FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 27, 1998 PITTSBURGH - The Pittsburgh Penguins made Milan Kraft the 23rd overall selection in the 1998 NHL Entry Draft, held today at Marine Midland Arena in Buffalo. Kraft became the third Czech-born player to be picked by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the first round, following in the footsteps of countrymen Jaromir Jagr (fifth overall in 1990) and Martin Straka (19th overall in 1992).

The Penguins selected 10 players in today's draft, the most the team has chosen since it picked 14 players in 1994. Following is a list of the Penguins' 1998 Entry Draft Selections:

First Round - 23rd Overall
Milan Kraft
6-3, 191
Center, shoots right
Born: January 17, 1980, Czech Republic
YEAR TEAM LEAGUE GP G A PTS PIM
1996-97 Plzen Czech Jr. 36 26 17 43 n/a
1997-98 Plzen Czech Jr. 24 22 23 45 12
**Captain of 1998 Czech Republic Under-18 team

Second Round - 54th Overall

Alexander Zevakhin
6-0, 187
Wing, shoots left
Born: June 4, 1980, Perm, Russia
YEAR TEAM LEAGUE GP G A PTS PIM
1996-97 CSKA 2 Russian Jr. 22 8 6 14 n/a
1997-98 CSKA 2 Russian Jr. 64 28 25 53 35
**Captain of 1998 Russian Under-18 team

Third Round - 80th Overall
David Cameron
6-1½, 180
Center, shoots right
Born: April 27, 1980, Winnipeg, Manitoba
YEAR TEAM LEAGUE GP G A PTS PIM
1996-97 Prince Albert WHL 56 6 7 13 16
1997-98 Prince Albert WHL 69 20 36 56 42
**Led Prince Albert in scoring for 1997-98

Fourth Round - 110th Overall
Scott Myers
5-10½, 172
Goaltender, catches right
Born: June 11, 1979
YEAR TEAM LEAGUE GP MP GA SO GAA
1997-98 Prince George WHL 48 2822 139 2 2.96

Fifth Round - 134th Overall
Robert Scuderi
6-1½, 194
Defense, shoots left
Born: December 30, 1978, Syosset, NewYork
YEAR TEAM LEAGUE GP G A PTS PIM
1996-97 NY AppleCore Jr. B 80 42 70 112 52
1997-98 Boston College HE 34 0 19 19 10
**Named to Hockey East's All-Rookie Team for 1997-98

Sixth Round - 169th Overall
Jan Fadrny
6-0, 176
Center, shoots right
Born: June 14, 1980
YEAR TEAM LEAGUE GP G A PTS PIM
1997-98 Slavia Jr. Czech Jr. 22 7 15 22 12

Seventh Round - 196th Overall
Joel Scherban
6-2, 207
Center, shoots left
Born: April 22, 1980
YEAR TEAM LEAGUE GP G A PTS PIM
1997-98 London OHL 8 2 5 7 2

Eighth Round - 224th Overall
Mika Lehto
5-11, 172
Goaltender, catches left
Born: April 12, 1979
YEAR TEAM LEAGUE GP MP GA SO GAA
1997-98 Assat Jr. Finnish Jr. 36 2160 103 2 2.80

Ninth Round - 244th Overall
Toby Petersen
5-10, 196
Center, shoots left
Born: October 27, 1978, Minneapolis, MN
YEAR TEAM LEAGUE GP G A PTS PIM
1996-97 Colorado WCHA 40 17 21 38 18
1997-98 Colorado WCHA 34 13 15 28 30

Ninth Round - 254th Overall
Matt Hussey
6-2, 195
Center, shoots left
Born: May 28, 1979
YEAR TEAM LEAGUE GP G A PTS PIM
1997-98 Avon Old Farms USHSE 26 26 23 49 20


Breakdown on the Penguins 1998 Entry Draft
Center - 6 Wings - 1 Defense - 1 Goaltenders - 2
International - 4 WHL - 2 OHL, HE, WCHA, USHSE - 1 each