KINGS PARK, New York – The Long Island Royals are proud to announce that former defenseman Steven Ruggiero was chosen 178th overall in the sixth round by the Anaheim Ducks at the 2015 NHL Entry Draft this weekend in Sunrise, FL.

Steven played with the LI ROYALS from Mites through Peewee Major.

Ruggiero was a member of USNTDP U-18 team last season.

The Kings Park, N.Y. native finished the 2014-15 season with one goal and 14 assists in 66 games played for the USNTDP U-18 team.

Additionally last season, he was member of the second-place U.S. National Under-18 Team at the U18 Five Nations Tournament in the Czech Republic. Ruggiero also participated in the CCM/USA Hockey All-American Prospects Game in Buffalo, New York.

Ruggiero plans to attend Providence College this upcoming season, which won the 2015 NCAA championship last year.

“Ruggiero is a big, strong and athletic defensive defenseman. We don’t have many guys like him in our system. Even though we were looking away from defensemen after taking Larsson yesterday, we couldn’t pass Ruggiero up. No forward in our mind compared to him at that point in the draft, so he brings something different to our prospect pool,” said Ducks Director of Professional/Amateur Scouting, Martin Madden.

The 6-foot-3 blueliner was also member of the Youngstown Phantoms (‘13-‘14) of the United States Hockey League this past season where he posted six points in 41 games played.  In 2013, the Phantoms selected Ruggiero 9th overall in the USHL Phase 1 Draft. Ruggiero (’97) played in 35 games for the Metro Fighting Moose (MET League) tallying 2 goals and 8 assists during the 2012-13 campaign.  He was an impressive +2 with 59 hits and 21 blocked shots.

The Long Island Royals would like to congratulate Steven on hearing his name called at the 2015 NHL Draft!