Stars select Thomas Harley with 18th overall pick at 2019 NHL Draft

VANCOUVER, British Columbia -- Dallas Stars General Manager Jim Nill and Director of Amateur Scouting Joe McDonnell selected defenseman Thomas Harley with the 18th overall pick in the first round of the 2019 NHL Draft held at Rogers Arena in Vancouver, British Columbia.

WELCOME TO DALLAS: [Watch as Harley wears Stars jersey for first time]

"Thomas is an incredible young player with strong skating abilities and an incredible hockey sense, which allows him to see the ice in ways many at his age cannot," stated McDonnell.

"Over his two seasons with Mississauga, he has taken great strides to improve his game, displaying the dedication and work ethic necessary to become a player in the National Hockey League."

Harley, 17, recorded 58 points (11-47=58) in 68 regular-season games with Mississauga of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) in 2018-19. The defenseman finished the season fourth among OHL defensemen and led all Mississauga skaters with 47 assists, while he finished eighth among league blueliners and third among all team skaters with 58 points. He also led Mississauga defensemen and finished tied for 12th among OHL defensemen with 11 goals.

The 6-foot-3, 193-pound native of Syracuse, N.Y., skated in seven games for Team Canada at the 2019 IIHF U18 World Championship, recording four points (1-3=4) in the tournament.

The Stars have three picks on Saturday including one in the fourth round (111th overall), one in the fifth round (142nd overall) and one in the sixth round (173rd overall). The second day of the 2019 NHL Draft will feature Rounds Two through Seven and will begin at noon CT on NHL Network.