Matt Niskanen joined some pretty exclusive company Saturday in Ottawa.

Not only was the highly-skilled defenseman one of a record eight American-born players taken in the opening round of the 2005 National Hockey League Draft, but he also became just the second first-round selection ever from the University of Minnesota Duluth.

Niskanen, a Mountain Iron, Minn.,native, was the 28th pick overall (by the Dallas Stars) and the first of four Bulldog freshmen-to-be to go in Saturday's draft. The only other first-rounder UMD has ever produced was forward Larry Wright, who was the eighth player chosen in the 1971 draft.



A pair of incoming wingers -- Mason Raymond(Vancouver) and Michael Gergen (Pittsburgh)-- were both taken in the second round (51st and 61st picks, respectively) while defenseman Josh Meyers, who skated last season for the United States Hockey League's Sioux City Musketeers, was selected by Los Angeles in the seventh, and final round (206th overall pick).

The 2005-06 UMD roster now sports nine NHL draftees.