The North American Hockey League held their annual entry draft this week, albeit later than usual due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Nonetheless, four Northstar Knights were among those selected. The four picked include 2019 graduates Joey Dosan (Bloomington, MN) and Jackson Vercellono (Laconia, NH) and 2020 graduates Nathan Cox (Orchard Park, NY) and Truett Olson (Alexandria, MN).
Dosan, a forward, was selected in the second round, 44th overall by the Minot Minotauros. A one-year player for the Knights, Dosan was co-captain for the Knights’ inaugural season, recording 27 goals and 47 assists for 74 points in 56 games. He spent the 2019-20 season with the Steinbach Pistons of the Manitoba Junior Hockey League, posting a goal and five assists in 32 games. Minot finished this past season fourth in the Central Division, and 12th overall in the league.
Cox, a defenseman, was selected next in the sixth round, 157th overall by the Johnstown Tomahawks. Also a one-year Knight, Cox played in 51 games this past season, finishing with two goals and four assists for six points. He also added 50 penalty minutes for the Knights. Johnstown finished second in the East Division and sixth overall in the league for the 2019-20 season.
Selected after Cox was Alexandria native Truett Olson, a two-year forward at Northstar. Olson was also selected by Johnstown in the eighth round, 211th overall. After posting 16 points in 56 games in the 2018-19 season, Olson nearly doubled his total in 2019-20, with20 goals and 11 assists for 31 points in 55 games. Olson finished his two year tenure for the Knights with 26 goals and 21 assists for 47 points in 111 games.
Finally, 2018-19 captain Jackson Vercellono was selected in the ninth round, 223rd overall by the Maine Nordiques. Vercellono’s one year at Northstar saw him tally 27 goals and 35 assists for 65 points in 56 games. He dressed for three teams in the 2019-20 campaign, starting the year with two games and zero points for the St. Cloud Blizzard of the NAHL, before joining the North Iowa Bulls of the NA3HL. He posted eight goals and 12 assists for 20 points in 21 games before being traded to the Lewiston/Auburn Nordiques, where he tallied ten goals and six assists for 16 points in only eight games. The Maine Nordiques, who are affiliated with the L/A Nordiques, finished the year seventh in the East Division of the NAHL, and 21st overall.
Congratulations to all four players on their accomplishment, and best of luck moving forward in your hockey careers!