One of the top scorers in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League was the top pick for the Minnesota Wilderness in Wednesday’s 2022 NAHL draft. The Wilderness selected Elliot Dutil from the Notre Dame Hounds as the 30th overall pick in the draft. Dutil, a native of Montreal, QC, had an impressive rookie season, where he piled up 37 goals, 30 assists and 67 points in 58 games for the Hounds. His totals were good enough for 2nd in the SJHL in goals and 4th in the league in points.
The Wilderness selections also included former Grand Rapids HS standout Easton Young. In 2021-22, Young finished second on the Thunderhawks in scoring and led all defensemen with 50 points.
The 11th and final player taken by the Wilderness was another Minnesotan and another defenseman. Maple Grove native Jacob Hicks is a veteran who spent most of last season with Granite City of the NA3HL.
All of the Wilderness’ 2022 draft selections are noted below:
| Round | Pick # | Name | Position | DOB | Hometown | 2021-22 team |
| 2 | 30 | Elliot Dutil | F | 1/28/03 | Montreal, QC | Notre Dame (SJLH) |
| 2 | 39 | Michael Quinn | RD | 3/25/03 | University City, MO | Sioux Falls Stampede (USHL) |
| 3 | 61 | Connor Driscoll | RW | 3/13/03 | Kleinburg, MO | Salisbury School (CT prep) |
| 3 | 77 | Jack Spicer | G | 4/28/04 | Rockville, MD | Mt. St. Charles Academy (RI prep) |
| 4 | 96 | Nathan Stachowiak | C | 2/24/04 | Cheektowaga, NY | Frederick Gunn School (CT prep) |
| 5 | 124 | Easton Young | RD | 7/25/03 | Grand Rapids, MN | Grand Rapids HS |
| 6 | 163 | Jacob Delaney | LD | 9/16/04 | IL | Chicago Fury AAA |
| 7 | 192 | Brian Lonergan | RD | 12/28/05 | Montvale, NJ | Sioux Falls Power AAA |
| 8 | 221 | Jackson Graber | F | 10/20/04 | Ft. Myers, FL | Trinity-Pawling School (NY prep) |
| 9 | 250 | Jason Siedem | RW | 10/17/02 | Madison, NJ | Blackfalds (AJHL) |
| 10 | 279 | Jacob Hicks | RD | 10/3/02 | Maple Grove, MN | Granite City (NA3HL) |
Each player selected in the draft will be invited to participate in the Wilderness’ main tryout camp scheduled for June 28-30 at Northwoods Credit Union Arena in Cloquet. They’ll be joined by 11 other newcomers already tendered by Minnesota, 8 players protected from the 2021-22 roster and others invited through pre-draft camps held over the last three weeks.
The NAHL 2022-23 season will begin in September.