From: Anchorage Daily News by Doyle Woody
(left) Tampa Bay Lightning owner Oren Koules made the decision to draft David Carle on Saturday
Although promising defenseman David Carle of Anchorage announced the end of his hockey career this week because of a heart condition, the Tampa Bay Lightning nonetheless honored him Saturday by selecting him in the seventh and final round of the NHL draft.
Tampa Bay, at the behest of new owner Oren Koules, selected Carle with the 203rd pick overall in Ottawa. The draft included 211 picks.
Carle, 18, was certain to be drafted, perhaps as high as the second round, before he revealed Friday that extensive testing at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., diagnosed him with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. That condition, a thickening of the heart, can cause sudden cardiac death if the person who suffers it exercises too strenuously.
Carle's advisor, Kurt Overhardt, informed all 30 NHL teams that David, who played the last three seasons at Shattuck-St. Mary's in Minnesota, was removing his name from draft consideration. Even so, the Lightning honored him.
"The kid worked his whole life to be drafted in the NHL, and I didn't see a reason he shouldn't be," Koules explained on the Lightning's Web site.
Carle's selection makes him and his older brother, Matt, the only brothers from Alaska to be drafted. Matt, 23, a defenseman with the San Jose Sharks, was that club's second-round pick, 47th overall, in 2003.
The University of Denver, where David Carle was slated to play in the fall, has honored his scholarship. He still will attend school there, and coach George Gwozdecky said Carle will be involved with the Pioneers in some capacity.
The selection of David Carle also snapped a three-draft drought -- 2005-07 -- in which no Alaskan was selected.
Four Alaskans, all forwards, have been first-round picks: Scott Gomez, Scott Parker, Ty Jones and Barrett Heisten.
Tampa Bay, at the behest of new owner Oren Koules, selected Carle with the 203rd pick overall in Ottawa. The draft included 211 picks.
Carle, 18, was certain to be drafted, perhaps as high as the second round, before he revealed Friday that extensive testing at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., diagnosed him with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. That condition, a thickening of the heart, can cause sudden cardiac death if the person who suffers it exercises too strenuously.
Carle's advisor, Kurt Overhardt, informed all 30 NHL teams that David, who played the last three seasons at Shattuck-St. Mary's in Minnesota, was removing his name from draft consideration. Even so, the Lightning honored him.
"The kid worked his whole life to be drafted in the NHL, and I didn't see a reason he shouldn't be," Koules explained on the Lightning's Web site.
Carle's selection makes him and his older brother, Matt, the only brothers from Alaska to be drafted. Matt, 23, a defenseman with the San Jose Sharks, was that club's second-round pick, 47th overall, in 2003.
The University of Denver, where David Carle was slated to play in the fall, has honored his scholarship. He still will attend school there, and coach George Gwozdecky said Carle will be involved with the Pioneers in some capacity.
The selection of David Carle also snapped a three-draft drought -- 2005-07 -- in which no Alaskan was selected.
Four Alaskans, all forwards, have been first-round picks: Scott Gomez, Scott Parker, Ty Jones and Barrett Heisten.
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