Sioux Falls Stampede Assistant Coach Ryan Cruthers was a happy man at the NHL Draft. Not only did the Stanpede have four players that were full-time members of the team get drafted on day two of the event in Nashville. Most of those players were defenders. Cruthers, in his first year with the Stampede, did something new in his coaching career. He was trusted to help the defense and run that part of the bench. Like at every path in his coaching career, Cruthers helped set the standard. The consistent development model he built in Charlotte with the Rush and CPH Hockey has been proven to work at the highest level of junior hockey in the United States. That model, combined with recruiting and working with elite humans produced the big moment for four players from the 22-23 Stampede.

As Cruthers said of the event and development for the four rostered players “It was a really exciting couple of days.To be a part of that development process is exciting.” Cruthers spent a lot of the time talking about his players as people first. He first chatted about Jack Phelan.

Cruthers said that Jack is a player “that I loved spending time with. We spent a lot of time on and off the ice. He showed if you put in the work on and off the ice that you can be rewarded. He’s an outstanding human being. I called him right after he got picked.” Phelan and others in the Stampede draft class have built a hockey relationship with Cruthers family. They serve as mentors to Cruthers kids to get better at hockey and as role models as well. He told Cruthers that he didn’t know what round he got picked in after he got picked by the Red Wings ( it was the fifth round).

For Sam Harris “ he called me back about four minutes later, he’s going to Denver “ he couldn’t believe he got picked. He’s earned it.”

Harris is projected to be an impact player for the Pioneers right away. The incoming Pioneer is a complete forward with a propensity to make others around him better. His speed through the ice and consistency are part of why the Montreal Canadians picked him. He projects with pro potential that will grow under David Carle at Denver. (Harris was on the phone with the Habs when Cruthers called.)

Of Quinnipiac commit Chris Pelosi, picked by the Bruins, Cruthers said that he“ worked hard came in right away and got better.” He will be back as a top forward for the Herd this fall and should be a big part of the turnaround in Sioux Falls.

Of talented puck moving defender Maxim Strbak Cruthers said that he “ went in the second round to Buffalo, an amazing young man. He played against other teams top lines. To me what was impressive was the way he handled himself away from the rink. He carried himself like he had been there before.”

In closing, Cruthers mentioned that “I love everything about Sioux Falls.” He is set for a strong future of helping the Herd.

“The development model we put into place proved to work.” Cruthers talked about all the success of the draft picks shows how the Stampede model worked well.

Consistent work with a video coach now in the AHL, Ray Sylvester, and development on and off the ice all helped these players get seen and noticed on and off the ice for different teams to take a chance on them and help further develop on them.

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