S76 Entry Draft Continues Reapers' Strong Season

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The Philadelphia Reapers had a big night not too long ago when they hoisted the S75 Founders Cup, but their successful year didn't stop there. It was a banner season on draft night for the Reapers, too. Four members of the team went in the first round of the VHL draft and their backup goaltender was the second goalie off the board as well. Let's take a look at the top prospects developed by the Reapers who found new homes today:

Tom Eagles, D - 1st round, 3rd overall - Calgary @Greg_Di
Eagles is a steady two-way defenseman with good puck moving ability and a good shot from the point. Last year he put up 64 points in 72 games, then was a PPG player in the post-season and a playoff hero, scoring the Founders Cup winning goal in OT. He's not as physical as some elite defensemen, despite his 6-foot-6, 230 pound frame, but aside from that he's a complete package and should be a top pairing defenseman for Calgary in the future. He'll jump straight to the VHL this season.

Caitlyn Catowize, RW - 1st round, 7th overall - DC @CrazyCaityCat
Catowize started out on the Reapers' fourth line this year but moved up to the third-line and penalty-killing duty quickly due to a very strong work ethic. Catowize was one of the best defensive forwards in the VHLM, although with only 20 points in 72 games this year, there are questions about offensive upside. Still, Catowize is an explosive skater with a good shot and probably would've posted significantly better numbers on a deep that wasn't as deep as Philadelphia was. Look for this rookie to step into the DC lineup right away and become an impact player at both ends of the ice in the not-too-distant future.

Robin Galante Nilsson, D - 1st round, 10th overall - Vancouver @RomanesEuntDomus
Vancouver got a good one in Galante Nilsson, a pass-first defenseman with good skating ability and excellent positioning. He got off to a hot start in Philadelphia and though his numbers cooled down a bit, there's nothing wrong with the 44 points in 72 games he finished off the season with. Galante Nilsson also had 103 hits and 88 blocked shots while developing at an impressive rate, catching the eyes of VHL scouts all season long.

Jivere Zolnik, C - 1st round, 16th overall - Vancouver @Sixersfan594
The Wolves went back to Philly for their second first round pick and snagged another top prospect - one that probably should've gone a little higher. Zolnik suffered a similar fate to Catowize in that he was buried early on in the Philadelphia lineup, and only finished the seaosn with 7 goals and 13 points, but he almost topped that in a 15 game playoff run alone and was a key player for the Reapers in the post-season. He's a big guy with good hands who will drive the net and score goals, though he might need to get a bit stronger and improve on face-offs at the next level.

Barry Taffe, G - 3rd round, 34th overall - Los Angeles @Barry
Taffe was a good pickup in the 3rd round; the second goalie taken though he may be the best goalie prospect in the S76 draft. With young star Doug Dimmadome between the pipes in Los Angeles, he may not get to realize that potential with the team that drafted him, but he's a talented and eager young netminder who gave the Reapers a reliable backup that allowed them to rest Jacob Carson with confidence. Taffe posted a 10-2 record over the course of S75, and will probably step into a starting role with whatever VHLM team he lands on next season.