WATERTOWN, S.D. — The Watertown Shamrocks bolstered their roster this week, selecting five players in the North American Hockey League Entry Draft following a two-round “Futures Draft” to open the team’s 2026 draft class.
The draft process kicked off Tuesday with the Futures Draft, where the Shamrocks focused on emerging young talent.
With the 19th overall pick in the first round, Watertown selected forward Sonny Cantore from the Chicago Fury 15U AAA program. The 5-foot-11, 183-pound center recorded 18 goals and 14 assists for 32 points in 20 games last season. Cantore was also selected by the Waterloo Black Hawks in the fifth round of the 2026 USHL Phase 1 Draft.
In the second round, the Shamrocks selected defenseman Nicholas Hahn with the 51st overall pick. The 6-foot-3, 185-pound defenseman split time last season between Team Wisconsin 15U AAA and Northland Pines High School, totaling nine goals and 21 assists across 56 games. Hahn was previously selected by the Lincoln Stars in the seventh round of the 2026 USHL Phase 1 Draft.
The draft continued Wednesday with the NAHL Entry Draft, where the Shamrocks held five selections.
Watertown used its first-round pick, 18th overall, to select goaltender Lucas Courtney from the Little Caesars 18U AAA program. Courtney posted a 1.66 goals-against average and a .943 save percentage with four shutouts in 44 games last season. He also appeared in one game for the NAHL’s New Jersey Jr. Titans.
In the fourth round, the Shamrocks chose forward Miles Jinman with the 120th overall pick. Jinman spent most of last season with the Bishop Kearney Selects 16U AAA team, racking up 14 goals and 47 assists for 61 points in 46 games.
With the 182nd overall pick in the sixth round, Watertown selected defenseman Michael Bonkov, also from the Bishop Kearney Selects 16U AAA program, where he recorded nine goals and 40 assists in 48 games.
Forward Chance Adams was selected in the seventh round with the 214th overall pick. Adams spent the majority of last season with the Markham Royals of the OJHL, scoring six goals and adding 10 assists in 18 games.
The Shamrocks concluded their draft in the eighth round, selecting defenseman Shaun Paulson 246th overall. Paulson recorded 13 goals and 19 assists for 32 points in 37 games for the West Bend Power last season.
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