With the two-day 2016 National Hockey League Draft getting underway this Friday (June 24) at the First Niagara Center in Buffalo, N.Y.,  the umdbulldogs.com staff couldn't think of a better time to pass along the following related nuggets:

• A total of 101 Bulldogs have been chosen in the NHL Draft over the years -- the first was center Murray Keogan in 1970 (second round; 23rd overall by the St. Louis Blues) and the latest being current senior defenseman Carson Soucy (fifth round; 137th overall) and junior winger Avery Peterson (sixth round; 167th pick overall) in 2013 by the Minnesota Wild.

•The Minnesota North Stars/Dallas Stars have drafted more Bulldogs (10) than any other NHL franchise followed by the New York Rangers (8), Philadelphia Flyers (7), Montreal Canadiens (7), Atlanta/Calgary Flames (6), Chicago Blackhawks (6) and New York Islanders (6). At the other end of the spectrum, the Anaheim Ducks, Boston Bruins, Detroit Red Wings, Edmonton Oilers, Florida Panthers, Nashville Predators, Ottawa Senators, San Jose Sharks and Tampa Lightning have all drafted the fewest UMD players (one) among current NHL clubs.

•The Bulldogs have produced three first-round picks in Larry Wright (8th overall by Philadelphia in 1971), Matt Niskanen (28th overall by Dallas in 2005) and Dylan Olsen (28th overall by Chicago in 2009) and six second-rounders -- Keogan, Dennis Vaske (New York Islanders in 1986), Rusty Fitzgerald (Pittsburgh Penguins in 1990), Michael Gergen (Pittsburgh in 2005), Mason Raymond (Vancouver Canucks in 2005) and Justin Faulk (Carolina Hurricanes in 2010).

•Since 1970, at least one Bulldog has been selected in every NHL Draft except six -- 1973, 1995, 1997, 1999, 2002 and 2014. The biggest UMD harvest came in 1983 with nine draftees while 1990 (eight) was next.

•Soucy, Peterson and senior center Dominic Toninato (Toronto Maple Leafs in 2012) are the only three 2016-17 Bulldogs to be drafted prior to this year.

•Dave "Moose" Langevin (New York Islanders- 1974/Edmonton Oilers - 1974) and John Rothstein (Chicago Blackhawks-1976/Minnesota Fighting Saints-1974) are the lone two Bulldogs to chosen in both the NHL and World Hockey Association drafts. The WHA held a amateur draft between 1973 and 1977.