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LEIBOLD BROTHERS

MAKE A SPLASH IN

USHL DRAFT

I t was a big day for the Little Caps organization last
spring when three of its current and former players
were selected in the 2017 United States Hockey
League (USHL) draft. What made the day even
more remarkable was that two of them were brothers: U15
forward Reid Leibold and former U18 forward Ryan Liebold.

The USHL is the only Tier 1 junior hockey league in the
United States.

Ryan was selected by the Sioux City Musketeers, in the 14th
round, 227th overall. Ryan?s stellar performance with the
U18 Little Caps during the 2015-16 season won him a tender
offer from the Springfield Jr. Blues of the North American
Hockey League (NAHL). Ryan played 60 games for the Jr.
Blues last season, racking up 32 points (13 goals and 19
assists) while securing a Division 1 college commitment from
the United States Military Academy at West Point.

Reid was selected by the Waterloo Black Hawks in the 15th
round, 242nd overall, in the Phase 2 draft which is open to
players of all ages eligible to play junior hockey. He has
since committed to play Division 1 college hockey with
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI)

?It?s a big day for the Leibold family with two USHL draft
picks,? said Little Caps executive director Doug Plocki. ?The
top junior hockey league in the United States has identified
Reid and Ryan as elite players. We?re very proud of them. "
"They?ve worked hard to get to this point," Plocki said. "Now
there is more hard work to come, but both players are up to
the challenge, and they have teammates who can push them
to excel.?

Also drafted was U15 forward Adam Varga, who later signed
with the Ontario Hockey League?s (OHL) Mississauga
Steelheads (see accompanying article).
Ried?s selection capped off an amazing season for the U15
Little Caps. The team won the North American Prospects
Hockey League (NAPHL) Dixon Cup and the USA Hockey
Southeastern District Championship, and earned a ticket to
the USA Hockey Tier 1 National Championships in
Scottsdale, Arizona where they were seeded 12th. Reid Leibold at 2016-17 USA Hockey Nationals
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