WATERLOO - A few years ago, the Waterloo Black Hawks had a month to prepare for the United States Hockey League's May Entry Draft.

Head coach P.K. O'Handley hated it.

Four days after losing in the Clark Cup finals to the Omaha Lancers, O'Handley, his coaching staff - Shane Fukushima, Derrick Johnson and Jason Dobes - along with head scouts Randy Montrose and Mas Fukushima, will go about forming the 2008-09 Black Hawks during the 2008 draft Wednesday.

"It's a quick turnaround, but you wouldn't want to have it any other way," O'Handley said.

"I guess you have to pay a price for being successful, and I'd rather pay that price than have a whole month off.

"We did that once, and that wasn't very fun."

The draft gets under way at 9 a.m., and Waterloo will pick 10th overall. The draft can be followed on the USHL's website - ushl.com.

That Black Hawks potentially could have 14 returning players next season, including Siim Liivik and Jan-Mikael Juutilainen, who haven't committed on whether they will return from Finland.

"We will approach it like they won't be," O'Handley said.

Additionally, Waterloo has four players protected on its Future's List - forwards Tyler Barnes and Kevin Nugent, and defensemen Lee Moffie and Chris Student.

Barnes played one game with the Black Hawks this year, registering a goal and an assist on Nov. 9 in a win over Ohio. Barnes is a native of Burnsville, Minn.

"Our initial protected list, we like where we are at," O'Handley said. "Barnes, Nugent, Moffie and Student … those are all good gets."

While O'Handley didn't tip the Black Hawks' hand on how they will use their first pick, a quick look at the returning roster shows just two defensemen - Patrick Wey and Mike Montrose.

Both saw limited ice time during the stretch run in the playoffs.

"We are young back there, and if there is a place where the draft is thin it is on defense," O'Handley said. "Obviously you don't replace Blake Kessel. But you need a guy like Blake Kessel. I also think we need some size on the blue line.

"But who is the next Brett Olson? Who is the next Billy Maday? Are they already in our group? I don't know. But we will be looking for some high-, high-end players."

O'Handley said his staff will look hard at the North American league to find a veteran defensman or two.

Chad Billins was the Black Hawks' second-round pick last year, a year after he played for Alpena in the NAHL.

Waterloo also returns only one goalie, Joe Howe, so his back-up also must be found.

"I think Howie is going to carry the mail, and has proven he can do that, but we need another goalie that can play," O'Handley said. "I think our staff has done a great job of keeping on top of it. Shane has done a great job of keeping our scouting people in check of our needs."

Contact Jim Nelson at (319) 291-1521 or jim.nelson@wcfcourier