Zucker and Brittain Selected in Day Two of NHL Entry Draft

DENVER - Incoming freshmen forward Jason Zucker (Las Vegas) and goaltender Sam Brittain (Calgary, Alberta) were selected on day two of the NHL Entry Draft today at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.

Zucker was selected 59^th overall in the second round by the Minnesota Wild and Brittain was picked 92^nd overall in the fourth round by the Florida Panthers. Zucker and Brittain join first-round selection Beau Bennett (Gardena, Calif.) for the 2010-11 Pioneers. Bennett was drafted 20^th overall by Pittsburgh yesterday.

Zucker is the first Nevada-born player to be picked in the NHL Entry Draft. He has been a standout member of the U.S. National Development Team Program for the past two seasons. Zucker is one of two U.S. players to win three gold medals in one calendar year - he and Jack Campbell won gold at the 2009 and 2010 Under-18 Championships as well as the gold medal at the 2010 World Junior Championships. Zucker netted 53 points (29-24=53) in 60 games for the U.S. Under-18 Team last season.

The 6-foot-3, 215-pound Brittain posted a 23-19-8 record with a 3.27 goals against average, .897 save percentage and two shutouts in 52 games for the Canmore Eagles of the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL) last season. Brittain was named to the AJHL South Division All-League and All-Rookie Teams and had a .913 saves percentage in nine playoff games for the Eagles.

Bennett, Zucker and Brittain join Matt Donovan (Edmond, Okla./NY Islanders), John Lee (Moorhead, Minn./Florida), Jesse Martin (Edmonton, Alberta/Atlanta), Paul Phillips (Darien, Ill./Chicago), Drew Shore (Denver/Florida), William Wrenn (Anchorage, Alaska/San Jose) as current drafted Pioneers.