Defenseman William Wrenn of Anchorage was selected 43rd overall, the 13th pick of the second round, by the San Jose Sharks in the NHL entry draft today in Montreal.

That makes Wrenn, who is headed to the University of Denver, the fifth-highest draft pick in history among Alaskans.

The 6-foot-1, 190-pounder, who is 18, is viewed as a defensive defenseman with a bit of edge to his game. He has played the last two seasons in USA Hockey's National Team Development Program and captained the Americans to the World Under-18 championship earlier this year.

In 60 games this past season, Wrenn bagged 6-11--17 totals and 83 penalty minutes.

Wrenn was the third player from the national program picked in this draft, and the first defenseman chosen from the program. Seven NTDP were selected in the first two rounds.

The Sharks like their second rounders from Anchorage -- in 2003, they made defenseman Matt Carle of Anchorage the 47th pick overall. Carle currently plays for the Philadelphia Flyers.

The only players from Alaska who have been drafted higher than Wrenn were Ty Jones (1st round, 16th overall by Chicago in 1997); Barrett Heisten (1st round, 20th overall by Buffalo in 1999); Scott Parker (1st round, 20th overall by Colorado in 1998); and Scott Gomez (1st round, 27th overall by New Jersey in 1998).

All four of those guys went on to play in the NHL. The most successful has been Gomez, who won two Stanley Cups with the Devils and currently plays for the New York Rangers. He also won the Calder Cup as the NHL's Rookie of the Year in 2000.

Wrenn played two seasons in the national program after leaving Anchorage to play for the LA Selects in California.