Two members of the Prince George Cougars heard their names called Sunday during the 2013 NHL Entry Draft in Newark, NJ.
Zach Pochiro was selected by the St. Louis Blues in the fourth round, 121st overall, and Marc McNulty heard his name two rounds later when the Detroit Red Wings used their sixth round, 169th pick to take the defenceman.
The 2012-13 season was the first full season Pochiro and McNulty played in the Western Hockey League.
Pochiro finished third in Cougars' scoring with 15 goals and 39 points. The six-foot-one, 161-pound centre also racked up 105 penalty minutes and was named the team's rookie of the year. Before signing with the Cougars, Pochiro played for the Wichita Falls Wildcats in the North American Hockey League.
The 19-year-old from Las Vegas was listed at 173rd in the final NHL Central Scouting Draft rankings. Pochiro is the second Cougars player to get drafted by the Blues following Nick Drazenovic in 2005.
McNulty, an 18-year-old from Medicine Hat tallied 15 points (eight goals) in 52 games for the Cougars last season. The six-foot-six defender also had 70 penalty minutes. McNulty was selected by the Cougars in the 10th round of the 2010 WHL bantam draft. He's the first Cougars player to be drafted by the Red Wings. McNulty was listed by Central Scouting at 105th.
Neither Cougars goalie Brett Zarowny (listed 29th among North America goaltenders) or Spruce Kings defenceman Kevin Guiltinan (listed 162nd) were drafted.
There were eight WHL players selected in the first round of the 2013 draft, led by Portland defenceman Seth Jones, fourth overall to the Nashville Predators. Other players picked were Prince Albert's Josh Morrissey (Winnipeg Jets, 13th), Brandon's Ryan Pulock (New York Islanders, 15th), Edmonton's Curtis Lazar (Ottawa Senators, 17th), Everett's Mirco Mueller (San Jose Sharks, 18th), Medicine Hat's Hunter Shinkaruk (Vancouver Canucks, 24th), Seattle's Shea Theodore (Anaheim Ducks, 26th) and Regina's Morgan Klimchuk (Calgary Flames, 28th).
