Trio from 2009-2010 roster climb hockey's ladderThree members of last season's Yellowstone Quake hockey roster will continue their playing careers with higher-division teams after being selected during recent hockey drafts. The Quake had one player snatched in mid-May's United States Hockey League draft while two more were picked up late last week in the North American Hockey League's entry draft.

Combined with the earlier tendering of forward Chris Rinaldi to the NAHL, the results of hockey's various entry drafts brings to four the number of Quake players who will be continuing their playing careers at a higher level next season.

Forward Jake Doty, a native of Billings, was snatched by the Sioux City Musketeers of the USHL, the country's top junior hockey league. Doty appeared in 39 games for the Quake this past season, scoring 20 goals and accounting for 23 assists. In eight playoff appearances, Doty scored three goals — including one game-winner — and had four assists.

The 17-year-old Doty was selected in the 21st round of the USHL draft and was the 305th overall selection. Sioux City finished with a 27-24-9 record last season. The team finished fifth in the USHL's seven-team West Division.

Defenders Andrew Lord and Donald Barlow were both picked up by the Chicago Hitmen of the NAHL where they will re-unite with former Quake teammate Rinaldi. Rinaldi was tendered to the Hitmen following the Quake's rubber game loss to Helena in the best-of-five NORPAC America West divisional championship series. The Hitmen are an expansion team that will begin NAHL play in the 2010-2011 season.

Lord (18, Highlands Ranch, Colo.) was selected as the third pick in the third round of the NAHL entry draft. Lord appeared in 47 games during the Quake's regular season. He scored five goals and finished the year with 18 assists. In eight playoff appearances, he accounted for three Quake goals and five assists.

Lord was the 52nd overall selection of the NAHL draft.

Barlow (19, Canton, Mich.) was selected the following round by the Hitmen as the draft's 75th overall selection. Barlow played in just 11 regular-season games for the Quake, logging one goal and three assists. During the playoffs, Barlow appeared in all eight of the Quake's games, scoring two goals and finishing with three assists.

The NAHL is a Tier II Junior A hockey league, one step below the USHL within the hierarchy of American hockey.