2014 NHL Draft: Matt Berkovitz selected by Anaheim Ducks in 5th round

	Class	Position	Shoots	Height	Weight
	2015	Defense	Left	6'1	181
	Team		Hometown		DOB
	Ashwaubenon High School		Ashwaubenon, Wis.		2/16/1996

The pipeline from Madison to Orange County continues to grow. The Anaheim Ducks selected Wisconsin recruit Matt Berkovitz in the fifth round of the 2014 NHL Draft, No. 123 overall, on Saturday.

Last season, the Ducks took another future Badger in the fifth round, winger Grant Besse. The season prior, Anaheim nabbed Nic Kerdiles in the second round. Kerdiles signed with the Ducks shortly after UW was eliminated from the NCAA tournament this spring.

Berkovitz, who played defense last season for Ashwaubenon High School and the Team Wisconsin midget major program, will spend one season in the USHL with the Chicago Steel before joining the Badgers in 2015.

A smooth, mobile blue-liner, Berkovitz needs to continue to get stronger and could add some physicality to his game. What attracted NHL scouts to Berkovitz was his poise and skating ability. Berkovitz has offensive upside and is a gifted passer who can run a power play.

"He’s got skill, can skate, has nice hands and a good feel for the game. He played for Team Wisconsin [in the Upper Midwest elite league], so I've seen him against good teams at the AAA midget level, and he competed hard and has a lot of ability in his game." -- NHL Central Scouting’s Greg Rajanen

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