Hermantown senior forward Jesse Jacques went in the 10th round to Green Bay and Grand Rapids senior defenseman John Stampohar went in the 11th round to the Muskegon (Mich.) Lumberjacks. Minnesota Wilderness defenseman Louis Roehl went in the first round, fifth overall, to the Madison Capitols.
