Four former Waterloo Black Hawks were selected in the 2017 National Hockey League Draft this past weekend in Chicago.

Shane Bowers lead the way for four former Waterloo Black Hawks skaters during the 2017 NHL Draft this past weekend in Chicago.

Bowers was a first round selection, 28th overall, by the Ottawa Senators. NHL Central Scouting ranked Bowers 16th among North American prospects in their final rankings issued in April. In addition to his efforts for Waterloo, Bowers represented Canada in the highly-scouted Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament last August and skated during the USHL/NHL Top Prospects Game in Sioux Falls. The native of Nova Scotia is committed to play for the Boston University Terriers in 2017/18.

The Winnipeg Jets used a second round pick, 43rd overall, to select defensemen Dylan Samberg on the second day of the draft. Samberg joined the Black Hawks during the closing weeks of the 2016/17 United States Hockey League regular season. He skated in a half dozen regular season games and all eight of Waterloo’s playoff contests. Combining those 14 appearances, Samberg recorded two goals and three assists. In 2017/18, the Hermantown, Minnesota, native will play in the NCAA for the University of Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs.


Forward Nick Swaney was drafted by the Minnesota Wild in the seventh round. Leading the Black Hawks to the second-highest win total in club history in 2016/17, the 19-year-old was not held more than two consecutive regular season games without a goal or assist. Moving on to the University of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs next fall, Swaney’s career goal total ranks fifth among Waterloo junior players; his 115 points tie for 16th.

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