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6/28/07-Hockey
Former Eaglet and U-M recruit Palushaj Blues' surprise pick
By BRAD EMONS of The Observer and Eccentric
Livonia born Aaron Palushaj hopes somewhere down the road to be singing the Blues.
The 6-foot, 187-pound right winger, headed to the University of Michigan, went in the second round, 44th overall, to St. Louis in last weekend's National Hockey League Draft.
Ranked the 101st among North American skaters, Palushaj had a meeting with Blues officials two weeks prior to the draft, but really had no inkling where he might wind up.
"I talked to a bunch of teams,'' Palushaj said. "Each of the 30 teams have their own ranking system of players. It was definitely a shock to go early, but I thought I had the capability.''
Palushaj, who also lived in Farmington Hills but now resides in Northville, played the past two seasons for the Des Moines Buccaneers of the U.S Hockey League.
In his first season (2005-06), he scored 10 goals and added 23 assists in 58 games as the Buccaneers captured the USHL championship.
This season, the 17-year-old, known for his puck possession and smarts on the ice, finished seventh in the league in scoring with 22 goals and 45 assists in 56 regular season games en route to USHL All-Star honors. He was even more impressive on the power-play, scoring 13 goals and adding 26 assists.
"Just a lot of hard work over the summer, I was stronger and faster,'' said Palushaj, who was the Bucs' top point producer in the playoffs. "I was ready to be a go-to guy and it helped me during the season.''
Although Des Moines was eliminated in the semifinals of the playoffs by Waterloo (Iowa) in overtime, Palushaj looks back at his two-year stint in the USHL as nothing but a positive.
"I grew as a person,'' said Palushaj, who attended Orchard Lake St. Mary's Prep for two years before heading to Iowa. "I came in as a 15-year-old. It was different, living with a new family, but it was not too hard to adjust. The players there came first at my (high) school (Valley). The whole town was supportive. I got a lot of opportunity to prove myself and perform.''
Palushaj verbally committed to U-M in December of 2005 after being courted by Michigan State and Notre Dame.
"It's always been my dream school, I grew up as a U-M fan and I always liked everything about it,'' he said. Palushaj, the eighth player with U-M ties to be drafted by the Blues, is not entertaining thoughts just yet about playing in the NHL.
"I know it's going to be tough to progress,'' said Palushaj, who plans to enroll in either Kiniesology or Business School at U-M. "Right now my objective is to finish school and improve as a hockey player.''
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