John Moore Drafted By The Columbus Blue Jackets, 21st Overall
Story By: Amanda Schmidt
Bensenville (June 26th, 2009) --  For the first time in his hockey career, defensemen John Moore can no longer call Chicago home. The Winnetka, Illinois native was drafted in the first round, 21st overall, by the Columbus Blue Jackets during the 2009 NHL draft, held this past Friday and Saturday, June 26^th and 27^th, in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. 

            Moore began to make a name for himself during the 2007-2008 and 2008-2009 seasons that he spent playing in the United States Hockey League with the Chicago Steel. At the end of his 2008-2009 season, he was ranked fourth overall in scoring by defensemen with 39 points (14-25-39) in 57 games, leading him to be named the USHL Defenseman of the Year. Prior to his years with the Steel, Moore played for the Chicago Young Americans, Chicago Mission, and won a gold medal with Team USA at the 2008 World Junior 'A' Challenge. 

            The draft pick comes as exciting news for Moore and the USHL, which celebrated its 30th season of junior hockey this past year. Moore now becomes the 18^th USHL player to be selected first round in a NHL draft, joining others like John Carlson, the USHL's highest 2008 draft pick and Rostislav Klesla, formerly of the Sioux City Musketeers, whose 2000 4^th overall draft pick by the Columbus Blue Jackets is still ranked the top draft pick from the USHL.  Moore joins Will Weber in the Columbus Blue Jackets system; Weber, who played with the Steel during the 2007-2008 season and was selected in the 2^nd round of the 2007 NHL Draft.

            Leaving Chicago proved to be the inevitable next step in Moore’s hockey career, as he planned to attend Colorado College this coming fall, however, the 19 year old may now be NHL bound. In any case, his leadership and dedication to the game will certainly be missed by the Steel, as Chicago Steel head coach, Steve Poapst, shares, "John has come a long way the past couple seasons and worked extremely hard up to this point, putting himself in a position he has warranted." With talent and experience on his side, the young defensemen has been given the opportunity to leave the familiarity of his Chicago home and embark on the next big step of his career with the Columbus Blue Jackets.