The Cedar Rapids RoughRiders came away with a wealth of talent in the USHL Phase I and II Drafts. More about the 2024 draft class.

The Cedar Rapids RoughRiders got a head start on the 2024 USHL Draft, signing forward Thomas Vandenberg in April to a USHL tender agreement for the 2024–25 season.

The forward, who is listed at 5-foot-11 and 161 pounds, hails from Nepean, Ontario, and spent last season with the Ottawa Myers Automotive U16 team. There, the 15-year-old led the team in goals (24) and points (43) in 26 games played.

As a result of signing Vandenberg, the RoughRiders forfeited their first-round pick in the 2024 USHL Phase I Draft. Added, the forward, who does not turn 16 until September 8, will play in at least 55 percent of Cedar Rapids games next year.

Aside from his on-ice skills, Vandenberg was the top choice for the Riders because they knew he was fully committed to constant improvement.

"He's a real high-character guy," RoughRiders head coach and general manager Mark Carlson told The Hockey News. "He comes from a great family. He's really dedicated, loves hockey, and wants to be a player and do extra work. He wants to be on the ice early and after—just a ton of great things about him as far as his approach."

The signing of Vandenberg marked the beginning of Cedar Rapids' strategy to bring in new talent to the organization. In the Phase I Draft, including Vandenberg, the RoughRiders selected five forwards, three defensemen, and one goaltender. 

Leading up to the draft, the team focused on identifying players who were not only talented on the ice but also dedicated to the game of hockey. Cedar Rapids found those qualities in Vandenberg and aimed to continue recruiting similar players.

"We drafted second and third-effort guys that want to put in the extra work: train during the summer, utilize the shooting station at the rink, go out early and work on their game, utilize the weight room that we have right in the rink, guys that have big aspirations for the game of hockey," Carlson said.

The RoughRiders selected defenseman Cameron Chartrand with the 17th overall pick in the second round of the Phase I Draft. The 16-year-old, who comes from Saint-Lazare, Quebec, played for the Bishop Kearney Selects 15U team this past season.

Chartrand, who is 6-foot-1 and 192 pounds, scored the second-most goals (6) and points (33) among defensemen on the team. He is known for his smooth skating and abundant talent, which led Neutral Zone to dubbing him "the biggest steal" of the draft during the USHL Draft Show.

"We think Cam just wants to be a player," Carlson said of Chartrand. "(He's a) second, third-effort guy in addition to his talents as a defenseman: his mobility, compete, the way he moves the puck, his poise, how responsible he is. We just think he's a very well-rounded defenseman."

Here is a look at the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders entire 2024 USHL Phase I Draft class:

USHL Phase I Draft

Round 1, 2nd Overall: Thomas Vandenberg, F (Ottawa Myers Automotive)

Round 2, 17th Overall: Cameron Chartrand, D (Bishop Kearney Selects)

Round 3, 32nd Overall: David Bosco, F (Belmont Hill School)

Round 5, 62nd Overall: Dain Gordon, F (Bishop Kearney Selects)

Round 6, 77th overall: Jude Herron, F (South Kent Selects)

Round 8, 107th overall: Joseph Skidmore, G (Carolina Jr. Hurricanes)

Round 9, 122nd overall: Anthony Spadaro, D (Pittsburgh Penguins Elite 15's)

Round 10, 137th overall: Nasean Faria, D (Toronto Jr. Canadiens U16)

Round 10, 139th overall: Evan Hubbard, F (Buffalo Jr. Sabres 15's)

After selecting players in the Phase I Draft, the RoughRiders concentrated on acquiring talented players in the Phase II Draft who could potentially join their lineup in the upcoming season.

Cedar Rapids made a big swing by selecting Swedish defenseman Gabriel Eliasson as their first choice in the draft, selecting him second overall. Eliasson, standing at 6-foot-6 and weighing 205 pounds, was ranked No. 29 among European skaters in Central Scouting's final rankings.

Known for his imposing presence on the ice, the 19-year-old Eliasson recently committed to the University of Michigan after playing for the HV71 J20 squad last season, where he scored one goal and six points in 36 games.

At this stage of his development, Eliasson's defensive skills are further along than his offensive abilities. However, Cedar Rapids believes that Eliasson is close to becoming a threat at both ends of the ice.

"He has just scratched the surface as far as his potential," Carlson said. "He plays extremely hard and has a good simple first pass, and I mean that as a big compliment, takes a ton of pride in his defense, and his physicality and the fact that he's not a very nice customer."

Following the selection of Eliasson, the RoughRiders chose forward Charles Blanchard as the 17th overall pick in the second round of the Phase II Draft. The 19-year-old played for both Avon Old Farms School and the Yale Jr. Bulldogs 18U club last season.

Blanchard was the leading scorer for the Bulldogs with 41 points and the second highest goal scorer with 23 goals. He has committed to Miami University (Ohio), and Cedar Rapids believes that his skills will easily transition to the fast-paced style of the USHL.

"He's got a good hockey, he sees the ice, and he's pretty hard on the puck in the offensive zone," Carlson said.

Here is a look at the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders entire 2024 USHL Phase II Draft class:

USHL Phase II Draft

Round 1, 2nd Overall: Gabriel Eliasson, D (HV71 Jr.)

Round 2, 17th Overall: Charles Blanchard, F (Yale Jr. Bulldogs 18U)

Round 3, 32nd Overall: Jack Sadowski, F (Kimbal Union Academy)

Round 4, 47th Overall: AJ Reyelts, G (Proctor High School)

Round 4, 53rd overall: Maxon Vig, D (Oklahoma Warriors)

Round 5, 62nd overall: Daniel Astapovich, F (Minnesota Wilderness)

Round 9, 124th overall: Andrew Mohesky, F (St. Louis Blues AAA)

Round 10, 139th overall: Sam Ledrew, F (Kimbal Union Academy)

Round 11, 154th overall: Will Garrett, D (North York Rangers U16)

Round 12, 169th overall: Michael Dec, F (St. Andrew's College)

Round 13, 184th overall: Eero Prihti, D (Ässät U20)

Round 14, 199th overall: Jalen Lobo, F (North York Rangers U16)

Round 15, 214th overall: Zackary Ferris, G (Johnstown Tomahawks)

Round 16, 229th overall: Maddex Marmulak, F (Halifax McDonald's U18)

Round 17, 244th overall: Nathan Birch, D (Bishop's College School)

Round 18, 259th overall: Kole Hyles, F (Cushing Academy)

Round 19, 274th overall: Joseph Fenton, D (New Jersey Rockets)