Tropp Selected by Buffalo Sabres in NHL Entry Draft, Incoming freshman a third-round selection of eastern conference finalists!

East Lansing, Mich. - Corey Tropp (Grosse Pointe, Mich.), an incoming freshman forward for the national champion Michigan State hockey program, was selected in the third round (89th pick overall) by the Buffalo Sabres in the National Hockey League’s entry draft. The draft was held on Friday and Saturday, June 22-23, in Columbis, Ohio, at Nationwide Arena - the home of the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Tropp, a 6-0, 185-pound right wing, played the last two years with the Sioux Falls Stampede (USHL), helping the club to the Clark Cup Championship this past spring. Tropp was the leading scorer for Sioux Falls last season, posting 62 points (26g, 36a) in 54 games. He also led the Stampede in playoff scoring with 13 points (4g, 9a) in eight games while leading the Stampede to their first-ever Clark Cup Championship. Tropp appeared in 100 career games with the Stampede, posting 77 points. The winger was also named the Ron Woodey Award as the Most Valuable Player of the 2007 USHL All-Star game, potting a pair of goals - including the game-winner in the third period. He is also a product of the Detroit Honeybaked organization.

Tropp joins Tim Kennedy (Buffalo, NY) as current Spartans with rights owned by the Sabres. He is originally from Grosse Pointe.

Jeff Petry (Farmington Hills, Mich.), another incoming freshman for this fall, was selected in the 2006 draft by the Edmonton Oilers; he was a second-round pick (45th overall). He spent the last two seasons with the DesMoines Buccaneers of the USHL, helping that squad to the Clark Cup in 2006. He was a first-team All-USHL selection and the league’s Defenseman of the Year in 2007, and was recently named the USA Hockey Junior Player of the Year. He attended Orchard Lake - St. Mary’s High School, where he played baseball in addition to hockey.