Notre Dame Freshman, Ann Arbor Native Cole Drafted In First Round

Sunday, June 24th 2007, 2:31 pm

By: News On 6

SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) _ Freshman defenseman Ian Cole became the first Notre Dame hockey player ever selected in the first round of the NHL draft when the St. Louis Blues made him the 18th overall pick.

The Blues traded with the Calgary Flames and moved up six spots to select the 6-1, 211-pound, Ann Arbor, Mich., native on Friday.

Cole played in 49 games for the U.S. Under-18 team in 2006-07 and had four goals and 16 assists for 20 points.

Four Irish players heard their names called on day two of the draft on Saturday afternoon. Teddy Ruth was selected 46th overall in the second round by the Washington Capitals, left wing Ryan Thang was picked in the third round by the Nashville Predators, center Ben Ryan was a fourth round selection by Nashville and goaltender Brad Phillips was a seventh round pick by the Philadelphia Flyers.

The five players selected are the most for Notre Dame since the 1997 draft, when the Irish had four players picked.