"Today proved to be another banner day for UMass hockey at the NHL Draft," said UMass head coach Greg Carvel. "Three of our incoming freshman were chosen, which speaks to the strength of our latest recruiting class and we continue our streak of having a returning player being drafted after having an outstanding freshman campaign. One of our many goals is to develop our players and move them on to the NHL. Today's four draft picks all have the ability to play at that level. I look forward to pushing each of them to help them find their full potential."
Including the four UMass selections in this year's draft class, 12 Minutemen have had their names called in the NHL Draft since Carvel arrived in Amherst. Lopina becomes the fifth individual to be drafted following their freshman campaign under Carvel and his staff in the past four years.
Morrow, a 6-2, 195-pound right shot defenseman, was taken in the second round (40th overall) by the Carolina Hurricanes, becoming the second-highest draft selection in program history behind Cale Makar who went fourth overall in 2017. He comes to UMass after playing three years of prep hockey at Shattuck St. Mary's and also saw time in the USHL. Over three seasons at Shattuck, the Darien, Connecticut native registered 167 points on 45 goals and 122 assists over 129 games for a 1.29 points per-game average.
Lopina, a 6-2, 194-pound right shot forward, was selected in the fourth round (98th overall) by the Anaheim Ducks. In 2020-21, he became first Minuteman to earn Hockey East Co-Rookie of the Year recognition and was selected to the Hockey East All-Rookie Team while helping UMass to its first NCAA Division I National Championship. The Minooka, Illinois native finished sixth in the nation in freshman scoring with 23 points on nine goals and 14 assists over 29 games in 2020-21, 10th in points per-game by a freshman (0.79). He logged four power-play goals and two game winners and put up six points in the postseason (2g, 4a). Lopina tied for fourth in the nation among freshmen in assists and ninth in goal scoring, while he tied for eighth nationally in plus-minus at +21. The centerman led all rookies nationally in faceoff wins (312) and held a .545 (312 of 573) faceoff percentage.
Ufko, a 5-10, 181-pound right shot defenseman, was chosen in the fourth round (115th overall) by the Nashville Predators. He spent the past two years with the Chicago Steel of the USHL where he won a Clark Cup Championship and earned an All-USHL First Team nod this past season. In his time with Chicago, the Smithtown, New York native totaled 55 points on 13 goals and 42 assists over 104 career contests.
Makar, a 6-3, 190-pound left shot forward, was picked in the seventh round (220th overall) by the Colorado Avalanche. He comes to UMass from the Brooks Bandits of the AJHL where he played 104 games over four seasons with Brooks, totaling 61 points on 17 goals and 44 assists. Serving as captain for the Bandits in 2020-21, the Calgary, Alberta native logged 19 points (5g, 14a) in 16 contests and had 63 penalty minutes.
Morrow, Lopina, Ufko and Makar along with Matthew Kessel (St. Louis) and Lucas Mercuri (Carolina) and Slava Demin (Chicago) give the Minutemen a total of seven drafted players on their roster for the 2021-22 season.
For continued coverage of UMass hockey, follow the team on Twitter and Instagram (@UMassHockey) and on Facebook at facebook.com/UMassHockey.
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Four Minutemen Selected In The 2021 NHL Entry Draft - University of Massachusetts Athletics - UMass Athletics
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