VANCOUVER, British Columbia, June 24 (UPI) -- The St. Louis Blues held on to the first overall pick Saturday and selected defenseman Erik Johnson to start the 2006 NHL Entry Draft.
Johnson, the No. 1 rated North American skater by NHL Central Scouting, has spent the last two seasons playing in USA Hockey's developmental program. This past campaign, the 6-4, 222-pounder had 11 goals and 22 assists in 38 games for the Under-18 team.
Johnson, who is scheduled to attend the University of Minnesota in the fall, played in the World Junior Championships for Team USA.
He became only the fifth U.S.-born player to be selected first.
Pittsburgh used the second pick to select center Jordan Staal from Peterborough (OHL). Staal, the younger brother of Carolina Hurricanes star Eric Staal, is the third member of his family to be selected in the first round.
