An Unofficial USHL Prospect Blog

I know this blog is dead but....

2010-10-11T10:38:00.001-07:00

If you have found this blog after I quit writing it, and would like to contact me, my email is jschreiber@hockeyprospect.com

Thanks for reading!

Follow me on my new Twitter!

2010-08-08T23:52:00.000-07:00

Follow me to see what I'm up to since I won't be blogging any more: @HPJustin

Or go to FinishYourCheck.com, for a great discussion among USHL fans, where you can find me very often.

And here is my new contact info/business card:

Thanks for supporting the blog and helping me realize my dream of being a scout, and I hope you follow me on Twitter and read my work on HockeyProspect.com!

The USHL Prospect Blog will be no more...

2010-08-07T15:22:00.000-07:00

It's been a fun journey since I started blogging in February, but it must come to an end. I'm realizing my dream by being added to the HockeyProspect.com scouting staff. I won't be writing as much, as I'll be scouting most of the time and will be very busy during the season. However, my opinions will be on HockeyProspect.com a lot, so you can continue to read my work over there. I'll be traveling around quite a bit during the season as well. I will post my new contact information below, to see it, click "READ MORE>>>. I am very happy to be starting my scouting career.

Email me: USHLPB@live.com

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USHL Prospect Report- Anthony Day

2010-08-06T12:40:00.000-07:00

Anthony Day (Sioux Falls) will be returning to the Sioux Falls Stampede for his second season in the USHL. Day was recently featured on the official USHL website, highlighting Day's and teammate Sam Coatta's offseason workout schedule. In that article, Day stated that he starting boxing this offseason, and that very well could mean that Day will bring a more a physical side of his game this season. Only time will tell if the Stampede's leading returning scorer will follow up on his great rookie season in the USHL.

Day was one of the best rookies offensively speaking in the USHL last season. He showed off his ability to score fairly often, and he should get a bigger chance at playing time as a veteran. Last season, Day logged quite a few minutes on the Sioux Falls powerplay, picking up 13 of his 31 points while the Stampede were on a man advantage. Overall, Day scored eleven goals and picked up twenty assists on the year. Day is very talented offensively with a great shot and some of the cleanest passes in the USHL. But as a touched on earlier, Day has started boxing as a part of his offseason program, and although he was quoted as saying "It's not like I am trying to become a big fighter in the League...", I can imagine that Day coming back as a USHL veteran, will bring a more physical aspect to his game and that will make him a more complete fighter, whether he will drop the gloves or not.

Day isn't committed to a college yet, but he has been talking to some schools, and he wants to play out East. After college, what Day's hockey future will be is anyone's guess. As with most players, his future depends on how he plays in college hockey.

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USHL Announces 2010 Fall Classic Schedule

2010-08-01T07:49:00.000-07:00

The USHL has announced the schedule for the 2010 USHL Fall Classic which will take place September 22-25. I know I'm a little late to this news, but it broke while I was on vacation. Anyway, click here for the schedule.

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USHL Releases 2010-11 Schedule

2010-07-29T22:21:00.000-07:00

Here is each team's schedule:

Cedar Rapids RoughRiders

Chicago Steel

Des Moines Buccaneers

Sioux City Musketeers

USNTDP

Dubuque Fighting Saints

Muskegon Lumberjacks

Here is the official post by the USHL.

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USHL Prospect Report- Dan Kolomatis

2010-07-27T15:15:00.000-07:00

Dan Kolomatis (Chicago) is a 1991 birth date, coming back to Chicago for his third year in the USHL. Kolomatis was the Steel's best offensive defenseman last season, and he could repeat that role if he gets time on Chicago's powerplay. Kolomatis, a 6'0", 170 pound defenseman out of Basking Ridge, New Jersey, hasn't committed to a college yet, but if he plays well again, you can expect Kolomatis to consider plenty of options, as a defenseman who can play good offense are always in high demand in college hockey. Kolomatis' brother, David, has had a very successful hockey career, playing in the OHL with the Owen Sound Attack, and then getting drafted in 2009 by the Los Angeles Kings. Only time will tell if Kolomatis can follow his brother's path to the NHL.

Kolomatis has the rare combination of defensive and offensive skills that you don't find in the USHL too often. Kolomatis missed only five games last season, and he made use of the 55 games he did play. Kolomatis racked up seventeen points last season with eight of them being goals and nine being assists. Kolomatis also racked up quite a bit of time on the powerplay, with eight of his points coming while the Steel were a man up. Kolomatis also mixes in some solid defensive abilities which adds to his overall value. Kolomatis, from what I've seen, likes to go more to block the pass on the ice or intercept the pass than to go for the check. While he's not much of a fighter, Kolomatis has shown that he will drop the gloves and defend his teammates. Fighting doesn't factor into player's futures very much, but it can help if teams know that player's will step up and defend themselves or their teammates. Overall, Kolomatis has a nice blend of offensive and defensive talents which should make him a sought after player for colleges around the nation throughout the season.

Kolomatis should be heading to college hockey after the season, and he deserves the opportunity. Only time will tell if his career takes him above the college ranks.

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Response to article on Garrett Peterson

2010-07-25T12:38:00.000-07:00

Recently, I posted a prospect report on Garrett Peterson, and in that article, I labeled Peterson as a "bottom six" forward because of his love for contact. I received a lot of backlash for that label. I have decided to take down that article, as commenters were starting come after me personally, and I just wanted to stop that. I apologize for any offense I may have caused for this label. Thanks for reading the USHL Prospects Blog!

USHL Prospect Report- Matt Skoff (Edited)

2010-07-24T17:42:00.000-07:00

Matt Skoff (Sioux City) tied for the most games played as a goaltender last year with fifty. With that kind of USHL experience under his belt, Skoff is certainly in the running for best USHL goaltender for this upcoming USHL season. Last preseason, Skoff had a Fall Classic for the ages, solidifying his spot with the Musketeers. In the two appearances he made during the Fall Classic trying to earn a spot as Willie Yanakeff's backup, Skoff won both of his games, and managed to pull off a 0.50 GAA, allowing only one goal on the weekend. After being cut from the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders just weeks before the Battle of Iowa, it was easy to tell that Skoff was motivated to make the Sioux City roster, but no one thought he would overtake Yanakeff as the starter. Only time will tell if Skoff suffers a "sophomore slump".

Skoff is one of the best goalies in the league when he's in the butterfly. He can move cross-crease so fast that he can shut down type of shot in the slot. He's very solid technically, which helps him cut down angles tremendously. Last season, playing fifty games for the Musketeers, Skoff tied for sixth in GAA, posting a 21-19-9 record with a 2.59 GAA and .903 save percentage. Skoff prides himself on his ability to never give up on a puck, and that effort, matched with his quickness and technical skills, put him on some NHL scouts' lists as a possible late round pick. However, Skoff wasn't taken in the NHL Draft, and he still remains without a college scholarship offer, so I would say he may be in the same boat as Jordan Tibbett, and this may be a make or break year for Skoff, but I have no doubts that he will be playing division one hockey next season.

Skoff will need to play well again this season, but I do believe that he will be playing college hockey somewhere next fall.

Author edit: Skoff has recieved scholarship offers, but is waiting to make his decision.

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USHL Prospect Report- Jordan Tibbett

2010-07-19T23:42:00.000-07:00

Jordan Tibbett (Youngstown) is set up to have a breakout year in the USHL this season. The two-year USHL veteran has had two below satisfactory seasons, becoming one of the rare journeymen of the USHL, traveling from Omaha to Des Moines in 2006-07, before being sent down to the Mahoning Valley Phantoms of the NAHL in 2007-08, and last season, Tibbett earned a spot with the Youngstown Phantoms where he started 33 games. The goaltender from Indianapolis, Indiana will be an overager in the USHL this season, so time is running out for Tibbett to pick up a college scholarship offer. If Tibbett can produce some good stats this year, the chance of him being able to lock up a collegiate future will skyrocket. It's make or break time for Jordan Tibbett.

Tibbett's abilities have not necessarily reflected in his stats from the past few years. Tibbett has a USHL career GAA of 3.85 in 55 games played, which really aren't flattering stats. Some of those numbers can be attributed to a bad team, which he played on for the Youngstown Phantoms, who finished second to last in the USHL last season. Tibbett has flaws in his game, but if he can grow and improve his skills, he can play good enough to garner a scholarship and earn another four years of hockey. Tibbett needs to improve on his angles to be successful. He gets beat too often from the boards and by one-timers because he is caught out of position by passes. Where Tibbett excels however, is when the puck gets down low, right in front of the crease. Tibbett can control rebounds with the best of them. If Tibbett can stop the goals allowed from weird angles, he could be slated for a breakout year in the USHL.

If Tibbett can improve and grow in some areas of his game, he could very well pick up a college offer in his last year of USHL eligibility. Photo from RJ Meyer.

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USHL Prospect Report- Justin Holl

2010-07-18T21:18:00.000-07:00

Justin Holl (Omaha) has little USHL experience, but he really showed what he can do in the 19 games he played with the Lancers last season. Holl was drafted in the second round of the NHL draft by the Stanley Cup Champion Chicago Blackhawks, which should say enough about Holl's skills as a high school hockey player. Holl played all season in Minnesota High School Hockey with the Minnetonka Skippers, and was a finalist for the Minnesota "Mr. Hockey" Title, an award given to the best player in Minnesota High School Hockey. Holl has shown that he can be a leader, being the captain for the Skippers last season. After he was done with his season, where his Skippers finished second in the state tournament, Holl joined the Omaha Lancers for eleven regular season games, and then he came with the Lancers into the USHL playoffs for eight games.

Holl used his time with the Lancers to prove why he was so highly scouted in the NHL ranks and taken in the second round. Holl is more of a defensive defenseman, which he showed in his time with the Lancers, always playing with a chip on his shoulder, and being very physical for a player that just made the jump from high school hockey to juniors. But he's not just a one trick pony. Holl showed his offensive potential with Minnetonka, scoring 20 goals and picking up 17 assists for a total of 37 points in the 31 games he played for the Skippers. When he made the jump to the USHL, Holl's numbers obviously dropped, with him picking up 4 points in 11 regular season games played and 2 points in the 8 games he played for the Lancers in the USHL playoffs. Although Holl has shown flashes of offensive prowess, the main part of his game is the physical aspect. Holl rarely gets beat to the outside and when he does, he can easily get back and take away the passing lanes so the puck can't be passed through the slot. These defensive attributes make him very valuable to both the Blackhawks and Lancers.

Holl will be headed to the University of Minnesota for the 2011-12 season, and then will presumably head for professional hockey after his playing career at Minnesota is over. Until then, Holl will be frustrating opposing coaches and forwards in the USHL this season.

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Another Way Too Early Look: Best Offense of the USHL

2010-07-17T19:25:00.000-07:00

With USHL related news at a virtual stand still at this point in the offseason, I decided to start making some predictions for the new USHL season coming up. First off, I'll be predicting who will have the best offense in the USHL. By best offense, I mean the team that will have the most goals for this season. So without further ado, my pick for the best offense in the USHL...

The Des Moines Buccaneers are my pick for the most potent offense of the 2010-11. It's still early, but judging from the Bucs' 25-man roster, they will be the best scoring team in the upcoming season. Although they will be losing their best player in Connor Brickley, they will go ahead and fill that slot with two-way power forward Yasin Cisse, who before being injured at the beginning of the 2009-10 season, played in 18 games for the Bucs and picked up 19 points. In addition to Cisse, dynamic, playmaking forward TJ Tynan will be back with Des Moines to try and contend for the USHL scoring title for the second year in a row. Des Moines' powerplay will be very dangerous with Tynan out on the ice. Des Moines will also be bringing back Mitch Cain, who was not an integral piece to Des Moines' scoring ability last season, but hopes to become more involved offensively this season. Des Moines also added some very good talent to their roster during the 2010 USHL Entry Draft, adding Andrew Miller, a scoring forward who can also use his body to make some very physical plays on the ice. The Bucs drafted Gavin Tufte, who played Minnesota high school hockey last season, and has good size and scoring touch coming into the USHL this season. I would definitely expect with their returning players and new additions, the Buccaneers will be the most explosive offensive team in the USHL in the 2010-11 season.

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Omaha Lancers Prospect Camp in Texas

2010-07-16T15:58:00.000-07:00

I received an email from the writer over at the Texas Ice Hockey Expert Blog, informing me that the Omaha Lancers are hosting a prospect camp July 23rd-25th at Polar Ice inside of the Grapevine Mills Mall in Grapevine, Texas. So if you are in the Dallas/Fort Worth area next weekend, you could get a nice viewing at some future USHL players. The Corpus Christi IceRays of the NAHL will be there scouting players as well. If you are a potential junior player or want to play juniors at some point, I believe they do have some spots still open for the camp and you can go ahead and view all the information you need to sign up and participate here. In addition to the Lancers, many teams in the USHL are hosting prospect camps all over the country, like the Stars' camp in California, the RoughRiders' camp in Minnesota, etc. I won't be attending any of these camps, but if any of my readers view these prospect camps, please feel free to email me your impressions of players and it would be great if you could email me rosters from these camps if you are in attendance.

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Five USHL Players will play for USA U18 Team in 2010 Ivan Hlinka Tournament

2010-07-15T15:56:00.000-07:00

Five USHL players will lace up the skates for Team USA in the 2010 Ivan Hlinka Tournament, which will take place August 9-14 in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Seth Ambroz (OMA), Cason Hohman (CR), Theo DiPauli (CHI), Brian Cooper (FGO), and Connor Murphy (USNTDP) will all be wearing USA jerseys in the Ivan Hlinka Tournament. The tournament is watched by thousands of people and early NHL Draft rankings will be based on the performance of the players. With very little material to report in the USHL offseason, I'll be updating you, the readers, on the results of the tournament and the stats of the USHL players that are involved.

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A Way Too Early Look at Goalies: Cedar Rapids vs. Lincoln

2010-07-13T17:38:00.000-07:00

When you look over the 25-man rosters that were released on July 1st, two teams really stick out at goaltender. Lincoln returns Kevin Murdock from Minnesota State University Mankato and then brings in one of the best goalies that was available in the Entry Draft in Luke Hafner. On the other hand, Cedar Rapids also returns a goalie with collegiate experience with Brady Hjelle coming back to the USHL from Minnesota-Duluth. Cedar Rapids also brings back a goalie with two years of USHL experience under his belt in Cody Campbell, who had the fourth best GAA in the USHL last season. So who has the better goalie pair? Let's take a closer look...

Projected Starters

Kevin Murdock will more than likely be the starter for Lincoln, and he has a shot to be the best goaltender in the league. In the 2008-09 season, Murdock led the USHL in GAA average, while also leading the league in save percentage. Murdock played for Minnesota State Mankato last season where he only played 5 games for the Mavericks. After the fact that Murdock would again be the third string goalie for MSU became obvious, he, along with his coaches, decided it would be best for him to come down and play in the USHL for another season. Murdock was one of the best goalies the USHL has seen in the past few years and I wouldn't be surprised to him bring his collegiate experience back to the USHL and continue his winning ways. Photo from AP.

Brady Hjelle is also returning to junior hockey, but he is returning after a fairly successful two year stint in college hockey with the University of Minnesota Duluth. Hjelle was apparently unhappy with the playing time he was receiving at UMD after being one of the most highly touted recruits of the 2008 USHL class. In his one year USHL career, Hjelle posted a 22-15-4 record with a 2.50 GAA that ranked 5th in the USHL in 2007-08. Hjelle was also third in save percentage in 07-08 with a .921. Unlike Murdock, Hjelle was in a position to start a decent amount of games for UMD as a junior, but after being promised playing time as a freshman, and then sitting on the bench all season, Hjelle decided it was best to return to juniors and find another way to the NHL. Photo from undstatesman.com.
Projected Back-Ups

Luke Hafner is in my opinion one of the best rookie goaltenders coming into the USHL next season. He could snag as many as 20 starts away from Stars starting goaltender Kevin Murdock next season. Hafner already has experience in junior hockey, as he played for the Marquette Rangers of the NAHL, a Tier II hockey league, just below the USHL in terms of talent. While playing for Marquette last season, Hafner appeared in 21 games, posting a 11-6 record in the regular season, getting the Rangers into the NAHL playoffs. In the playoffs, Hafner's stats struggled a little bit, as he went 0-3 with a 2.93 GAA compared to his 2.07 GAA in the regular season. His save percentage also fell from the regular season from .938 to .923 in the playoffs.

Cody Campbell will most likely be Brady Hjelle's back-up this coming season. However, don't be surprised if Campbell and Hjelle split starts a lot for the RoughRiders. If I were to guess what the starts would be, I would say Hjelle gets 32 starts and Campbell gets 28. However, this could all change depending on which Cody Campbell plays for the RoughRiders this season. Will it be the Campbell that went 7-4 with a 3.19 GAA for the Fargo Force at the beginning of the season, or will it be the Cody Campbell that went 10-4 with a 1.90 GAA and .933 SV% for Cedar Rapids at the end of the season? Campbell's value is completely dependant on how consistent he plays. If he stays in the form he was in at the end of last season, he could be the best goalie in the league, but he isn't in that form, it could be disastrous.

Final Verdict: The edge goes to Cedar Rapids. It really all comes down the back-ups here. Although if Campbell can't stay consistently good, then the Stars will probably have the best 1-2 goalie punch. But as it stands right now, Cedar Rapids has the best goaltending in the USHL.

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USHL 25-Man Rosters

2010-07-11T22:02:00.000-07:00

On July 1st, each USHL team was required to submit a 25-man roster to bring along to the USHL Fall Classic to take place September 22nd-25th. Along with the 25-man roster, each team also submitted an affiliate list and a future's list. Here is each team's 25-man roster, affiliate list, and future's list:

Cedar Rapids RoughRiders

Chicago Steel

Des Moines Buccaneers

Fargo Force (Not made public)

Green Bay Gamblers (Not made public)

Indiana Ice (Not made public)

Lincoln Stars

Omaha Lancers

Sioux City Musketeers

Sioux Falls Stampede

Tri-City Storm (Not made public)

USNTDP

Waterloo Black Hawks (Not made public)

Youngstown Phantoms

Dubuque Fighting Saints

Muskegon Lumberjacks

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Fall Classic Dates

2010-07-10T20:20:00.000-07:00

The 2010 USHL Fall Classic will be once again held in Sioux City, Iowa, but this year is switching from a three day event to a four day event with the addition of Muskegon and Dubuque. The Fall Classic this year will be held September 22nd-25th as reported by the Sioux City Musketeers website. This is really fun event to watch and if you are thinking about going, I really recommend you do. Although it's just the preseason, you still get to 1) watch hockey, 2) get to see which teams already have good chemistry and 3) see players that are about to breakout and have outstanding years. I know this is old news, but talking about the USHL seems to make the really long offseason go along a little bit faster.

Note: Go to the official Fall Classic website for more info as it comes out.

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Any Photoshoppers Out There?

2010-07-08T23:06:00.001-07:00

I switched up the design for the USHL Prospects Blog and now I could really use logo for the blog. If you would like to contribute to the look of the blog, and are good with photoshop, send your designs over to USHLPB@live.com!

Thanks in advance!

The "Unofficial" Release of the New USHL Three Division System

2010-07-08T18:51:00.000-07:00

With the addition of Dubuque and Muskegon, it was unclear what the league structure would look like for the 2010-11 season. Things have finally cleared up, as the Des Moines Buccaneers website now lists three divisions in the USHL: East, West, and Central. Here is what the setup will look like:

USHL East Division
Chicago Steel
Indiana Ice
Muskegon Lumberjacks
USNTDP
Youngstown Phantoms

USHL Central Division
Cedar Rapids RoughRiders
Des Moines Buccaneers
Dubuque Fighting Saints
Green Bay Gamblers
Waterloo Black Hawks

USHL West Division
Fargo Force
Lincoln Stars
Omaha Lancers
Sioux City Musketeers
Sioux Falls Stampede
Tri-City Storm

It certainly is an interesting setup, with the West having six teams and the others having 5. I would've expected a four team, four division system, but obviously the USHL higher-ups decided on the three division system. Any thoughts on the new setup?

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Looking Ahead: 10 Players to Look For Next Season

2010-07-06T23:50:00.000-07:00

These players are listed in no particular order, but they all are players that are slated to have a big year in the USHL this coming season.

T.J. Tynan (Des Moines) is an obvious pick for this list after the 5'9", 170 pound forward out of Orland Park, Illinois tied for 5th in the USHL in scoring last year with 72 points. The playmaking winger finished the season with 60 games played, 17 goals, and 55 assists. I wrote an article on Tynan awhile ago, and not much has changed since that article. Tynan sees the ice extremely well and has some of the best hands in the USHL. He's a very smooth skater that seems to float rather than skate. Tynan makes very crisp cross-ice passes that seem to freeze opposing defensemen. It's really just Tynan's size that's bringing his value down and that's why he wasn't drafted on Saturday after being ranked as the 210th North American skater. It will be interesting to see how Tynan's play is changed by the departure of Connor Brickley.

Seth Ambroz (Omaha) is all but guaranteed a first round selection in next summer's NHL Draft. The 6'3", 205 pound forward out of New Prauge, Minnesota has it all: size, scoring ability, and loads of potential. Ambroz is one of the best players in the league in my opinion, and the way he plays is why I say that. Ambroz, as I wrote in March, never seemed lost for a 16 year old, which is younger than the average age of USHL players. Ambroz has a rocket shot and he can take that shot from basically anywhere in the zone and it has a chance of overpowering the goaltender. Ambroz is slated to be Omaha's leading scorer next season, following up his sophomore USHL campaign where Ambroz scored 22 goals and picked up 27 assists for 49 points in 56 games played.

Ryan Dzingel (Lincoln) only played 36 games last season, but he made full use of them, netting 11 goals and picking up 15 assists for a total of 26 points in 36 games; not too shabby for a USHL rookie. I wrote about Dzingel in Februrary, before he had lit the world on fire, and in that article, I mentioned Dzingel's ability to score and the tremendous amount of responsibility that was placed on him by the Stars coaching staff last season. Coming in as a rookie, Dzingel logged time on the Lincoln powerplay and penalty kill, which is not easy task for a USHL rookie to accomplish. Dzingel is one of the underrated forwards on this list, and he should put up some good numbers to follow his 36 games played, 11 goal and 15 assist rookie season. Photo from Brandon Anderson.

Andrei Kuchin (Chicago) will be returning for his second season in the USHL this coming season, and the Russian-born forward will aim his sights on repeating his role as the Chicago Steel's leading scorer. Last season, Kuchin, a 5'10", 184 pound winger averaged a point per game, playing 56 games and getting 56 points. In those 56 games, Kuchin scored 20 goals and picked up 36 assists for 56 points total. Many people thought that Kuchin would be picked in the NHL Entry Draft, which took place on June 25th and 26th, but Kuchin never heard his name called. Kuchin should be an interesting player to watch next season, as the 19 year old Kuchin will probably be put in a leadership role with the Steel, a position he hasn't really experienced in his USHL career.

Kevin Lind (Tri-City) was considered the best defenseman coming out of the USHL at the beginning of the season will re-take that position as Sioux City defenseman Kevin Gravel heads to St. Cloud State for the 2010-11 season. Lind, as I wrote in February, doesn't produce the best offensive stats, but Lind plays a very solid defensive game, crushing opposing forwards as they come in the zone and very rarely getting beat to the outside, which is very rare to find in a 6'3", 200 pound defenseman. Lind only scored 6 goals and picked up 10 assists last season, but he brings much more to the table than defensive and some offensive ability. The 2010-11 season will be Lind's third USHL season, which means that he has very valuable USHL experience and will likely be a captain on the Storm this season.

Brandon Carlson (Fargo) will be returning to the Fargo Force this coming season after being traded to the Force before the roster freeze from the Des Moines Buccaneers. Carlson is in a prime position to succeed with the Force as they are coming off of a USHL Clark Cup Finals appearance. Just like Lind, Carlson plays more of a physical, defensive game than an offensive production game. Carlson has decent size, standing at 6'2", 200 pounds, and he can sure use that size in clearing out the front of the net for whatever goalie he is playing for. Although it's not the main focus of his game, Carlson can help out his team in the offensive zone. Just last season, between his time with the Bucs and Force, Carlson scored 5 goals and picked up 6 assists. Photo from barronhockey.com.

Peter Hand (Chicago) is a young enforcer in the USHL. You won't notice the 16 year old while watching a game as he doesn't really make the flashy plays, but you will notice him when he drops the gloves to defend his teammates, which he did 6 times last year, and you view his hockeyfights.com fight card here. It's pretty ridiculous for a 16 year old player to come into the USHL, a league suited for 18+ year olds, and fight and hit and just intimidate as much as Hand did this past season. I can remember a particular instance in a game where Chicago was beating the Lincoln Stars pretty handily (excuse the pun), and Hand was still in the face of every Stars player asking the Stars to fight and it was just crazy how he is so aggressive throughout the game and he really gives his team a boost. Photo from RJ Meyer.

Austin Coldwell (Des Moines) is the only offensively focused defenseman I wrote about in this article, and he should be in line to lead the USHL in scoring for defensemen next season. He hopes to improve on his rookie campaign where he spent a lot of ice time on Des Moines' potent powerplay, where gained 23 of his 36 total points. Of those 36 points, 12 were goals and 24 were assists. Coldwell is arguably one of the best powerplay quarterbacks in the USHL and that is where he gets noticed quite a bit by scouts. Now Coldwell is one of the few players on this list that doesn't have a college commitment yet. If Coldwell continues tearing it up offensively in the USHL and can improve on his defensive skills, that will change and he will be headed to college.

Kevin Murdock (Lincoln) has a very good chance of leading the USHL in all the goaltender categories. Murdock played two seasons in the USHL, in 2007-08 and 2008-09 and then moved up to Minnesota State University last season, where he posted a 1-3-1 record with 3.46 GAA and .895 save percentage, not too shabby for a freshman goaltender. But he brings that collegiate experience to the USHL, where he posted a lifetime 25-16-6 record along with a 2.45 GAA and .913 save percentage in the regular season with the Lincoln Stars. Murdock is a very technically sound goaltender and he will be ready to frustrate opposing forwards with his reflexes and frame he uses very well. Don't be surprised to see Murdock with a GAA under 2.30 at least. Photo from AP.

Connor Wilson (Chicago) will be the last player I write about in this article. Wilson showed flashes of brilliance last season, and I believe he will be one of the best goaltenders in the USHL this coming season. Wilson took over the Steel's starting goaltender spot from three year veteran Nick Pisellini, which is no easy task. I wrote an article on Wilson in March and I explained that Wilson's glove is really his strong point and he was one of the most technically sound goaltenders all season last year, but he did struggle with rebound control last season. He has had a full offseason to address that rebound control concern and I believe he will be even better for the Steel coming up this season. Watch out for Wilson as one of the most underrated goalies in the league.

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USHL Players Taken in the NHL Draft

2010-06-28T21:44:00.000-07:00

I'm very sorry, but I've run out of time on the post-draft profiles and will not be able to finish them. But without further ado, here is the players that were taken in the NHL Entry Draft which took place on Friday, June 25th and Saturday, June 26th.

Forwards

Jaden Schwartz (Tri-City) was taken fourteenth overall by the St. Louis Blues who have a nice crop of young players including former USHL forwards David Backes and TJ Oshie. Schwartz is headed to Colorado College to follow his brother, and will presumably join the Blues right after he's done with the Tigers. For me at least, Schwartz being drafted this high is a bit of a surprise as I thought Derek Forbort would go first out of the USHL. Either way, Schwartz will be a great addition to the Blues. He is a playmaker type player who is always thinking pass first. Last season, Schwartz led the league in scoring with 83 points in 60 games, with 33 goals and 50 assists adding up to the 83 points. Overall, Schwartz is a great talent and should have a nice career in the NHL.

Connor Brickley (Des Moines) was drafted in the second round, fiftieth overall in the NHL Draft to the Florida Panthers. Brickley, in my opinion, and I'm not saying my opinion is what you should believe, is the best forward in the USHL, and has a good chance to lead the USHL in scoring this coming season, playing with TJ Tynan. Brickley is one of the hardest working players I've ever seen come through the USHL. I watched him and the Bucs play about ten times last year, and not once did I see Brickley give up on a play. He is always the first forward back in the defensive zone, and he really seems to enjoy the physical aspect of hockey, as he is always in on the scrums in front of the net and has the ability to make the big hit. The Panthers, a struggling franchise, got a steal in Brickley.

Jason Zucker (USNTDP) was the last forward drafted in the second round of the NHL Draft. Zucker was easily one of the best pure goal scorers that hit the ice last USHL season. Zucker scored quite a bit of goals this season and was one of the many bright spots for the USNTDP as they had a very successful year in not only the USHL, but also in international play, winning the IIHF World U18 Championship. While playing in the USHL last season, Zucker scored 11 goals and picked up 7 assists for a total of 17 points in 22 games. He was also a +6 on the season. Zucker was drafted by the Minnesota Wild who are looking for help offensively. Zucker is headed to Denver this fall and could go to the Wild at any point in the next few years. Photo from thn.com.

Bryan Rust (USNTDP) is another USNTDP U18 team forward that can put the puck in the net, but can also pass the puck with deadly accuracy. His offensive skill is why the Pittsburgh Penguins drafted Rust in the third round, eightieth overall. Rust always seemed to be on the ice when his team scored last season. Rust was a +15 for the U18 squad, netting 10 goals and picking up 13 assists for 23 points in 27 games played. The 5'10", 194 pound forward was drafted on pure potential, and he very well may reach that potential in the coming future. Rust will be attending the University of Notre Dame in the fall. The Penguins are currently looking for a young winger to go along and compliment their two superstars, Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, and Rust could be that guy in the future. Photo from usahockey.com.

Bill Arnold (USNTDP) was arguably the best power forward coming out of the USHL this year. Arnold isn't the tallest guy, standing at 6-foot, but he is bulky and can use his body well, making checks and pushing people around. Arnold was the only USHL forward taken in the fourth round, where he was taken 108th overall by the Calgary Flames, where he may fit in as a possible successor to power-forward Jarome Iginla, or just could be a bottom-six forward for the Flames. Arnold loves the physical game, as I witnessed during the U18 squad's 7-1 drubbing of the Lincoln Stars on Februray 27th, but also shows flashes of great offensive ability. During my single viewing of Arnold, he showed his ability to complete cross-ice passes and also showed a remarkable ability to saucer pass the puck over obstacles. Photo.

Michael Parks (Cedar Rapids) was taken by the Philidelphia Flyers in the fifth round, 149th overall. Parks is a bottom-six forward that focuses most of his energy on checking and he really wears down the opposing team's top-six forwards. Parks will be attending the University of North Dakota this coming fall and should advance his game quite a bit at the powerhouse school and the great coaching staff there. Parks could crack the Flyers roster at the end of his college hockey career, but I would guess based on his offensive numbers (11/11/21), that he will receive some seasoning in the AHL or ECHL. Overall, Parks is a good upside choice by the Flyers at the end of the fifth round to possibly add some physicality to their roster in the future at winger.

Yasin Cisse (Des Moines) in my opinion, was a lock for a second round selection before an ankle injury cut his season very short. Cisse was cut on the ankle by a Cedar Rapids players' skate which is certainly a painful way to end your season. Cisse has a lot of talent and size, but fell off most team's draft boards after the injury. This is why the Atlanta Thrashers got away with robbery in the draft, getting the 6'3", 218 pound power-forward with the 150th overall pick. Before his injury, Cisse showed that he has the offensive skills to compliment his size and love of the physical game. In the 18 games Cisse did appear in, he scored 13 goals and picked up 6 assists which just shows what he can do offensively. With that size, ability to forecheck, and offensive skill, Cisse is certainly an interesting prospect.

Luke Moffatt (USNTDP) will be headed to the University of Michigan this fall, where he will go to develop his skills more and the Avalanche, who drafted Moffatt with the 197th overall selection in the seventh round of the draft, are hoping that he can join the Avs' roster soon after his career with the Wolverines. Moffatt's game is based around checking, but he has shown glimpses of great offensive skill throughout his career. Just last season, Moffatt racked up 15 points in 28 games played, 5 of them goals and 10 assists. Moffatt could be a great fit on Colorado's roster, where he could compliment Matt Duchene or be the third piece to a great power forward line with up-and-comers Ryan Stoa and Chris Stewart. Moffatt's pro future depends on his performance at Michigan. Photo from thn.com.

Chris Crane (Green Bay) was the last USHL forward drafted in the NHL Draft, and the San Jose Sharks got the physical winger with the 200th overall pick. Crane is one of those guys who will be able to find a way onto a NHL roster because of his fists. Crane dropped the gloves seven times last season, and eight times the season before. But even with his less than pretty style on the ice, Crane still manages to pick up the points offensively, although he was on the Clark Cup winning Green Bay Gamblers. This past season, Crane scored 15 goals and picked up 14 assists for 29 points in the 52 games he played in. He added those 29 points to the 107 penalty minutes he racked up this past season. Crane is headed to Ohio State this fall where he can improve more on his offensive skills. Photo from hockeysfuture.com.
Defenseman

Derek Forbort (USNTDP) was taken in the first round, fifteenth overall by the Los Angeles Kings who have one of the best young defensive corps in the NHL at the moment, led by Jack Johnson and Drew Doughty. Forbort was the most solid defenseman I saw last season, and he can really throw his body around and make some highlight reel worthy hits against the boards and he even made some big hits in open ice in my viewing of Forbort. You can attribute some of Jack Campbell's success to Forbort's remarkable ability to clear out the front of the net which made Campbell nearly impossible to screen. Even with Forbort's great defensive skill, he still likes to jump up and join the rush, which gained the 6'5", 195 pound defenseman 14 points in 26 games played. Photo from thn.com.

Jarred Tinordi (USNTDP) was the tallest defenseman taken in the NHL Draft, standing at 6'6". Tinordi was probably the best defensive defenseman I saw last year. Where Forbort's skills were balanced between the offensive game and the defensive, Tinordi used that 6'6", 205 pound frame to really throw opposing forwards around. With his size, you would obviously expect Tinordi to throw some big checks, and he certainly does. But what really impressed me the most when I saw Tinordi play was his willingness to give up his body to block shots. When his team is short handed, Tinordi is always down on a knee, blocking shots and passing lanes, which made the U18 squad extremely hard to score on while on the powerplay. Tinordi could have a very bright future with the Canadiens. Photo from tsn.com.

Justin Faulk (USNTDP) was selected 37th overall by the Carolina Hurricanes, a franchise that's been struggling since winning the Stanley Cup in 2006. Faulk is what I would consider an offensive defenseman and probably had the best shot of the U18 defensive corps. Faulk, as mentioned before, has a great shot from the point, and I know you hear a lot of scouts say that, but Faulk's shot is serious. When Faulk shoots, he can really pick his corners well, and his shot is just so powerful it explodes off of the goaltender's pads and his teammates can then shovel in the goal. Like I said, he can really pick his corners well and that resulted in 9 goals for him last season. In addition to those 9 goals, the 6'0", 196 pound defenseman picked up 3 assists for 12 points in 21 games played. Photo from usahockey.com.

Jon Merrill (USNTDP) was taken right after his teammate Justin Faulk by the New Jersey Devils 38th overall. The Devils are one of the oldest teams in the NHL and have only one defenseman, Mark Fraser, who is under 25 years old. Merrill was one of the shut-down defensemen on the U18 squad. Merrill will play for the University of Michigan this coming fall, so he won't have to move too far. The coaching staff at Michigan does a great job of taking talented players and evolving that talent into NHL level skill. The 6'3", 205 pound defenseman put in some offensive points for the USNTDP. Merrill scored a goal and picked up 8 assists for a total of 9 points in 22 games played for Team USA's U18 squad last season. Merrill will be in the NHL someday. Photo from thn.com.

Stephen Johns (USNTDP) was the last Team USA player taken in the NHL Draft, but was taken in the second round by the Chicago Blackhawks, 60th overall. Chicago is looking for some depth at defense, which is why they went after Johns, a 6'3", 220 pound tough defenseman out of Wampum, Pennsylvania. Johns only dropped the gloves once last season, but it's obvious when you watch him, he plays with a love of the physical game. Johns regularly dishes out huge hits and just like teammate Derek Forbort, clears out the front of the net very well. In my viewing of the USNTDP, Johns picked up an assist, but he could have had a lot more. Johns is very talented in the passing department, and he really showed his ability to start great rushes with his long ice passes. Photo from usahockey.com.

Kevin Gravel (Sioux City) was the first non-USNTDP defenseman from the USHL that was drafted on Saturday. After the season when I posted my Top 10 skaters eligible for the NHL Draft, Gravel took the top spot for defenseman. There's a reason Gravel is high regarded throughout the scouting world. That reason is his defensive ability. Gravel averaged a point a game in high school, but he lost that offensive production in his "climbing the ranks" up to the USHL. Last season with the Musketeers, Gravel scored 3 goals and picked up 3 assists for 6 points in the 53 games he played for the Muskies last season. The lack of offensive production didn't scare the Los Angeles Kings away, who picked Gravel in the fifth round, 128th overall.

Kevin Lind (Tri-City) was selected by the Anaheim Ducks in the sixth round of Saturday's draft with the 177th overall pick. Lind, for me at least, is one of the most fun defenseman to watch in the USHL. This summer, Lind was traded from Chicago to Tri-City, which should be a good fit for him as he can add some help to the Storms' powerplay as well as add some much needed defensive strength to the Storm. Lind is one of the hardest hitting defenseman in the USHL, but he also brings the offensive help to his new team. Just last season, Lind, a 6'3", 200 pound defenseman out of Homer Glen, Illinois, put up 16 points, 6 of them goals and 10 of them assists, in 55 games played. Lind has a good shot of being an NHL player someday in the near future.

Nick Mattson (Indiana) was taken by the Chicago Blackhawks with the last pick of the sixth round. He may be joining earlier Blackhawks' pick Stephen Johns in Chicago in the near future. Mattson, I would say is more offensively minded than defensive. If Mattson was a few inches taller, he would probably be a top-three round pick. But, standing at 6'1", 190 pounds, it's mostly his size that held him back in the draft. Last season, Mattson really showed off his ability to quarterback a powerplay and score from the point. Mattson can also make some great passes which allowed Mattson to pick up 14 assists in addition to his 5 goals in the 51 games he played for the Indiana Ice last season. After he's done with college, Mattson could be an NHL defenseman in the future. Photo from indystar.com.

Bryce Aneloski (Cedar Rapids) was picked by the Ottawa Senators in the seventh round of the NHL Entry Draft, and was the last USHL defenseman taken on Saturday. Saying that Aneloski is more offensively minded than defensive like I usually say is the understatement of the year. Aneloski was the leading defenseman in scoring last season by 13 points, and he beat a lot of forwards in scoring as well. Aneloski scored 15 goals and gained a remarkable 39 assists for a total of 54 points in 60 games played for the RoughRiders. The Senators are in need of a young, offensive minded defenseman and Aneloski could be the guy to fill that void for Ottawa within the next five years. Aneloski is the kind of wait and see player that NHL teams risk a late round pick on.
Goaltender

Jack Campbell (USNTDP) was the only USHL goalie taken in the NHL Entry Draft, and he was also the highest player out of the USHL taken. Campbell was taken by the Dallas Stars 11th overall, and is expected to be the back-up netminder to Kari Lehtonen. Although Campbell is supposed to go and play in the OHL before playing in the NHL, it looks as if the Stars expect Campbell to come to Dallas immediately and probably get around 15-20 starts next NHL season. Campbell put up great numbers in the USHL last season, posting a 6-3-1 record in 11 appearances, along with a 2.21 GAA and .917 save percentage. We all remember his performance against Canada in the 2009 WJHC too. Campbell will be an NHL star someday. Photo from ontariohockeyleague.com.

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Please Be Patient With Me...

2010-06-18T23:34:00.000-07:00

I've been very busy this week and have gotten very little work done on Chicago's recap. I'm afraid that with tryout camps starting, and some already over, that I'm running out of time. I'm going to try and get all of the post-draft profiles done, but they may not be as in-depth as the previous ones. I'm also going to try and post a final USHL players NHL Draft ranking before the 25th. Thanks.

Post-Draft Team Profiles- USNTDP

2010-06-13T19:11:00.000-07:00

Team USA aka the USNTDP spent its first full season in the USHL last season, with mixed success. Overall Team USA finished their season in the USHL with a record of 25-31-4, with most of the wins coming from the U18 squad, but some came from the U17 team. I also thought I'd take this opportunity to tell you readers that I'm quitting my "No USNTDP Players Rule" for next season. Team USA doesn't participate in the USHL Drafts, but they land commitments from the most talented players in the country. The U17 squad will be fielding 13 forwards, 8 defensemen, and 2 goaltenders. So let's go through the players that have committed to play for the USNTDP so far....
U17 Team
Forwards

Nicolas Kerdiles (LA Selects U16) is a 6'1", 180 pound winger who is one of the best '94 players coming out of the Tier 1 Elite League. Basically all of the forwards taken by the USNTDP are the leaders of their respective teams in nearly every statistical category. That's exactly what Kerdiles did, leading his team in scoring by 7 points. Kerdiles put up 54 points, 25 of which were goals and the other 29 were assists. Kerdiles has also been the captain of his team since the 2006-07 season, which shows that he is quite a character guy. He could be a potential leader for the U17 squad. Kerdiles, just like every other USNTDP player, has two years of eligibility with Team USA. Kerdiles, after that two years of eligibility, will go on and play at Wisconsin for the 2012 season. Photo from berecruited.com.

Frankie Vatrano (Boston Jr. Bruins) is another high scoring forward, except Vatrano comes from the East Coast. Vatrano is a 5'10", 190 pound center out of East Longmeadow, Massachusetts, and he can put the puck in the net and set up his teammates to score. With the Jr. Bruins of the Empire Junior Hockey League last season, Vatrano played 44 games, and in those 44 games, he scored an amazing 42 goals and picked up 47 assists for a grand total of 89 points in those 44 games, a truly amazing feat. Safe to say, those 89 points were good enough to lead his team in scoring. Vatrano is scheduled to start at Boston College in either 2012 or 2013. If he enrolls in 2012, his schedule with the USNTDP will be normal, but if he goes in 2013, he will play another year in the USHL after his time with the USNTDP. Photo.

Brendan Silk (Austin Prep) is 6'1", 160 pound winger out of the Boston area, and is again a very proficient scorer. Silk has been described as a very smooth skater and his size is pretty nice for a 16 year old, but then again, so is the size of most of the other USNTDP commits. Oh, yeah, I'll just clear this up right now, Silk is a relative of Dave Silk, a member of the 1980 US Olympic team who completed the "Miracle on Ice". On to Brendan, he is a solid skater that can fill a variety of roles in the offensive zone. Silk can score as well as set his teammates for goals. Last season at Austin Prep, in 22 games, Silk scored 21 goals and got 14 assists. After his time with the USNTDP, Silk will attend Boston College, presumably starting in 2012. Photo from boston.com.

Quentin Shore (Colorado Thunderbirds U16) is a forward who didn't lead his team in scoring, but he is obviously a solid prospect. While playing for the Colorado Thunderbirds this past season, Shore put up 26 points, 13 goals and 13 assists, in 33 games played in the Tier 1 Elite League. Overall on the season, Shore actually put up 95 points, 41 of which were goals and 54 were assists in 74 games played. There's been some speculation about where Shore will end up in college, and although he hasn't made a decision yet, most people believe Shore will follow his two brothers to Denver University following his time with the USNTDP. However, he has been quoted as saying Denver isn't a sure thing, and Minnesota and Wisconsin have been showing interest in Shore.

Thomas DiPauli (Chicago Mission U16) was one of the two Chicago Mission forwards selected to the U17 team, along with teammate Ryan Hartman. DiPauli is a 5'10", 173 pound center who can really do it all. Last season with the Chicago Mission U16 team, DiPauli put up some good stats. In the 30 games he played, DiPauli netted 18 goals and picked up 15 assists, which was good for 33 points. With those 33 points, DiPauli ranked fourth on his team in scoring. Notre Dame recruited DiPauli rigorously, and they got a commitment from him on March 16th. Now the thing about his committment is that DiPauli will start at Notre Dame in either 2012 or 2013, which leaves the door open for DiPauli to play a season of USHL in 2012 if Notre Dame wants him to play another year in the USHL.

Ryan Hartman (Chicago Mission U16) is one of the best pure goal scorers that the USNTDP got for the 2010 season. Hartman is a 5'11", 165 pound winger from West Dundee, Illinois. He has great scoring ability and led his Chicago Mission team in goals this past season. In fact, Hartman scored 25 goals and 19 assists for a total of 44 points in 38 games played. But he's not all offense. Hartman plays a very physical game, and is widely considered one of the best two-way players in the '94 class. This physical games is what helped draw him to Miami-Ohio, where he is scheduled to start playing in 2013. This means that after his two years in the USNTDP, he will play in the USHL for year. Hartman was drafted by Dubuque in the Futures Draft, so they will own his rights when he comes out of the USA Hockey Program. Photo.

Stefan Matteau (Notre Dame Hounds) is a 6'1", 188 pound center out of Blainville, Quebec. Matteau was the only foreign-born player that committed to play for the USNTDP. Matteau is not the best statistical forward that committed to the U17 squad, but is an overall good center who has skills on both sides of the puck. Matteau is breaking the mold a little bit here, being a Canadian who wants to come down and play for Team USA and go the college route. Matteau is one of the few USNTDP commits that doesn't have a college offer locked up. However, he has garnered some interest with his stats, posting 37 points, 15 of them goals and 22 were assists. Matteau has received interest from Cornell, Quinnipiac, and Yale. Photo from rivals.com.

Cameron Darcy (Dexter Prep) I am awaiting access to Dexter Prep's team page.

Nikolas Olsson (LA Selects U16) is a 6'0", 170 pound winger from Escondido, California, and is from the same team and city as fellow USNTDP selection Nicholas Kerdiles. Olsson played in only 21 games this past season with the LA Selects midget minor squad, but took full advantage of his limited time, gaining 28 points, which ranked third on the Selects, despite playing over ten less games then the rest of his teammates. Of those 28 points, 19 were goals and 9 were assists, speaking to his ability to put the puck in the net. Olsson isn't committed to a college yet, but he has gained plenty of interest, most of it coming from Denver, but Boston College, Boston University, Michigan, North Dakota, and Wisconsin have all shown interest in the sniper. Photo from rivals.com.
Defensemen

Connor Carrick (Chicago Fury U16) is a defenseman who thinks more about the offensive side of his game than the defensive side. Carrick, as a defenseman, ranked third on the Fury's midget minor squad in scoring with 22 points in 37 games. Of those 22 points, 7 were goals and 15 were assists. Carrick also spent some time playing up a division on the Fury U18 team. On that squad, the 5'10", 175 pound defenseman racked up 6 points, 2 goals and 4 assists, in 22 games played which is not too shabby for a 16 year old playing in an 18 year old's division. Carrick will spend two years with the USNTDP and then stay in town and play for Michigan, where he committed to play on March 17th. Denver, Yale, and Notre Dame also showed interest in Carrick. Photo from rivals.com.

Jacob Trouba (Compuware U16) is another offensive defenseman that's headed to Team USA's U17 squad this coming season. Trouba is one of the best defenseman in the '94 class and could be very valuble for any NHL that will be looking to draft him in 2012. Trouba, in 38 games for Compuware's midget minor squad last season, netted 14 goals and picked up 14 assists for 28 points, which ranked third on the entire team. Trouba also played 3 games for the midget major Compuware team, showing that the coaches really trust him and like his skills, which will carry over into his time with the USNTDP. Trouba doesn't have a college scholarship yet, but he is the object of one the biggest recruiting battles in college hockey. Michigan and Notre Dame are both trying to land Trouba for the 2012 season. Photo.

Seth Jones (Dallas Stars U18) is probably the best overall player that will be suiting up for the USNTDP this coming season. Jones is widely regarded, with myself included, as the best defenseman eligible for the 2013 NHL Draft. As a 15 year old, Jones not only played all season for the Dallas Star's midget major squad with players two years older than him, he finished third in scoring for defenseman on the team. Jones, a mainly defensive defenseman, scored 5 goals and picked up 13 assists in 42 games played. Jones is obviously highly touted recruit, and he is letting as many colleges that show interest in him have a shot at signing him. However, he does have three favorite colleges, and will more than likely sign with one of the three. Denver, Miami-Ohio, and North Dakota are Jones' favorites. Photo from USAHockey.com.

Dakota Mermis (St. Louis Amateur Blues U18) is another defenseman who played up a division. As a '94 birthdate, Mermis spent all season with the St. Louis Amateur Blues' midget major squad, and also appeared in two games for the Lincoln Stars, where his brother Jarrod played. Mermis was fourth on his team in scoring, despite playing against players two years older than him. Mermis netted 11 goals and racked up 26 assists for a total of 37 points in the 48 games he played, which are very nice numbers. The 5'10", 165 pound defenseman from Alton, Illinois committed to Denver University in May as a supposed "package deal", with his brother Jarrod also headed to DU. Mermis is a great prospect who has played in the USHL before, so he should be a good fit with the U17 squad. Photo from rivals.com.

Brady Skjei (Lakeville North HS) is a 6'0", 160 pound offensive defenseman from the Minnesota High School hockey system. Skjei finished second on the Lakeville North squad in scoring as a defenseman, which is no easy task. Skjei finished his high school career with a very solid statistical year. In 30 total games played for Lakeville High, Skjei scored 11 goals with 4 of them coming in post-season play. He also added 18 total assists for 29 points in those 30 games played. Although Skjei had a great year statistically, he hasn't really generated much college interest, which is peculiar, considering almost all of the USNTDP selections either have college scholarship offers locked up, or they have multiple colleges drooling over them. Just by getting on the U17 squad will guarantee a scholarship offer.
Goaltenders

Jared Rutledge (Chicago Young Americans U16) is currently the only goaltender committed to play for the U17 team next season. Another goalie will be added down the road, but it is expected that Rutledge, one of the premier goalies of the 2012 draft class will be the starter. Rutledge wasn't my favorite pick to make the U17 squad, but he must have impressed the scouts quite a bit at the 40-man tryout. Rutledge put up some good stats with the CYA U16 squad this past season, posting a 17-9-2 record with 3 shutouts. On the year, he had a 2.86 GAA and a .887 save percentage. Rutledge is another player who is the center of a fairly large recruiting battle. Rutledge is trying to decide to either attend North Dakota or Michigan State, with reports stating that MSU has a lead in Rutledge's mind. Photo from USAHockey.com.
U18 Squad
Forwards
Tyler Biggs
Cole Bardreau
Reid Boucher
Travis Boyd
Dan Carlson
Rocco Grimaldi
Ryan Haggerty
Zac Larraza
JT Miller
Blake Pietila
Adam Reid
Michael Vilardo
Defensemen
Barrett Kaib
Jake McCabe
Connor Murphy
Michael Paliotta
Alexx Privitera
Robbie Russo
Andy Ryan
Matt Van Voorhis
Goaltenders
John Gibson
Matt McNeely

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Post-Draft Team Profiles- Des Moines Buccaneers

2010-06-08T21:55:00.000-07:00

The Des Moines Buccaneers finished off their 2009-10 campaign the way that they finished a lot of games last season; with a loss. Losses were the story of the season for the Buccaneers, dragging along for the third-worst record in the league, going 20-34-6 for a total of 46 points, only 6 points ahead of the league worst Lincoln Stars. The Buccaneers will be returning a solid top line with T.J. Tynan and Conor Brickley, who are both NHL prospects who promise to improve the Buccaneers' record next season. Des Moines goal going into the draft had to be to surround Brickley and Tynan with solid players and try and make a run for the Clark Cup. So let's run through Des Moines' picks starting with the Futures Draft and ending with the Entry Draft...
Futures Draft
Round 1 Selection

Miles Koules (Shattuck-St. Mary's) was the first pick by the Buccaneers and the sixth overall selection in the Futures Draft. Koules, a 5'11", 172 pound playmaker finished up his season with Shattuck with 58 points in 53 games. Of those 58 points, 20 were goals and 38 were assists. Koules is a great skater and moves well on the ice. He uses his stick very well, and uses his teammates well to set up goals, which is why he got so many assists. Koules' biggest asset to his game is probably his vision. He sees the ice very well and sets up his teammates for goals. Koules' dad is an owner of the Tampa Bay Lightning, so that be a possible connection for the advancement of his hockey career. Koules doesn't have any college interest at the moment, but if he plays in Des Moines, I would expect that to change.
Round 2 Selection

Ray Pigozzi (Chicago Mission U16) was the second selection by the Buccaneers, was the second forward in a row picked by Des Moines. Pigozzi played for the U16 division champion Chicago Mission, where he compiled impressive stats despite being hampered by an ankle injury that forced him to miss a chunk of the season. That injury, however, isn't anything to worry about, and he will be able to play for Des Moines whenever they need him. This past season, Pigozzi put up a very impressive 30 points in just 20 games played. Of those 30 points he collected, 11 were goals and 19 of them were assists. Not surprisingly, Pigozzi has attracted plenty of college hockey attention, mainly from Michigan, New Hampshire, and Wisconsin. Pigozzi was definitely a nice pick by the Bucs.
Round 3 Selection

Ian Spencer (North Jersey Avalanche) was the first defenseman selected by the Buccaneers and was their third overall selection. Spencer was one of the best overall defenseman in the Futures Draft, he doesn't totally stand out offensively or defensively, but is a good player overall, solid on both sides of the puck. On the offensive side of the puck, Spencer picked up 27 points in 35 games last season. Of those 27 points, 7 were goals and 20 were assists. Defensively, Spencer is very solid and rarely gets beat to the outside when a rush is forming. He is also a pretty good skater, which adds to his defensive worth. Spencer is committed to play for the University of Vermont in 2012, so he is obviously a good player to have a college scholarship as a '94. Photo from icehousenj.com.
Round 4 Selection

Connor Wood (Honeybaked U16) was the third forward drafted by Des Moines and the first player out of the Tier 1 Elite League picked by them. Wood is obviously a character guy, being captain of the U16 squad for Honeybaked. On the ice, Wood is widely regarded as one of, if not the fastest player of the 1994 class. He improved a lot as the year went on, and is consistently one of the best players on the ice. He uses that incredible speed to take the puck wide and show off his scoring ability, which he has quite a bit of. In 37 games played last season for Honeybaked midget minor, Wood scored 17 goals and picked up 20 assists for a total of 37 points, which means he averaged a point per game. The speedy forward hasn't received any college attention yet, but it's only a matter of time before he does.
Round 5 Selection

Eric Sade (Team Maryland U18) was the fifth selection of the Bucaneers, and with this pick, Des Moines went for Sade, a defenseman. Sade is another all around skilled defenseman, just like Ian Spencer, the Buccaneers' third pick. Sade helped out a bit offensively for Team Maryland, gaining 17 points in 75 regular season games this past season. Of those 17 points, 4 were goals and 13 were assists. Those are pretty good numbers for a (then) 15 year old playing a division up, in the U18 division, with players that were two or three years older than him. I know I'm going to sound like a severely broken record when I say this next sentence but bear with me. Sade currently doesn't have any colleges interested in him, but with the fact that he's playing up a division, I would expect that to change.
Round 6 Selection

Liam McDermott (Cleveland Barons U16) was the Buccaneers' last pick of the Futures Draft and was Des Moines' fourth forward drafted. McDermott played midget minor hockey for the Cleveland Barons last season. He is a very solid skater and moves around the ice very well. McDermott shows a lot of patience with the puck, and makes the right decision most of the time the puck is on his tape. In 37 games played for the Barons, McDermott netted 4 goals, 3 of them on the powerplay, and 12 assists for a total of 16 points, adding 46 penalty minutes on the year. McDermott's best asset to his game is definitely his hockey sense. He sees the ice well and always knows how to make the right decision. We should see McDermott in the USHL soon.
Entry Draft
Round 1 Selection

Peter Stoykewych (Winnipeg South Blues) was the third overall selection in the USHL Entry Draft, and Des Moines took Stoykewych, a 6'3", 195 defenseman out of Winnipeg, Manitoba. Last season, with the Winnipeg South Blue of the Manitoba Junior Hockey League, Stoykewych had a good year statistically. He got significant time on the powerplay, and put his time to good use. On the year, Stoykewych put up 31 points, 12 of them coming on the powerplay. Of those 31 points, 6 were goals and 25 were assists. Stoykewych also racked up 63 penalty minutes in his 56 games played. As a '92, Stoykewych has three years of USHL eligibility, but I doubt he will use them up. He is scheduled to start playing for Colorado College during the 2011 season, so it will likely be a short stay in Des Moines.
Round 2 Selection

Brendan O'Donnell (Winnipeg South Blues) was selected in the second round by Des Moines, and they took O'Donnell, the teammate of first round pick Peter Stoykewych. O'Donnell is a 6'0", 185 pound forward out of Winnipeg. O'Donnell has quite the scoring touch, being ranked 11th in the MJHL in goals, 18th in points, and 10th in powerplay points. On the season, O'Donnell put up 61 points, 19 of them goals and 32 assists in 53 games played for the Blues. He had 33 of his 61 points come while on the powerplay, and I think he can be used in the same role on the Bucaneers, and could possibly be that line mate for Tynan and Brickley, whose line could be the most productive line in the USHL next season. O'Donnell is scheduled to start at North Dakota for the 2011 season.
Round 3 Selection

Nick Kulmanovsky (Culver Academy) was the Bucaneers' third pick and their first goalie drafted in either of the drafts. Kulmanovsky comes out of the prestigious Culver Military Academy, who is well known for producing great junior players. The interesting thing is that Kulmanovsky came all the way to Indiana to board at Culver from his native Fairbanks, Alaska, a long journey indeed. On to Kulmanovsky however, he posted a 14-12-5 record for Culver in 31 total appearances. The 5'10", 155 pound goaltender also put up a 2.55 GAA and .908 save percentage on the season. Kulmanovsky has received some college attention, but hasn't quite lit the world on fire yet, and if he comes in next season and plays for the Buccaneers, I can see him getting a scholarship. Photo.
Round 5 Selection

Patrick Kirtland (Topeka RoadRunners) was the fourth pick of the Buccaneers in the Entry Draft and Des Moines went after Kirtland, a forward out of the NAHL, one level below the USHL. Kirtland is your prototypical bottom six forward, and that is more than likely the role he will be playing in Des Moines next season. In 56 games played for the RoadRunners last season, Kirtland netted 12 goals and picked up 20 assists for a total of 32 points. Kirtland was also a +13 on the year and racked up 96 penalty minutes. A fight accounted for 5 of those 96 PIM, though apparently Kirtland only landed a punch and was wearing his cage during the fight. Either way, it's nice to know that a player will drop the gloves if he absolutely needs to. Photo from cjonline.com.
Round 6 Selection

Andrew Miller (Team Illinois U18) was Des Moines' fifth pick of the Entry Draft, and he was the 78th overall pick of the draft. The 6'0", 185 pound forward from West Dundee, Illinois is a guy who can be whatever the Buccaneers need him to be. He has the skills and stats to play in a top six forward role and also has the size and bulk to play a bottom six checker role as well. Playing for Team Illinois' midget major squad, Miller played 48 games last season. In those 48 games played, he scored 25 goals and picked up 19 helpers for a total of 44 points. With those 44 points, Miller finished fourth on Team Illinois in scoring. Miller as a '91 has two years of USHL eligibility, and I think he may use them both. Miller hasn't received much of any collegiate attention yet.
Round 7 Selection

Daniel Milan (Orchard Lake St. Mary's Prep) was the second big defenseman drafted by Des Moines in the Entry Draft. He is a self-described defensive defenseman, but he also has offensive skills, and can skate well, which is always a concern for big players. Milan stands at 6'3", 190 pounds, which the Buccaneers' coaching staff obviously couldn't resist. Milan posted some good offensive stats, such as the 5 goals and 13 assists in 31 games played he posted. Now I don't believe he has any colleges interested in him, which is kind of a surprise, but that will change soon I'm sure. Milan could come into Des Moines and be in the top defensive pairing if he plays well enough at the Buccaneers tryout. Milan has been mentioned on a few NHL Draft previews, so he may get drafted later this month.
Round 8 Selection

Christian Frey (Dallas Stars U16) was the seventh selection of the Bucs and was their second goaltender drafted by Des Moines. Frey finished up his 2009-10 campaign with the Dallas Stars midget minor team with a 5-12-6 record. On top of the record, Frey put up a 2.38 GAA and .928 save percentage. Those are pretty good stats for a goalie who was on a less than average team. This pick for Des Moines is more than likely the coaching staff trying to cover their bases with the departure of goaltender drafted by Des Moines. Frey finished up his 2009-10 campaign with the Dallas Stars midget minor team with a 5-12-6 record. On top of the record, Frey put up a 2.38 GAA and .928 save percentage. Those are pretty good stats for a goalie who was on a less than average team. This pick for Des Moines is more than likely the coaching staff trying to cover their bases with the departure of goaltender Eric Mihalik and the possibility of Charlie Williams leaving as well. But if Williams sticks around, they now have two incoming goaltenders to increase the competition at their tryouts. Also, Des Moines always has an open tryout, so more local goalies could challenge these drafted goalies for spots.
Round 9 Selection

Connor Kucera (Culver Academy) was the eighth selection by the Buccaneers, and the second player from Culver that they picked up in the Entry Draft. With this pick, Des Moines got another big defenseman. In fact, throughout the whole Entry Draft, the Bucaneers didn't draft a defenseman shorter than 6'0". Kucera, however, stands at 6'2", 195 pounds which is great size. This past season with Culver Military Academy, Kucera scored 3 goals from the blue line, and helped out on 19 goals, getting him a total of 22 points in 42 games played. Kucera would be a great fit on Des Moines' blue line next season. He hasn't attracted any college attention so far, but with his size and ability, plus being drafted by the USHL, he should get a scholarship soon.
Round 10 Selection

Gavin Tufte (Blaine HS) was the ninth selection by Des Moines, and he was the first Minnesota High School hockey player to be drafted by the Buccaneers. Tufte is a big guy who has a great scoring touch. Tufte stands at 6'0", which is about average height for the USHL, but what really stands out about Tufte is his weight. Tufte weighs 200 pounds, which is fairly thick for his height. To go along with his size, Tufte has quite a bit of scoring touch. Last season with Blaine High as a senior, Tufte scored 22 goals and got 18 assists for a total of 40 points in 30 games played. In the consolation tourney of the Minnesota State Hockey Tournament, Tufte scored two goals and got an assist in a 7-5 loss to Roseau High School. Tufte again doesn't have any college offers yet, but has generated some interest.
Round 15 Selection

John Olen (Chicago Mission U18) was the tenth pick by the Buccaneers, and they went with Olen, a 5'10", 145 pound winger. From Tufte on, these picks are just in case things don't work out with the players drafted earlier and whatnot. Olen, however, is a nice pick in this situation by Des Moines. Olen is a guy that has quite a bit of potential, and although he is kind of a lightweight, Olen possesses a nice offensive skillset. Last season, Olen posted 14 goals and 23 assists in 48 games played with the midget major squad of the Chicago Mission. Olen, just like a lot of Des Moines' picks doesn't have a college commitment yet, but he does have quite a few colleges interested in him, and the list of interested colleges should only increase when he starts playing in the USHL.
Round 16 Selection

Logan Nelson (Russell Stover U16) was the Buccaneers' eleventh selection of the Entry Draft. They took a chance on the 16 year old forward. Nelson stands at 6'1", 165 pounds, which is not bad size for a 16 year old. Along with his size, Nelson has some solid offensive skills and he showed them off last season for Russell Stover's midget minor squad. In the 38 games he played this past season, Nelson put up 18 goals and 17 assists for a total of 35 points. Of those 18 goals, 4 came on the powerplay and 3 came while his team was a man down. Nelson doesn't have a college commitment, and I don't believe he's generated any interest from colleges yet, but again, expect that to change if he gets a crack at the USHL this coming season with the Buccaneers.
Round 17 Selection

Luke Veitch (Ohio Blue Jackets U18) was the twelfth selection by the Buccaneers in the Entry Draft, and with this pick, Des Moines went for another 16 year old in Veitch, who's playing a division up at the midget major level. Veitch is a 6'0", 160 pound defenseman out of Lewis Centre, Ohio and he plays a more defensive game than offensive, but he proved he can produce offensively this past season for his Blue Jackets. In 48 games played last season, Veitch scored 3 goals from the blue line and also picked up 3 assists for a grand total of 15 points on the year. Veitch racked up 60 penalty minutes in those 48 games. Veitch, along with much of the players on this post, has not created much of any collegiate interest in himself, but naturally, that will change if he plays in the USHL.
Round 18 Selection

David Jacobson (LA Selects U16) was the thirteenth selection of the Buccaneers, and was the third goalie drafted by Des Moines in the Entry Draft. Jacobson is a 1994 birthdate, so he was passed up in the Futures Draft, but was taken in the Entry Draft by Des Moines, and as far as I know, will be given a square shot at making the team for Des Moines. Jacobson is said to have all the skills to be a great goaltender, he just needs to work at putting all those skills together and work at getting better to have a shot at the USHL. This past season with the LA Selects, he appeared in 21 games, and posted a 10-6-4 record with a 2.53 GAA and .911 save percentage on the year. Jacobson also stopped every shot he faced in three games, which is pretty impressive overall.
Round 19 Selection

Trent Ruffolo (New Hampshire Jr. Monarchs) was the fourteenth pick of the Buccaneers and was drafted in the 273rd overall slot of the Entry Draft. The eighteen year old, 5'11", 170 pound forward out of Coral Springs, Florida was the last winger drafted by Des Moines. Ruffolo recently completed his season with the New Hampshire Jr. Monarchs of the EJHL. He led the Jr. Monarchs in scoring, and I just don't see how he dropped this far in the draft. Ruffolo played 49 games for the Jr. Monarchs, scoring 21 goals and picking up 44 assists, showing that he prefers to pass the puck more than shoot. Of his 65 points, 25 came on the powerplay, and one came on the penalty kill. In my opinion, Ruffolo has a legitimate chance to make the Buccaneers next season. Photo from USAHockey.com.
Round 20 Selection

Willie Faust (Hill-Murray HS) was the last pick of the Buccaneers in the Entry Draft and they went with the 5'10", 170 pound center from Hill-Murray High School in Minnesota. Faust was an integral part of Hill-Murray's successful season, netting 23 goals and picking up 24 assists for a total of 47 points in the 30 games that Faust played. Faust had two assists in the third place game against Apple Valley, in which Hill-Murray won the game with a score of 6-3. Faust just graduated from Hill-Murray, so he has to play juniors somewhere, and that place may be Des Moines. If he doesn't make the Buccaneers roster, there is always the NAHL and EJHL for example. Faust is probably going to be a bottom six forward depending on what league he ends up in. Photo from GameFaceMN.com.
Probable Returning Players
Taylor Wolfe (F)
Cal Decowski (F)
Colton Saucerman (D)
Connor Frick (D)
Tyler Lapic (F)
Luke Sandler (F)
T.J. Tynan (F)
Connor Brickley (F)
Garrett Ohrn (D)
Mitch Cain (F)
Charles Williams (G)
Probable Overagers
Austin Coldwell (D)
D.J. Vandercook (F)

Please leave comments, I would love to hear them!
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Post-Draft Team Profiles- Youngstown Phantoms

2010-06-06T18:56:00.000-07:00

The Youngstown Phantoms finished up their first season in the USHL unsuccessfully. The Phantoms finished up their season with a 20-36-4 record. During the season, Youngstown also went with the radical move of replacing a coach. The Phantoms front office made the move to fire then head coach Bob Mainhardt on Feburary 16th and replace him with assistant coach Curtis Carr, who was named permanent head coach later in the season. The Phantoms will be losing quite a few players to college commitments, and they also lost NHL prospect Nick Czinder in the Expansion Draft to Muskegon. So, it's safe to say that the Phantoms had quite a bit of work to do in the drafts, starting in the Futures Draft and ending with the Entry Draft...

Futures Draft
Round 1 Selection

Tim Davison (Notre Dame HS) was Youngstown's first selection of the Futures Draft. Davison is a solid offensive defenseman who stands at 5'11", 161 pounds. Davison is widely regarded as one of the best offensive defenseman of the 1994 class. Whenever Davison gets the puck, he knows how to work it around. As a defenseman, he is always thinking about offense. Davison is very active in the offensive zone and is always looking to jump in and join plays. The biggest knock against Davison is that he needs to work a lot on his defensive skills to compliment his great offensive ability to be competitive in the USHL. The other thing Davison needs to work on before coming to the USHL is his skating ability. But overall, Davison has a bright future with the Phantoms. Stats from last year: 26 GP, 11 G, 46 A, 57 PTS.
Round 2 Selection

Ryan Fitzgerald (Malden Catholic HS) was the second selection by the Phantoms and was the first forward they drafted. Fitzgerald finished up his season at Malden Catholic as a freshman, and posted great numbers for a player that young. Last season, Fitzgerald had 17 goals and 30 assists. A member of the Phantoms coaching staff said about Fitzgerald: "This is a very intelligent player with good hockey sense who makes everyone around him better". Fitzgerald earned an invite to the USNTDP tryout and didn't make it as a freshman, but it's not like he hasn't impressed a lot of people. Fitzgerald is committed to play for Boston College starting in 2013 and he now has the option of heading to the USHL this year, but will more than likely stay with Malden next season. Photo from hockeybarn.com.
Round 3 Selection

Austin Cangelosi (Northfield Mt. Hermon Prep) was the third pick by Youngstown, and their second forward drafted. Cangelosi was a little late to the party being noticed in the 1994 class but he has charged to one of the front-runners, even committing to Boston College as a freshman. Cangelosi is a great skater and has high-end speed. He is very small at 5'6", 160 but he has great puck control. He uses his speed and agility to beat the opposition to loose pucks. Just as a freshman, Cangelosi led NMH in scoring with 54 points which is very impressive. I've heard that Cangelosi may be interested in playing USHL hockey next year, but his size may hold him back. He is scheduled to start at Boston College in 2013, so I could see him in a Youngstown jersey for at least two years. Photo from marconews.com.
Round 4 Selection

Matt Grzelcyk (Belmont Hill Prep) was Youngstown's fourth selection and their second offensive defenseman drafted. Grzelcyk is the third player drafted by the Phantoms that is committed to play at a Boston school. He is scheduled to start at Boston University in 2012. Grzelyck, as a player, is a great offensive style defenseman who skates well, and plays with good speed, so as good as he is offensively, he doesn't get beat on the outside too much. Grzelyck is always looking to jump into plays and tries to get involved offensively nearly every time his team is in the offensive zone. Grzelyck plays with a great tempo and never gives up on plays. Overall, he's a good player with great skills and could be a key part of Youngstown's powerplay in a few seasons.
Round 5 Selection

Dalton Izyk (Syracuse Nationals U16) was Youngstown's only goalie selected in the Futures Draft. This is the Phantoms trying to build up goaltending for the future, even though Youngstown is pretty solid in that department with Matthew Mahalak, a '93, who promises to improve, coming off a rookie campaign of 9-17-3 with a 4.24 GAA and .868 SV%. On to Izyk, he is a goaltender with good size, and a good ability to move around the crease and make athletic saves. I've heard from my network of scouts that Izyk shows remarkable communication with his teammates and stays calm, cool, and collected when traffic is present front of the crease. Izyk plays very deep in the net, and that seems to be where he is most comfortable at. The thing he needs to work on is challenging shooters a little more. Photo.
Round 6 Selection

AJ Coleman (Pittsburgh Hornets U16) was Youngstown's last pick of the Futures Draft, and they got a pretty good player in Coleman, the leading scorer for the Hornets last year with 87 points in 70 games. Of those 87 points, 34 were goals and 53 were assists. Coleman is in my opinion, one of the most underrated players of this '94 class. He is a great all-around player, and a guy who works hard at both ends of the ice. He isn't the flashiest player on the ice, but he gets work done. Coleman is very patient with the puck when it's on his stick and he makes plays. Coleman hasn't committed to a college yet, but he has had plenty of interest. Coleman has received an offer from hometown college Robert Morris, but also is getting interest from perennial powerhouse Michigan, and Ohio State.
Entry Draft
Round 1 Selection

John Fritsche (Alpena Icediggers) was the second overall pick in the Entry Draft, and the Phantoms went for Fritsche, a Tier II junior forward who led his team in scoring last season. Fritsche could be a solid top six forward for the Phantoms and a leader on the powerplay. Last season, Fritsche scored 23 goals and got 22 assists for a grand total of 45 points in 55 games played. Of those 45 points, 18 came on the powerplay, and 3 came while the Icediggers were shorthanded. On an Alpena team that finished last in their division, Fritsche was a +7, which is pretty impressive. Also, it really doesn't hurt to have a forward that can produce 20+ goals and have a tough side to his game. Last season, Fritsche fought four times, and that will valuable coming into the USHL, where fighting is commonplace.
Round 5 Selection

Chris Eiserman (New Hampshire Junior Monarchs) was the second selection by the Phantoms, and I believe this pick could be a replacement for goaltender Jordan Tibbetts, if he leaves. Eiserman is a great prospect, and just as a '93, he has plenty of time to play in the USHL. With the Junior Monarchs last season, Eiserman posted a 14-3-1 record in 42 appearances as a back-up to Brian Billett, a Boston College recuit. Along with the record, Eiserman put up a 3.35 GAA and .901 save percentage. At 6'3", 210, Eiserman has the size that has scouts from everywhere drooling, and Youngstown nabbed him before he fell off the board. The Phantoms could have a solid duo of 1993 born goalies if they add Eiserman, who is scheduled to start at the University of Massachusetts-Lowell in 2012.
Round 6 Selection

Jordan Young (Wenatchee Wild) was Youngstown's third pick of the Entry Draft, and the first defenseman they selected. The Phantoms went with the wise strategy of picking up NAHL players, who have experience and can come in and be leaders, no matter if they are elected captains or not. Young produced offensively for Wenatchee, getting 2 goals and 14 assists in 51 games, but showed his worth defensively, being a +15 for the Wild last season. Young is another guy coming out of the NAHL for the Phantoms that has shown he can drop the gloves. Youngstown got a pretty good pick here, getting Young to fill some empty slots at their blue line, and try and turn around from the disappointing season they had last year. Photo from peninsulaclarion.com.
Round 7 Selection

Ricky DeRosa (Philadelphia Jr. Flyers) was the second forward selected by Youngstown in the 92nd overall slot, in the 7th round. DeRosa is a big kid, standing at 6'2", 175 coming into the USHL, and could very well be a nice replacement for Nick Czinder, who went to Muskegon in the Expansion Draft. I think DeRosa's perfect fit in Youngstown would be in a bottom six "grinder" type role, getting significant time on the penalty kill for the Phantoms next season. As far as I can tell, DeRosa hasn't picked up much of any college interest, but as a 6'2" center, you have to imagine that he'll pull in a scholarship after playing a year in the USHL, especially if he is successful statistically. Look for DeRosa to be all but a sure thing for the Phantoms roster next season. Photo from berecruited.com.
Round 8 Selection

Nilan Nagy (Traverse City Stars) was Youngstown's fifth pick of the draft, and they went with the big 6'0", 207 pound defenseman out of Canonsburg, Pennsylvania to fill in one of the gaps left by departing defenseman from their 09-10 campaign. Nagy is a defensive defenseman, up and down. He has that 207 pound frame to just rock forwards if they try and make a move to get around him. But he's not just a big, physical defenseman. Nagy put in 1 goal and 23 assists 56 regular season games, with 8 of those assists coming when Traverse City was on the power play. Nagy won't produce 20+ points in the USHL, but I think you can expect a solid mix of offensive stats and good defensive play that you can notice on the ice. Youngstown definitely made a good pick here.
Round 9 Selection

Mike Zalewski (Syracuse Stars) was the Phantoms' sixth pick and they went with another big forward to try and fill out their bottom six with two way players, such as Zalewski. The 6'2", 195 pound forward out of New Hartford, Connecticut is a big guy, but he showed some great offensive skills in the 09-10 season that made him a target of a couple of teams in the Entry Draft, but Youngstown got him first. Zalewski scored 16 goals and had 32 assists for a total of 48 points in 43 games played for the Stars last season. Zakewski has had some college interest already, but hasn't comitted yet. As Zalewski plays for Youngstown, he will probably generate more interest and it will open up his options so he is probably waiting until he's in the USHL to make a decision. Photo from myhometownsports.net.
Round 10 Selection

Quinn Smith (Avon Old Farms) was the seventh pick by Youngstown, and with this pick, the Phantoms went with Smith, a 5'9", 170 pound forward out of Fairfield, Connecticut. Info on Smith is not readily available, as per the usual with prep schools, so I really can't fill you in on statistical information on him, but he must have had some pretty good stats to get him noticed. Smith will only play one year in the USHL before heading off to play for Boston College starting in the 2011 season, so I would expect Smith to make the Phantoms, play in Youngstown for a year, and then ship off to Boston College. Photo from ushr.com.

Round 11 Selection

Michael Ambrosia (Delbarton HS) was the eighth pick by Youngstown, and they went with a potential top six forward in Ambrosia. He played at Delbarton High in New Jersey last season, but also played 14 games with the New Jersey Colonials of the AYHL, netting 11 goals and picking up 16 assists. Ambrosia stands at 5'10", 180 pounds which gives him the size to be ready to jump into the USHL as early as this coming season. Ambrosia should be on the Phantoms for two years, assuming he makes the team for Youngstown, as he is scheduled to start playing at the collegiate level for Princeton University during the 2012 season, so Ambrosia will be a mainstay in Youngstown for a few years. Photo from highschoolsportsnj.com.

Round 12 Selection

JT Stenglein (Maksymum Junior Hockey) was Youngstown's ninth selection of the Entry Draft, and their sixth forward drafted. Stenglein is a 6'0", 195 pound winger who knows how to put the puck in the back of the net. Stenglein also could be with the Phantoms for more than a few seasons, as just a 1993 birthdate. Last season with Maksymum of the Empire Junior Hockey League, Stenglein finished second in scoring. In 41 regular season games, Stenglein scored 29 goals and 25 assists for a total of 54 points. Stenglein also racked up a remarkable 131 PIM in those 41 games. Come playoff time, Stenglein produced 14 points in 9 games for Maksymum, adding 31 penalty minutes in those 9 games. Stenglein has gotten quite a bit of college interest but hasn't committed to a college yet.
Round 13 Selection

Darcy Greenaway (Lake Forest Academy) was the tenth selection by the Phantoms and was their first foreign born player selected. This is a risky pick, as Greenaway is from Ontario, and he was selected by the London Knights, so it is still unclear if he will go play in Canada in the OHL, or stay in America, where he played last season and go the college route. As I mentioned, Greenaway played in America last season, for Lake Forest Academy, which is located in Chicago. In 13 regular season games for Lake Forest Academy, Greenaway scored 19 goals and picked up 8 assists for a total of 27 points. 5 of those goals came on the powerplay, and 2 came while his team was shorthanded. The classic CHL vs. juniors/college battle applies to Greenaway, and only time will tell where he will play.
Round 14 Selection

Alex Temby (Colorado Thunderbirds U18) was Youngstown's eleventh selection of the Entry Draft, and only their third defenseman picked. Temby was a captain for the Thunderbirds last season, and in this video, he explains why he likes to be captain and what his future plans are. In the video, his coach explains that Temby is a good, solid defenseman that skates well and sees the ice well. It's a very rare occasion when Temby gets beat one on one according to his coach. Temby also can produce offensively, as he led his team's defenseman in scoring with 22 points, 5 of them goals and 17 assists, in 46 games played last season. Temby also racked up 52 penalty minutes in those 46 games. Temby apparently has quite a few colleges looking at him, and as he gets more exposure in the USHL, I would expect him to commit.
Round 15 Selection

Brian Harris (Boston Advantage U18) was the twelfth selection by the Phantoms, and with this pick, they got an offensive defenseman in Harris, who stands at 5'9", 186 pounds. Last season with the Boston Advantage, Harris picked up 36 points, 10 of them being goals and 26 assists in 46 games played. Harris also racked up 116 penalty minutes, which were mostly physical plays, and him standing up for his teammates. His coaches say even though he is a smaller guy, Harris plays bigger than 5'9", and he plays a physical game to compliment his offensive skills. If he plays on the Phantoms next season, he will only be there for that season, as the 17 year old is scheduled to enroll at Maine for the 2011 season. Harris could improve Youngstown's powerplay significantly if he is on the roster next season.
Round 16 Selection

Chris Bradley (Buffalo Regals U18) was the thirteenth selection by the Phantoms in the 227th overall slot. Bradley is the polar opposite of Harris, as Bradley is a big, physical, defensive defenseman. Bradley stands at 6'2", 185 pounds and produced very little offensively for the Regals last season. Bradley only collected 7 points in 48 games played, 1 of them being goals and 6 were assists. That 1 goal came on the powerplay. The surprising thing on his stat sheet is that Bradley only racked up 8 penalty minutes in those 48 games, which shows that he is very disciplined, which is very valuable to potential teams, and Youngstown grabbed him off the board late in the draft, which is a good pick. Bradley isn't guaranteed a spot on the Phantoms roster, but a defensive guy like this is always a good fit. Photo.
Round 17 Selection

Ryan Belonger (St. Louis Bandits) was the Phantoms last player selected out of the NAHL, and they went with the 5'10", 178 pound forward out of Green Bay, Wisconsin. Belonger's play in the NAHL last season attracted plenty of college attention, and although he hasn't recieved an offer, Belonger will more than likely end up playing college hockey. Youngstown could get Belonger for next season, or the power forward type player could stay in St. Louis and keep playing in the NAHL. Either way, Belonger is a talented center who picked up 28 points in 50 games played for the Bandits last year. Of those 28 points, 10 of them were goals and 18 were assists. He was also a +7 on the season, and picked up 36 penalty minutes in those 50 games. Photo from nahl.com.
Round 18 Selection

Teemu Tiitinen (Dallas Stars U18) was the Phantom's fifteenth selection, and their ninth forward picked in the Entry Draft. Tiitinen just started playing for the Stars AAA team this season, after playing with the Georgia based Thunder AAA team, where he is from. Tiitinen posted some pretty good stats for the Stars last season, netting 22 goals and getting 16 helpers in 48 games played. 4 of those goals came on the powerplay and 4 came on while Tiitinen's Stars were short-handed. Tiitinen played for Team Finland in the Ivan Hlinka Cup in 2009. Tiitinen, as far as I can tell, hasn't attracted any college hockey attention, and that could be because he has aspirations to go play in another country, or he just hasn't gotten the exposure to attract attention yet. Photo from ThunderAAAHockey.com.
Round 19 Selection

Peter MacIntyre (South Shore Kings) was the Phantom's sixteenth selection and is arguably one of the most NHL ready prospects that Youngstown drafted. MacIntyre is a 6'5", 190 pound winger that, if it works out, could be the perfect replacement for the departure of winger Nick Czinder to Muskegon. MacIntyre started off the season playing for the Boston Advantage, but then decided, with influence from NHL and college scouts, to move to the EJHL and play for the South Shore Kings. With the Advantage, MacIntyre played 25 games, netting 8 goals and 13 assists for a total of 21 points. With South Shore, MacIntyre had 6 points in 21 games played. MacIntyre is definitely an interesting prospect and could be a great USHL player for the Phantoms.
Round 20 Selection

Cam Spiro (Tabor Prep) was the seventieth pick of the Phantoms and as per the usual with prep schools, I can't find any info on Spiro. If you have any information to share, please comment.

Round 21 Selection

J.T. Miller (USNTDP) was the Phantoms' last selection, and this pick was just a flier pick. The Phantoms coaching staff made this move to "cover their bases" in case Miller didn't go straight to college after his time with the Team USA program. Miller is a very talented forward who produced 12 points, 5 of them goals and 7 assists, in 29 total games played for Team USA's U17 squad. The 6'1", 190 pound forward doesn't have a college commitment yet, which prompted Youngstown to take Miller just in case Miller doesn't go into college right away after finishing his career for the USNTDP. Youngstown will have a great player for a year if the situation works out in their favor, and overall, this wasn't the worst pick they could have made in the last round of the Entry Draft. Photo from Penguins.nhl.com.
Probable Returning Players
Scott Mayfield (D)
Jiri Sekac (F)
Ty Loney (F)
Luke Eibler (D)
Andrew Lamont (F)
Ben Paulides (D)
Matthew Mahalak (G)/Possibly going to Plymouth of the OHL.
J.D. Carrabino (D)
Daniel Senkbeil (D)
Richard Young (F)
Dylan Margonari (F)
Probable Overagers
Ryan Jasinsky (F)
Jordan Tibbett (G)
Adam Berkle (F)
Cody Strang (F)

Post-Draft Team Profiles- Lincoln Stars

2010-05-31T06:20:00.000-07:00

The Lincoln Stars had the worst season in team history, posting a 16-36-8 record with a league worst 40 points. The Stars made a controversial coaching change soon after the season, demoting head coach Jimmy McGroaty to "associate head coach" and replacing him with Fargo assistant and former Lincoln assistant coach, Chad Johnson, as the new bench boss for the Stars. Johnson is the brother of Fargo head coach and former Lincoln head coach Steve Johnson, so it will be a fun little sibling rivalry when these two teams meet. Stars had a good draft, and have a good crop of returning young players that could put the Stars right back into contention in the USHL. So follow as I recap the Stars drafts and returning and departing players. So let's start with the Futures Draft...
Futures Draft
Round 1 Selection

Luke Johnson (Grand Forks Central HS) was the Stars first pick of the Futures Draft after selecting Johnson with their last pick of the Entry Draft last year. Johnson is the nephew of Stars head coach Chad Johnson and the son of Fargo head coach Steve Johnson. Going back to Luke, the 5'8" forward from Grand Forks, North Dakota compiled 46 points in 27 games played for Grands Forks Central as a freshman playing on varsity. This, however, was not Johnson's first season on the varsity squad for Grand Forks Central, as he played for them while only in 8th grade, a truly impressive feat. Johnson has had some college interest, and I would expect him to get plenty of offers if he plays in Lincoln within the next few years.

Round 2 Selection

Zach Frye (Missoula Maulers) was Lincoln's second selection in the Futures Draft and the first defenseman taken by the Stars. Frye is a solid 6'0", 175 pounds giving him the size to be ready to play in the USHL and handle the physicality of the league. Frye had a great season in the Northern Pacific Hockey League (NORPAC) statistically, putting up 22 points in 31 games. splitting them evenly with 11 goals and 11 assists. Frye also dropped the gloves last season, and was kicked out of quite a few games for unsportsmanlike and got a few majors for physical plays, totaling up 81 penalty minutes on the season. Frye could be a valuable addition to the Stars as they are pretty weak on defense going into the season.

Round 3 Selection

Brad Hawkinson (Colorado Thunderbirds U16) was one of the forwards I profiled leading up to the draft, and I think the Lincoln Stars made a very solid pick in the third round picking up Hawkinson. Hawkinson is a smooth skater that can turn on the jets when he needs to. Hawkinson has been described by quite a few scouts as having some great hockey IQ. Hawkinson also has a solid set of hands and can shoot the puck with the best of his age group. Quite a few colleges have taken an interest in Hawkinson. Colleges that have shown significant interest in Hawkinson include Boston University, Cornell, Harvard, Denver, Yale, and Northeastern. Stats from last season: 38 GP, 13 G, 13 A, 26 P, 16 PIM.

Round 4 Selection

Cole Martin (Team Illinois U16) was the fourth selection by the Stars, as they continue to try and build up a good crop of future defensive strength. Martin, a 6'0", 165 defenseman out of Arlington, Texas recently finished up his freshman campaign with Team Illinois' U16 squad, where he played 31 games and racked up 16 points, 1 of them a goal, and 15 assists, also adding 36 penalty minutes on the year. With the lack of depth at the blue line for the Stars, I would say anyone that's rights belong to the Stars have a decent chance at making the team. If Martin tries out for the Stars this summer, he could very well make the team, it's just kind of those wait and see deals I suppose.

Round 5 Selection

Max Coatta (Minnetonka HS) was the Stars 5th selection, and the third forward selected by Lincoln in the Futures Draft. As a freshman in high school, Coatta was third in points for Minnetonka during the regular season, showing his talent as one of the youngest guys on the team. Coatta helped his team to the Minnesota State Hockey Championship this past season, where the finished second place after losing the big game to Edina High School on March 3rd. Through the regular season, Coatta had 41 points in 25 games, and was a +37 on the year. During the post-season, Coatta had 4 points in during the section playoffs and 1 point during the State Tournament. I wouldn't expect Coatta to be in Lincoln for a few years still, but I guess the situation will play out.
Round 6 Selection

Dylan Blujus (Buffalo Regals U18) was Lincoln's last pick of the Futures Draft, and one of the guys I profiled going into the drafts, and quite frankly, I'm surprised Blujus fell so far in the draft. The report I have says that Blujus is 6'4", 192 pounds which is huge for a 16 year old, and he could be upwards of 6'6" by the time he is in the USHL. He is a very intriguing player, as he has all that size, but doesn't really play with much of an edge. For a big guy, Blujus is a good skater and is very light on his feet which is a nice little bonus for a big blue liner. Blujus plays more of an offensive game, and he possesses good hands and a well above average shot. Blujus could be a very effective powerplay quarterback in the coming years, he just needs to find a more physical game to compliment his size. Stats from last year: 48 GP, 22 PTS.
Entry Draft
Round 1 Selection

Ben Oskroba (Walpole Express) was the Stars' first pick overall in the 15th slot of the first round. Oskroba is a big, hulking 6'6", 218 pound defenseman. I've heard from multiple sources that Oskroba is a great skater for his size, which you really don't see all that often. Oskroba put up some great stats in the Atlantic Junior Hockey League (AJHL) this past season, posting 17 goals and 13 assists in 42 games played for the Express. Oskroba also racked up 78 penalty minutes in those 42 games. In January, Oskroba committed to play for Bentley University. On May 17th, one day before the Futures Draft, it was announced that Oskroba decommitted from Bentley and then committed to Northeastern University for the 2011 season, meaning he will be in a Stars jersey next year. Photo from mark6mauno.
Round 2 Selection

Chris Casto (Hill-Murray HS) was the second round pick for the Stars, as they try to build a solid blue line for next season. With only one returning defenseman, it was obviously Chad Johnson's staff's focus to build up their defensive strength throughout draft week. Casto will come into the USHL as a 6'1", 205+ pound defenseman, which spells out physical defenseman. In a few reports of Castro, scouts have mentioned him as very good on his feet, and he has good enough speed to not let forwards beat him to the outside. Casto showed great discipline for a player of his type, only getting 22 PIM in 31 games for Hill-Murray. Casto committed to play at the University of Minnesota-Duluth starting in the 2011 season, which means that he will only be in a Stars jersey for one season in the current situation
Round 3 Selection

Josh Bretner (Team Maryland U18) was the third defenseman drafted by the Stars. Bretner broke Lincoln's run of drafting big, bulky defensemen however. Bretner is a '93 birthdate that stands at 5'9", 179 pounds and was used by Team Maryland as a fourth forward last season, posting a 13/61/74 stat line in 64 games last season, also racking up 62 PIM, and he was a +32 in those 64 games. Now, there is some doubt around the USHL community as to whether Bretner can be useful in the USHL, having to adjust to the physicality and speed of the game. But I'm here to tell you that the worries are not justified. With Lincoln's powerplay woes in the past few seasons (14% conversion rate in 09-10, 17.6% in 08-09, and 17.5 in 07-08), a move like this had to be made, and can you imagine a powerplay with Bretner and Blujus?
Round 3 Selection

Austin Hervey (Detroit Central Catholic) was the Stars' fourth selection and they went for Hervey, a 6'2", 215 forward out of Brighton, Michigan. Hervey is obviously a big guy that can take up space in front of the net, if that is the role the Stars choose to place him in. I'm not too sure what his stats were with Detroit Central Catholic, but apparently they were good enough to land him a spot with the USNTDP U17 squad last season. That means the Stars drafted a guy with USHL experience as Hervey put up 2 points in 11 USHL games last year. The Stars at this point in the draft were probably looking for a guy to fill out some of their top six forwards and maybe a possible winger for the Dzingel-Shine-? line that will probably be the second best line in the league next year, behind Des Moines first line with Tynan and Brickley.
Round 5 Selection

Bryan Sinz (Shattuck-St. Mary's) was the fifth selection by the Stars and the fourth defenseman drafted by Lincoln, in an attempt to try and fill out their blue line situation. Sinz is a 6'0", 200 pound defenseman out of Anchorage, Alaska and is a bulky guy that plays more of a physical game. That said, Sinz did post some offensive production from the blue line, getting 19 points in 50 games, 2 of them goals and 17 of them were assists. As a '92, Sinz will more than likely play two years with Lincoln and could end up being a top pair defenseman for the Stars by the end of his USHL career. As far as I can tell, Sinz doesn't have any colleges interested in him, but if plays solidly at the USHL, I can almost guarantee that will change. The Stars, so far in the draft, have done a nice job building up defensive strength.
Round 6 Selection

Jake Lynes (Team Maryland U18) was the sixth selection by the Stars and this was really their first gutsy pick. This pick was not gutsy in terms of Lynes skill, the 6'3", 175 pound forward out of Ellicott, Maryland put up 109 points in 73 games, 66 goals and 43 assists. The risky factor in this pick is the fact that Lynes signed a tender to play with the Topeka Roadrunners of the NAHL, a Tier II hockey league. Lynes could be a very valuable addition to any team, as a big guy who has the ability to put the puck in the net. I'm not familiar with the way tenders in the NAHL work, so I can't say with complete certainty that Lynes will be in one league or the other, but I think with his skill set, he could definitely do himself quite a few favors if he goes the USHL, if he wants to get some solid college interest.
Round 7 Selection

Lukas Hafner (Marquette Rangers) was the 7th selection by Lincoln, and is the projected back-up for the Stars next season. With Kevin Murdock more than likely returning to the Stars next season, it is expected he will slide back into the Stars' starting goaltender role, a position where he posted a 25-16-5 record with a 2.45 GAA and .913 SV%. Hafner, however, could steal a few starts from Murdock next season, as he posted a 11-6-0 record in 21 appearances with Marquette last year. Hafner also put up a 2.07 GAA with a .938 save percentage. Hafner hasn't committed to a college yet, but quite a few teams have shown interest in bringing him on for the 2011, and playing in Lincoln where he could possibly start 15+ games for the Stars next season, will only increase the interest in him.
Round 8 Selection

Nick Cecere (Alberni Valley Bulldogs) was the fifth defenseman drafted by the Stars, and the coaching staff now has their six defenseman that could be in Lincoln next year. The 6'0", 180 pound defenseman out of Des Moines, Iowa has an added bonus: he has played 31 USHL games. In the 08-09 season, Cecere joined his hometown team, the Des Moines Buccaneers for 31 games, getting 3 assists, 31 PIM, and a -8 +/-. With the Bulldogs of the BCHL, Cecere put up 11 points in 60 games, 2 of them being goals and 9 were assists. Cecere will have to take up an overager spot on the Stars next season if he comes and plays for the Stars before suiting up for the University of Nebraska-Omaha Mavericks, who have him listed as either coming in for 2010 or 2011, but more than likely will be in 2011.
Round 9 Selection

Mark MacMillan (Alberni Valley Bulldogs) was the ninth selection by Lincoln, and he was a teammate of Nick Cecere. MacMillan finished second on the Bulldogs in scoring last year, behind his brother, Mitch. In 59 games played this past season, MacMillan gained 80 points, 26 goals, and 54 assists. He was also an even on the +/-, and added 44 PIM on the year. MacMillian probably won't be coming to the Stars, as reported by Yeti over at the Black and Blue Blog. Apparently, MacMillan will join Alberni Valley for the 2010-11 season and play with his teammates. The 6'0", 150 pound forward out of Penticton, British Columbia recently committed to the University of North Dakota for the fall of 2011, so I really doubt that MacMillan will be in a Stars jersey.
Round 10 Selection

Eric Scheid (Blaine HS) was Lincoln's tenth pick and their fourth forward selected in the Entry Draft. In 5'8", 150 pound forward put up some good stats as a senior at Blaine High. All of last year, Scheid put up 55 points, 23 goals and 32 assists, in 30 games played. Scheid helped Blaine through a very tough stretch in the season, where they played St. Thomas Academy (No. 2), Edina (No. 6), Hill-Murray (No.4), Edina again, and finally Minnetonka (No. 1). In that nearly impossible stretch, Scheid had 5 points, including a hat trick against Hill-Murray to propel Blaine to a 6-4 victory. Scheid is a '92, so he will probably be playing juniors next year, and more than likely in Lincoln. However, Scheid is committed to play for Alaska Anchorage starting in 2011, so he will only spend one year with Lincoln. Photo from sportsprepzone.com.
Round 15 Selection

Brad Wilhelm (Detroit Central Catholic) was the eleventh pick by the Stars, and is another smaller forward. Central Catholic really doesn't give much info on individual players, so I don't have any statistical information on Wilhelm. I can tell you that Wilhelm is a 5'9", 152 pound forward out of Plymouth, Michigan. If you are in the Detroit area, and have seen Wilhelm play, please feel to leave any info on what type of player he is, and whatever statistical data you may have for him.

Round 16 Selection

Paul LaDue (Grand Forks Central HS) was the twelfth selection of the Stars, and with this pick, Lincoln went back to address the defense, and took Ladue 226th overall. LaDue is a 5'11", 160 pound defenseman out of Grand Forks, North Dakota, and was the teammate of the Stars first pick of the Futures Draft, Luke Johnson. LaDue is a productive offensive defenseman, and he showed that last year for the 24-3 Grand Forks Central Knights. In 27 games played last season as a junior, he gained 35 points. Of those 35 points, 10 were goals and 25 were assists. LaDue is in the mix to become a Lincoln Stars defenseman next year, and if he plays well at tryouts for the Stars, he could very well beat out one of the guys drafted earlier by the Stars.
Round 17 Selection

Thomas Schutt (Minnetonka HS) was the Stars thirteenth pick of the Entry Draft, and with this pick, Lincoln went back to building the forward core by adding Schutt, a 5'11", 171 pound winger out of Chanhassen, Minnesota. Schutt was on the second place Minnetonka team last season, and helped his team out in tournament to get Minnetonka to the championship game, where they lost to Edina 4-2. All season, and into the post-season, Schutt posted 45 points in 31 games, including 2 assists in the championship game. Of those 45 points, 20 were goals and 25 were assists, showing his ability to score and dish out helpers. Schutt has had quite a bit of college attention already, just as a junior in high school. I can't tell you if Schutt will be in a Stars jersey next season, I think we'll have to wait and see how it shakes out at tryouts.
Round 18 Selection

Josh Thorimbert (Kindersley Klippers) was taken in the 256th overall slot by the Stars, and probably could have been drafted much earlier, but he is a Canadian, and was drafted by the Kamloops Blazers of the WHL in 2007, so it will come down to whether he wants to come and go the college route or stay in Canada and try and make his way to the pros that way. Thorimbert had a great year statistically in the SJHL, posting a 26-14-2-2 record along with a 2.66 GAA with a .917 save percentage in 58 appearances for the Klippers last year. Thorimbert was just a rookie in the SJHL last season, and he posted those great stats. Thorimbert has plenty of college hockey interest, but as you can imagine, colleges are a bit touchy when it comes to a Canadian player maybe coming down to the US. Photo.
Round 19 Selection

Michael McKee (Kent Prep) was the Stars fifteenth pick of the Entry Draft, and as per the usual with prep schools, nothing is available online for McKee. He stands at 6'4", 230 pounds. If you have any information on McKee at all, please leave a comment so I can put something valuable in this article.

Round 20 Selection

Kyle Quick (Avon Old Farms) was the Stars last defenseman drafted, and with this pick they went for an experienced that guy that could come into tryouts and give the young guys a taste of the speed of the USHL and try and make the team himself. In the 08-09 season, Quick played for the St. Louis Bandits of the NAHL, where he picked up 3 goals and 11 assists in 25 games played, and was a +11 on the season. This last season, Quick went to go play for Avon Old Farms where, according to the Black and Blue Blog, he got 3 goals and 21 assists on the season. Quick is committed to Brown University, and will probably start there in 2011, meaning he will only be in juniors for a year, so if he doesn't make the Stars, he might have to go play in the NAHL for another year.
Round 21 Selection

Trevor Gutierrez (Alaska All Stars U18) was the last pick by the Stars in the Entry Draft, and this pick was based on potential. As stated before, Kevin Murdock will be coming back next year to play for Lincoln, so that leaves the three goalies drafted by the Stars in the Entry Draft to battle for the second goalie spot on the roster. Gutierrez put up great stats last season, posting a 15-6-1 record in 22 appearances, and put up a 1.76 GAA and .919 save percentage, which are ridiculous stats, and with him sitting on board with their last pick, the Stars just couldn't resist. As far as I know, Gutierrez hasn't gotten much of any college interest, and if he proves his stats at the Stars tryouts, he could very well make the team as a 16 year old, and could be a very valuable goalie in the years to come if he plays this season.
Probable Returning Players
John McCarron (F)
Sam Alfieri (F)
Tyler Deresky (F)
Brent Tate (F)
Dominik Shine (F)
Chris DelMauro (F)
Ryan Dzingel (F)
Garrett Peterson (F)
Frank Misuraca (D)
Kevin Murdock (G)
Possible Overagers
Josh Berge (F)

Please leave comments, I would love to hear them!

Post-Draft Team Profiles- Dubuque Fighting Saints

2010-05-26T12:34:00.000-07:00

USHL hockey is returning to Dubuque, Iowa once again. The Dubuque Fighting Saints were a mainstay of the USHL from 1980 to 2001 when the team relocated to Tulsa to become the unsuccessful Tulsa Crude, who only made it one season in the USHL. Dubuque won the Clark Cup in 1980-81, 1982-83, and 1984-85. Dubuque in my opinion, had one of the best drafts overall in the league and they could very well be a solid contender in the league next season. So let's recap the Tuesday and Wednesday of the Dubuque Fighting Saints starting with Tuesday's Futures Draft and ending with Wednesday's Entry Draft...

Futures Draft
Round 1 Selection

Riley Barber (Compuware U16) was Dubuque's first pick. Barber, in my opinion was the most complete player in the draft and it's no suprise he went first overall. Barber appeared on the radio show I was on that covered the draft live and did a short interview with us. As I said, he was the most complete player in the draft. Barber is probably the best skater to come out of the Futures Draft. Barber is a smooth skater with great speed. He shows good hockey smarts and always knows when the right time to make a pass is. Barber also passes more than he shoots, but when he has the opportunity, he can finish chances. He was drafted by the Windsor Spitfires in the fifth round of the OHL Priority Selection, so it is unsure if he will stay in America or go to Canada to play. Stats from last season: 38 GP, 38 points (16g, 22a), 28 PIM.
Round 2 Selection

Michael Matheson (Lac St-Louis Lions) was Dubuque's second selection in the Futures Draft. Matheson was selected by the Fighting Saints to get some depth at the defensive position. I don't have any info on Matheson's play style, because the scouts that I get my info on the '94s from do not focus on Canadian players as they very rarely some down and play in America. Also I must say, trying to find info on a French-Canadian player is not easy when you can't read French. In 30 games played for the Lac St-Louis Lions last year, Matheson gained 11 points, of those, 5 were goals and 6 were assists. This is a pretty risky pick by Dubuque and they must have confidence that he will come down and play junior hockey.

Round 3 Selection

Ryan Hartman (Chicago Mission U16) was Dubuque's third selection and their second forward drafted. Hartman led the Mission midget minor squad in points, gaining 44 points in 38 games played this past season. Hartman is a shoot first kind of guy, netting 25 goals in those 38 games. Hartman has average size and should get bigger as he gets older and he could be a solid junior hockey player within the next few years. Hartman committed to play for the University of Miami-Ohio starting in 2013, so I would expect Hartman to be in Dubuque maybe for the 2011-12 season, or 2012-13 at the latest. Hartman has the potential to be a very good top six forward for the Fighting Saints coming up in the next few years.

Round 4 Selection

John Stevens (Team Comcast U16) was Dubuque's fourth selection and their third forward taken in the Future's Draft. The forward out of Sicklerville, New Jersey stands at an average 5'11", 153 pounds, but should continue to grow as he gets older and develops more in the AYHL with Team Comcast. In 34 games this past season, Stevens racked up 29 points, 11 were of which were goals, and 18 were assists. As far as I can tell, Stevens hasn't produced much of any college interest. In a few years, I can definitely see Stevens coming to Dubuque in a few years and will more than likely be a solid bottom six forward for the Fighting Saints.

Round 5 Selection

Jarrid Privitera (North Jersey Avalanche U16) was the Fighting Saints 5th pick in the Futures Draft and also one of the most interesting picks. Prvitera is very undersized, standing at a well below average 5'6", 142 pounds. He was also the 4th forward selected by Dubuque in the Futures Draft. I mentioned that Privitera was undersized, but as a 16 year old, he will have plenty of time to hit a growth spurt before playing in the USHL. Privitera had a good year statistically, ending up ranked fourth in the AYHL in points. Privitera achieved 47 points on the year total, netting 27 goals and getting 20 helpers. I would also be willing to guess that Jarrid is the brother of Muskegon's last selection of the Entry Draft, Alexx Privitera. Once he gains some size, I think Privitera could be a solid forward for the Saints.
Round 6 Selection

Adam Wilcox (Thunder AAA U16) was the Fighting Saints final selection by the Dubuque Fighting Saints and was yet again, a high scoring forward. With the Thunder AAA U16 squad, who play in the North American Prospects Hockey League (NAPHL) among others, Wilcox gained 58 points in 49 games played last season. Of those 58 points, 25 of them were goals and 33 were assists. Wilcox also boasted a great +/- at +24. Wilcox was an integral part of the Thunder powerplay, netting 9 goals while his team was up a man. Wilcox, as far as I know, hasn't really picked up much college interest yet, but he could get some interest if he gets to the USHL with Dubuque, which very well could happen.

Entry Draft
Round 1 Selection

Jackson Teichroeb (Bowmanville Eagles) was the first and only goalie taken in the first round of the Entry Draft. Teichrob excelled in the CCHL last year, posting a great 20-8-4 record during the regular season, pairing that with a 2.26 GAA and .917 save percentage. Teichroeb carried those stats from the regular season into the post season, going 14-6-2 with a 1.95 GAA and .933 save percentage. This pick was obviously Dubuque trying to build up their goaltending strength. Dubuque drafted Lincoln goalie Matt Green, who showed signs of brilliance last year, and could be a very good goalie on a solid team, which was what Lincoln wasn't last season. Dubuque currently holds the rights to three goalies so it will be interesting to see who the two goalies on the roster will be.
Round 2 Selection

John Doherty (Chicago Mission U18) was the first forward selected by Dubuque in the Entry Draft. Doherty had an article written about him by the Amateur Hockey Report, which was sent to me by an emailer, but unfortunately I can't link to that article as I'm not a subscriber to Amateur Hockey Report. However, the article mentioned his performance in the AAA hockey National Championship, where Doherty scored his only in six games in the pivotal moment of the Mission's game versus the Philadelphia Junior Flyers in the championship game. Besides being clutch in playoff games, Doherty also had a solid year statistically. In 47 games played, he had 27 points. Doherty has had interest from UNH, Nebraska-Omaha, Brown, Harvard and Holy Cross. Doherty also played 2 games with the Steel last season.
Round 3 Selection

Nick Luukko (Gunnery) was the first defenseman taken, and was taken with Dubuque's third pick, 37th overall. As per the usual with prep schools, Gunnery Prep doesn't show statistics on their website. I can tell you however, that Luuko stands at a big 6'3", 188 pounds. Luukko was also rated by the NHL Central Scouting Services as a "B" rated prospect and is starting garner some NHL Draft interest. I am at least 95 percent sure that Luukko will be wearing a Fighting Saints jersey next year barring a trade or something of the sort. I believe this because Luukko is scheduled to enroll at Vermont in 2011 which would allow him only one year to play with Dubuque in the USHL before suiting up for the Catamounts in '11. Photo from The Gunnery's Website.
Round 4 Selection

Tony Larson (Blaine HS) was the second of four defensemen taken by Dubuque in the Entry Draft. Dubuque is obviously looking to have a defensively solid team, taking four defensemen in the Entry Draft and signing four defensemen to pre-draft tenders. Larson is a more offensive geared player, netting 6 goals and getting apples on 26 goals by Blaine in 30 games played. Blaine got to the Minnesota High School Hockey State Tournament, but lost in the first round to Apple Valley, 2-0. Larson did not have a good game versus Apple Valley, where he gained no points, which is fine, but he was out on D when both of Apple Valley's goals were scored, making Larson a -2 for the game. Larson isn't committed to a college, but if he can produce offensively AND defensively for Dubuque, that should change. Photo from Sportsprepzone.com.
Round 5 Selection

Brandon Adams (Chicago Young Americans U18) was the Fighting Saints second forward taken, and I like this pick. In the fifth round, Dubuque got a sniping forward out of Prospect Heights, Illinois. Adams scored 25 goals in 28 games last season for the CYA U18 squad. Adams also added 19 helpers for a grand total of 44 points in those 48 games played. Adams showed very good discipline, only getting 6 penalty minutes on the season. So far, Adams has not committed to a college, but even though I say this for most of the guys without scholarships, he should start getting interest when he is a top six forward for the Fighting Saints next year. As I said before, in my humble opinion, Dubuque got an absolute steal in the fifth round.

Round 6 Selection

Matt Morris (Jersey Hitmen) was the second goalie taken by Dubuque in the Entry Draft, leaving the Fighting Saints with the rights to three goaltenders going into tryouts. It will be interesting to see who gets the second spot on the Dubuque roster, Morris or first round selection Teichroeb. I'm amsuming that USHL veteran goaltender Matt Green, who Dubuque drafted in the Expansion Draft, will be given a spot. But on to Morris: he had good stats in the EJHL before former Lincoln and Waterloo goaltender Steve Racine came in and got the starting job towards the end of the regular season and into the playoffs. In the regular season, Morris posted a 17-3-4 record, with a 2.13 GAA and .908 save percentage in 38 appearances. Morris, as far as I can tell, has not been offered a scholarship by any colleges yet.
Round 7 Selection

Justin Lutsch (Shattuck St. Mary's Prep) was the third defenseman taken by Dubuque in the Entry Draft, and the second big d-man selected by the Fighting Saints. Lutsch stands at 6'2", 203 pounds. Lutsch is definitely a more defensive more than offensive minded player. With that said, Lutsch also produced offensively for Shattuck, gaining 20 points, 5 goals and 15 assists, in 55 games last season. With the amount of defensemen the Dubuque coaching staff acquired before and during the draft, it's hard to tell which defensemen are guaranteed to make the cut, and which ones will be playing another year in prep, midgets, etc. Looking around, I can't find that Lutsch has been offered a scholarship by any colleges yet.

Round 8 Selection

Tyler Lundey (Witchita Falls Wildcats) was the 8th selection by Dubuque and the third '91 birthdate selected by the Fighting Saints. Lundey finished his first year in the NAHL (one tier below the USHL) with the Witchita Wildcats, and had a pretty good statistical year overall. In 58 games played, Lundey scored 13 goals and had 28 assists for a total of 41 points. As expected when played on a bad team, Lundey was a minus 9 on the year, but I wouldn't read into that too much. He also has a knack for scoring some pretty goals. I can see Lundey in Dubuque next year as a bottom six forward for the Fighting Saints. Lundey doesn't have a college offer yet, but if he plays in the USHL next season, I'm sure that will change.

Round 9 Selection

Chris Sitler (Belle Tire U18) was the 9th selection by Dubuque in Entry Draft, and he is a great potential top six forward. In 48 games with the Belle Tire midget major squad, Sitler had 63 points. Of those 63 points, Sitler netted 28 goals and helped out on 35 goals. Of those 28 goals, 7 came on the powerplay. The reason I said "potential top six forward" is because at the moment, I don't think Sitler has the size to battle night in and night out in the USHL. While there is a rare breed of player that can be successful in the USHL as an undersized player, i.e. TJ Tynan, most players are not from that breed. The size I'm talking about is Sitler's 5'8", 175 pound frame, which could hold him back from being in Dubuque next year. We'll just have to see at Dubuque's tryout camp.
Round 10 Selection

Kyle Murphy (Notre Dame) was Dubuque's 10th selection and their first college hockey player drafted. The 5'8", 169 pound forward out of Fairhaven, New Jersey finished last season as a sophomore for the University of Notre Dame still not in the full rotation for forwards. Murphy will need to come in and take one Dubuque's overager spots if he wants to play USHL hockey next season. Murphy has only played in 17 games in two years with the Fighting Irish and has had no points. It was more than likely a move by the Notre Dame coaching staff for Murphy to return to juniors. The reason that Murphy had to be drafted is because he never played in the USHL, coming right out of Shattuck and going to Notre Dame right away.
Round 11 Selection

Jack Barre (Salisbury Prep) was Dubuque's 11th selection, and they sure picked a guy that has no information readily avaliable about him. Barre attended Salisbury Prep School and is a junior there. Colleges have shown interest in Barre, which, judging by his size, is not suprising one bit. Barre stands at 6'2", 190 as a forward which is pretty big. I would guess that Dubuque would utilize his size on the penalty kill and in the offensive zone as a big body in front of the net, screening the goalie, and deflecting shots in. If anyone has more information to share on Barre, please free to comment and enlighten me as to what kind of player Barre is.

Round 15 Selection

Vinny Saponari (Boston University) was Dubuque's 12th selection. He was the Fighting Saints' second and final college hockey player drafted in the Entry Draft. Like Murphy, Saponari will take up one of Dubuque's overager spots if he plays for Dubuque next season. But unlike Murphy, Saponari was a successful college player, playing 67 games so far in his collegiate career and he gained 35 points in those games. Of those 35 points, 14 were goals and 21 were assists. Breaking down Saponari's goals here, he had 4 powerplay goals and a bat-in goal that was the number one play of the week on SportsCenter's Top Plays of Week. Saponari would be a great addition to Dubuque as a veteran presence and top six forward. Photo from Washingtonpost.com.
Round 16 Selection

Lawerence Cornellier (Madison Capitols U18) was the next forward selected by Dubuque at 232nd overall. Cornellier led the Capitols U18 squad in scoring this past season, gaining 56 points in 48 games, 33 goals and 23 assists, just speaking to Cornellier's scoring ability. Now posting 30+ goals in the USHL is probably not going to happen in his first year in the league, but as a '92, he has the potential to be a great scorer down the road in the USHL. As far as I know, Cornellier doesn't have a college secured for his future, but if he breaks into the USHL for next season, it would certainly help his case for getting an offer from a college and if he performs very well in the USHL, he might get a scholarship to a big university.

Round 17 Selection

Mike Monfredo (Motor City Metal Jackets) ended the 5 player forward run Dubuque had going, and with Monfredo, a 6'4", 225 defenseman sitting on the board, could you resist the temptation to take him either? Although as a '90 birthdate, Monfredo will take up an overager spot on the Fighting Saints roster if he makes the team, the upside of having a 6'4" defenseman with 164 PIM who's not afraid to drop the gloves is very appealing. Besides the physicality of his game, Monfredo brings some offensive production to the table. Monfredo was an integral part of Motor City's powerplay, getting a goal and 14 assists while his team was a man up, amounting to 3 goals and 22 assists on the season.

Round 18 Selection

Stevie Miller (Jr. Bruins) was the second to last forward selected by Dubuque in the Entry Draft. Miller is a big forward who's going to be spending a year in the USHL as a '93 birthdate. Miller didn't play the whole season with the Jr. Bruins of the EJHL. In EJHL play, Miller played 15 games, getting a total of 7 points, 1 of them a goal, and the 6 left were assists. Overall with the Jr. Bruins however, Miller played in 20 games, but all of his points came during EJHL play. Miller was a +6 on the season with 8 PIM. Miller stands at an impressive 6'2", 195 pounds, so if he makes the Fighting Saints roster, he could be a solid bottom six grinder for them. The reason I say Miller will only be in the USHL for one is year is because he is scheduled to start playing for Cornell in 2011. Photo from BostonJuniorBruins.com.
Round 19 Selection

Shane Omdahl (Roseau HS) was the last forward selected by the Fighting Saints in the Entry Draft, and they made one last attempt for a forward with great offensive potential. Omdahl recently completed his season with Roseau High School, which is in Minnesota. Omdahl is a playmaking forward averaging over an assist a game last year with 42. In addition to the 42 assists, Omdahl added 27 goals, which added up, makes a grand total of 69 points in 31 games played. That means that Omdahl averaged over over 2 points during the 2009-10 hockey season. Omdahl was a +42 on the year, and he led his team through the Section Playoffs with 4 points in 3 games, and into the State Tourney, where they lost in the consolation bracket to Duluth East. Omdahl could be in a Fighting Saints jersey next season.
Round 20 Selection

Holden Anderson (South Kent) was Dubuque's second to last defenseman drafted, and following the trend of prep school hockey, South Kent's website provides little to no information for individual players. But lucky for me, I believe that Anderson, a native French Canadian, played for the Moncton Wildcats last season. In 67 games, the 5'11", 169 pound defenseman had 15 goals and 23 assists for a total of 38 points. However, one stat that alarms me, is his plus/minus. Anderson was a minus 26 on the year. No matter how much you look into plus/minus, a number like that is alarming, but shouldn't hold him back for maybe being in the USHL next year. Anderson should be at Dubuque's tryout camp this summer, and we'll just have to see if Anderson suits up in a Fighting Saints jersey next year.
Round 21 Selection

Jeff Taylor (Syracuse Jr. Nationals) was the last selection by Dubuque in the Entry Draft. Taylor is a defenseman out of Clifton Park, New York stands at 6'0", 160 pounds. It was very hard to find information about Tayloe out there, and I can't seem to dig up any stats, so if anyone has any information on Talyor, please feel free to comment. Taylor was also the only 1994 born player drafted by Dubuque.

Dubuque's Expansion Draft Results
-Jordan DiGiando (F), Cedar Rapids
-Matt Green (G), Lincoln
-Andrew Sinelli (F), Sioux City
-T.J. Schlueter (F), Tri-City
-Scott Wamsganz (F), Waterloo

Dubuque's Pre-Draft Tenders
-Zemgus Girgensons (F), Green Mountain
-Joakim Ryan (D), New Jersey Devils Youth
-Derek Docken (D), Albert Lea Thunder
-Luke Curadi (D), Peniction Vees
-Nick Quinn (D), Orangeville
-John Gaudreau (F), Philidelphia Jr. Flyers
-Shane Sooth (F), USNTDP

Please leave comments, I would love to hear them!

Post-Draft Team Profiles- Muskegon Lumberjacks

2010-05-23T01:16:00.000-07:00

The Muskegon Lumberjacks enter the 2010-2011 season as one of two expansion teams. But unlike Dubuque, this is the first USHL team Muskegon has ever had. Only minor league hockey has been played in Muskegon, Michigan. Going from minor league hockey to Junior A hockey is a huge step up in overall quality and talent. Although, most Muskegon residents don't seem to like going from minor league to juniors, I'm sure the team will do just fine. So let's recap the Lumberjacks' draft, starting with Tuesday's Futures Draft and then on to the Entry Draft...

Futures Draft

Round 1 Selection

Garret Cockerill 5'11"/170 (Compuware U16) was the Lumberjacks first selection in the Futures. He was the second overall pick in the Draft. He is a very gritty player who's not afraid to get dirty in the corners. He's a great skater that shows good mobility. Cockerill also has some good offensive skills and has a tendency to shoot first. Stats from last season: 19 points in 38 games, 5g, 14a, 66 PIM.

Round 2 Selection

Joe Cox 5'10"/158 (Compuware U16) was the second round selection of Muskegon, and was also the second Compuware midget minor player picked by the Lumberjacks. He is a consistent forward who doesn't dazzle you with speed and skill, but is good at everything all around. He is like Conor Brickley in the way he creates chances all by himself. He is ever improving and could make an impact in the USHL within the next few years. Stats from last season: 38 games, 39 points, 18g, 21a, 59 PIM.

Round 3 Selection

Joshua Henke 5'10"/180 (Belle Tire U16) was Muskegon's third pick and their third from the Tier 1 Elite League. Henke is an incredible talent, and a steal for Muskegon in the third round. He is a very creative player, having plenty of moves to get around defensemen. He is a very flashy player and is sure to be a fan favorite in Muskegon. He is a star type player and always has the threat to make something happen. He needs to be a bit more consistent, but that is something he can fix in another year or two of midgets. Stats from last season: 35 points in 38 games, 15 goals, 20 assists, with 38 PIM. Should be in the USHL soon.

Round 4 Selection

Grant Besse 5'10"/150 (Benilde-SM HS) was the fourth round selection of the Lumberjacks. He was the first Minnesota high school hockey player taken by Muskegon. Besse is a great skater and it always seems something good happens when the puck is on his stick. He needs to get a little dirtier in the corners and the front of the net, but otherwise, he is a very solid forward. He is a freshman in high school, so we probably won't be seeing him for a few years. Stats from this past season: 27 games played, 30 goals, 20 assists for a total of 50 points and 12 PIM.

Round 5 Selection

Michael McNicholas (LA Selects U16) was Muskegon's fifth round selection, and he continued the trend of Tier 1 Elite forwards being drafted by Muskegon. McNicholas was second in scoring for the LA Selects midget minor squad with 47 points in 38 games. Of those 47 points, 20 were goals and 27 were assists. He also added 16 penalty minutes on the season.

Round 6 Selection

Chris Leibinger (Heritage HS) was the final selection of the Lumberjacks in the Futures Draft. I have very little info readily available to me about Leibinger, so this is about it. Partial stats from last year: at least 5 GP, and at least 10 points.

Entry Draft

Round 1 Selection

Casey Thrush (Team Maryland U18) was Muskegon's first round selection and he deserved the honor. Thrush was ranked 89th on the NHL CSS final rankings, so more than likely, we should see him drafted by an NHL team in this June's NHL Draft. Thrush is a 6'1", 175 forward from Easton, Maryland. Thrush had a great year statistically. This past regular season, Thrush gained a staggering 117 points in 72 games played. Of those 117 points, 50 were goals and 67 of them were helpers. Another number that stands out to me on the stat sheet as I'm looking here is the amount of penalty minutes Thrush racked up 102 PIMs on the season. Thrush has committed to play college hockey at the University of New Hampshire following his junior hockey career.

Round 2 Selection

Matthew DeBlouw (Little Caesars U18) was the Lumberjack's second selection and their second forward drafted. DeBlouw led the Little Caesars U18 squad in scoring with 44 points in 48 games. Of those 44 points, 23 were goals and 21 were assists, showing that DeBlouw has good scoring touch. The forward from Chesterfield, Michigan stands at an average 6'0"/165. He hasn't had any college interest yet, but if he plays well in Muskegon, I would expect that to change. It's obvious that Muskegon is trying to establish a skilled top six forward group and they picked two great forwards to build a core for that group.

Round 3 Selection

Charlie Taft (Edina HS) was Muskegon's third pick and third forward picked. Edina High's captain is a 19 year year old forward who isn't necessarily the flashiest player on the ice, but can get things done. Taft had 30 points, 19 goals, 11 assists in 31 games this past season. He obviously has a great work ethic if he was named the captain for Edina's hockey squad. I would expect to see Taft playing in Muskegon next year. Photo from mnhockeyhub.com.

Round 4 Selection

Ryan Bullock (Blake HS) was the first defenseman taken by the Lumberjacks in the Entry Draft and was their fourth overall pick. Muskegon was going for an offensive defenseman here and got it in Bullock. Bullock has the potential to be a powerplay quarterback for the Jacks as early as next year. Bullock established himself early and often as a legitimate offensive threat back on the blue line for Blake High. In 28 games this year, Bullock averaged almost an assist per game, gaining 27 helpers on the year. As an added bonus, Bullock netted 9 goals from the point this season. As a junior, I'm not sure if we will be seeing Bullock in the USHL next year, but I'm sure we will be seeing Bullock back on the blue line for the Lumberjacks sooner rather than later.

Round 5 Selection

Doug Lindensmith (La Ronge Ice Wolves) was the first and only overager drafted by Muskegon in this year's Entry Draft. They must have been looking for a veteran presence with this pick. With that said, Lindensmith isn't just some overager who finally got his break in the USHL. He posted great stats last year in the SJHL, ranked 7th in goals, 13th in assists, and 9th in points overall in the league. In 56 games played, Lindensmith ended up 28 goals and 34 assists, adding up to 62 points on the year. Lindensmith also dropped the gloves once this year, so maybe he could be a potential part-time enforcer for the Jacks. Photo from SJHL.com.

Round 6 Selection

Darcy Ashley (Summerside Capitals) was the Jacks sixth pick and their fifth forward selected, indicating that the Muskegon staff is looking for a more offensively tailored team instead of a physical, defensive team. Ashley is a junior in high school so basically it is up to him whether he wants to stay in high school for another year or tryout for the Lumberjacks this summer. Either way, Ashely is a very talented player on paper, posting 67 points in 46 games this past season. Of those 67 points, 26 were goals and 41 were assists, showing that Ashley is a skilled playmaking type forward. He doesn't have any college interest yet, but he should gain some after playing with Muskegon for a few years.

Round 7 Selection

Kyle Huson (Colorado Thunderbirds U18) was the second defenseman drafted by Muskegon. He was drafted in the 7th round of the Entry Draft. Huson is a big d-man standing at 6'4", 175. I would assume Huson will be joining the Jacks next season and should be an integral part of Muskegon's defensive core next season. Huson can also bring a little offensive production to the table. In 48 games played this past year, Huson put up 6 goals and 14 assists, adding up to 20 total points. Don't expect that offensive production to continue at the USHL level, but I think he can still put up a point or two every now and again. Huson should be a solid defenseman with Muskegon and produce. I think this pick is a steal in the seventh round.

Round 8 Selection

Josh Archibald (Brainerd HS) continued the trend of drafting high scoring forwards, being Muskegon's eighth pick in the Entry Draft. Archibald is a little undersized, listed at 5'9", 160 pounds. Archibald put up some great numbers in Minnesota High School hockey this year. In 27 games played, he had 57 points, a huge total. Archibald really turned it on in the section playoffs, posting 7 points (2g, 5a), in 2 playoff games. Although Brainerd didn't make state, Archibald played very well. As a junior in high school, it's plausible that he could be playing in Muskegon next season. Besides wanting to finish out school at Brainerd, the only reason I could think of for Archibald to stay in Minnesota is that Brainerd's coach is his dad, so he might want to play another year under his dad before playing juniors. Photo from mnhockeyhub.com.

Round 9 Selection

Tom Conlin (Boston Advantage U18) is the first and only goalie taken by Muskegon in any of the drafts. Before the drafts, however, Muskegon signed Joel Vinneau. On to Conlin, he posted 10-12-4 record in 26 games played this past season. Conlin also had a 2.73 GAA on the year, and a GAA under 3 for a midget major goalie is usually acceptable. Conlin also had a .890 SV% on the year, saving 550 of 618 shots faced. At the moment, Conlin is the back up goalie up in Muskegon, and I think the Jacks got a good deal drafting him in the 9th Round. Photo from boston.com.

Round 10 Selection

Garret Clemment (Wausau West HS) is a guy that I don't have much info on. He was Muskegon's 10th pick and their 7th forward taken in the Entry Draft. Clemment is a 5'9", 155 pound forward out of Wausau West High School. I'm sure that Clemment will attend the Lumberjacks tryout camp this summer, and may be in the USHL next year, we will just have to wait and see I suppose. Photo from berecruited.com.

Round 11 Selection

Jon Farkas (Compuware U16) was Muskegon's 11th pick, their 8th forward, and their 1st 1994 born player taken by Muskegon in the Entry Draft. Farkas is a two-way player, being solid offensively as well as defensively. Farkas skates well and has great hockey IQ. Farkas is what you would call a "grinder" type forward, that won't be in Muskegon's top 6 forwards. His role on the Jacks will more than likely be a third line center that kills off penalties. Farkas had solid stats for a third line grinder, getting 19 points in 37 games this past season. Of those 19 points, 8 were goals and 11 were assists. I'm not sure if we will be seeing Farkas in the USHL next year as a '94, but he should be with Muskegon in the next few years, if not next season.

Round 14 Selection

Isaac Kohls (Streetsville) was the the 12th selection by Muskegon, after passing on their 12th and 13th round picks. Kohls had a great year statisically in the CCHL, scoring 72 points in 49 games. Of those 72 points, 35 were goals and the 37 left over were assists. Kohls should be with the Lumberjacks next year as a 1991 birth year and could play two years or more with the Jacks, making a valuable scoring forward in the Jacks lineup. Kohls is a little undersized, which is probably why he hasn't made juniors yet. He stands at 5'9", 180 pounds, and Muskegon will give him a chance to make the roster. I do believe we will be seeing Kohls in Muskegon next year and he could very well be a top scorer for the Lumberjacks next year.

Round 15 Selection

Mike Moran (Victory Honda U16) was Muskegon's 13th selection. I believe at this point, Muskegon is trying to fill out their bottom six forwards by drafting this 6'6", 200 pound monster. I wrote an article on Moran before, comparing him to Youngstown forward Nick Czinder. Well, those two are now on the same team and I would be very afraid if Muskegon put Czinder and Moran on the same line while playing against them. Moran isn't just a big body, however. He put up 27 points in 37 games with Victory Honda's U16 squad as a '93 born forward. Moran also appeared in 9 midget major games for Victory Honda, posting 2 points in those 9 games. I would expect to see Moran at the Jacks' tryout camp this summer and would not be surprised one bit if he makes the team and plays USHL next year.

Round 16 Selection

Nick Seeler (Eden Prairie HS) was the Lumberjacks 14th selection, and this is the pick where they start to try and add some depth to their blue line. Seeler is an offensive defenseman who could be a powerplay quarterback for Muskegon. For Eden Prairie High last season, Seeler gathered up 21 points in 28 games played. Of those 21 points, 4 were goals and 17 were helpers. Muskegon got a pretty good defenseman in Seeler, especially this late in the draft. If Seeler comes to Muskegon tryout camp, and plays well, I can see him playing for the Jacks next year as a powerplay specialist and an offensive defenseman.

Round 17 Selection

Tayler Munson (Fairbanks Ice Dogs) was the 15th selection of Muskegon, and this pick is the Lumberjacks trying to fill out their bottom six forwards. The forward played for his hometown team, the Fairbanks Ice Dogs of the NAHL last season. The NAHL is the league that is one step below the USHL and is where USHL teams send players that need more seasoning. While Munson hasn't played a USHL game, his NAHL experience will make him a valuable assest to the Jacks as a grinder type forward. His stats weren't great in the NAHL, but for his playstyle, they were acceptable. In 14 games played, Munson only had 2 assists this past season for Fairbanks. I could see Munson playing for Muskegon next season.

Round 18 Selection

Johnathan Miller (Compuware U18) was Muskegon's 16th selection. Miller will more than likely be Muskegon's enforcer. Every team needs a guy that will step up and drop the gloves to fire up the team and stand up for his teammates. Miller is that guy. He was fifth in the Tier 1 Elite League in penalty minutes this past season, with 117 PIMs in 45 games played. Miller can also produce offensively, which is why he was playing midget major hockey. In those 45 games played, Miller had 10 goals and 13 assists adding up to a total of 23 points on the year. I would expect to see Miller in Muskegon next season to be a fourth liner.

Round 19 Selection

Daniel Mele (Buffalo Regals U18) is the first flier selection by the Lumberjacks. It should probably be assumed that Mele won't be joining the Jacks next year, but I could be proved wrong by a solid tryout performance. Mele was second on the Regals in scoring last season, gathering up 25 total points in 48 games, 11 goals and 14 assists. Mele has average size, the size that will lump you into the pack of just average wingers. Mele needs another year in Buffalo to develop and then you will possibly see him in Muskegon a season from now. I believe this pick was based on potential for a future forward for Muskegon.

Round 20 Selection

Alexx Privitera (USNTDP U17) was Muskegon's last pick in the Entry Draft. I've searched all over the internet and I cannot find anything indicating that he left the USA Hockey Program, so this pick is a little surprising to me. If any readers have some inside info, I'd love to get this situation cleared up. On to Privitera, he is a 5'10", 175 pound defenseman out of Old Tappan, New Jersey. In 34 games played in the USHL last year, Privitera had 6 points, 3 goals and 3 assists. He was a very poor
-22 on the year, but that is expected when playing for a less than adequate team, and that's what the U17 squad was. Overall, I don't understand this pick, and again, if we could get some clarification from an in-the-know reader, that would be great.

Muskegon's Expansion Draft Results
-Kevin Albers (D), Green Bay Gamblers
-Nick Czinder (F), Youngstown Phantoms
-John Parker (F), Indiana Ice
-D.J. Vandercook (F), Des Moines Buccaneers
-Brendan Woods (F), Chicago Steel

Muskegon's Pre-Draft Tenders
-Matt Berry (F), Belle Tire U18
-Mike Conderman (F), Cushing Academy
-Mark Yanis (D), Belle Tire U16
-Joel Vinneau (G), Kingston Voyageurs
-Sebastien Gingras (D), Brockville Braves
-Jaycob Megna (D), Team Illinois U18

Please leave comments, I would love to hear them!

Just so you readers know....

2010-05-21T22:12:00.001-07:00

I am still alive, and I'll be posting post-draft recaps for every team. This is very time consuming though, so please be patient with me!

USHL Futures Draft Live Coverage at SBNation.com

2010-05-17T17:29:00.000-07:00

If you've been living under a rock for the past few weeks, this is for you: the USHL Futures Draft and Entry Draft are tomorrow and Wednesday respectively. I'm joining up with a few guys from SBNation.com among others. You can check out the coverage at SBNation or the USHL website.

On Wednesday, I will have a live blog/chat room up on the blog that people can use to discuss the picks throughout the day. I probably won't be avaliable on Wednesday, so it will just be visitors.

Happy Drafting!

USHL Futures Draft Coverage- Goalies

2010-05-16T18:57:00.000-07:00

I have been contacted by sbnation.com to write up some profiles on players that may be drafted into the USHL this year in the USHL Futures Draft. I will be writing a profile almost every day leading up to the draft beginning with forwards, then on to defensemen, and finishing with goaltenders. These are in no particular order, as the Futures Draft is hard to predict. I haven't seen these players play either, so if you have seen them play and have something to add, please do. Enjoy!

Brandon Hope (Honeybaked U18) is one of the most highly touted goaltenders of the 2012 NHL Draft eligible class. The 6'1", 190 pound goalie out of Canton, Michigan has many good things written about him, such as this profile Honeybaked wrote for him on his Pointstreak profile:
"Brandon is an athletic goaltender who believes in “Having A Purpose” when he skates. He prides himself in his physical & technical skills which provide his team with an opportunity to win every time he’s on the ice. He displays a high level of confidence, determination, & composure while competing. He is an aggressive net-minder with exceptional puck handling skills. His ability to see plays develop is outstanding & has excellent on-ice communication skills. His overall play shows he has a real understanding & passion for the game. He is a coachable young man & provides team leadership as an Alternate Captain. Brandon has won three North American Silver Stick Championships, two World Championships, one State Championship & was named MVP and MVG in three. He was honored to represent Michigan in the NTDP’s national festival in 2008. He is a freshman at Plymouth HS & maintains a 3.5 GPA. Brandon believes the number one enemy of great, is good. Thus, his future plans include specialized training on & off the ice so he can pursue his dream of playing at the highest level possible."
This past season, Hope showed pretty good stats. In 32 appearances with Honeybaked's midget major squad, he posted a 11-16-4 record with 2 shutouts. In 1593 minutes played, Hope allowed 96 goals, getting him a 3.25 GAA and a .878 SV%. Where Hope really shone last season was during the post-season tournament for midget majors. In 4 games of that tourney, Hope posted a 3-1 record with 1.36 GAA and .944 save percentage. I would compare Hope to Green Bay goaltender, and USHL goaltender of the year Steve Summerhays. Expect to see Hope in the USHL sooner rather than later.

Zach Nagelvoort (Compuware U16) is a goalie who put up some good numbers in the Tier 1 Elite League this year at the midget minor level. In 17 appearances this past season, Nagelvoort posted a 13-1-2 record which is pretty impressive. He also had a shutout, with a 2.12 GAA and a .875 save percentage on the season. The 6'1", 205 pound goalie got an invite to the USHL combine this weekend and accepted the invite. It appears as if Nagelvoort hasn't gotten much college attention at all yet. Outside of a few goalies, the goalie class coming in isn't great by any means so it will be kind of hit and miss. I would compare Nagelvoort to Sioux Falls goaltender Clay Witt, who will most likely be drafted in this summer's NHL Entry Draft. I wouldn't be surprised if Nagelvoort gets his name called on Tuesday.

Other goalies that might get their name called on Tuesday: Dalton Izyk (Syracuse Nationals) and Jake Moore (Buffalo Regals.

Sorry for the lack of depth on the goalies, but I was very short of time and I wanted to get a post up quick.

Please leave comments, I would love to hear them!

USHL Futures Draft Coverage- Defensemen

2010-05-15T16:09:00.000-07:00

Dylan Blujus (Buffalo Regals U18) will kick off the coverage of defensemen. I don't have a measurement for him, so giving him an accurate assessment will be tough. I can tell you however, that Blujus put up some good numbers on the offensive side of the puck for the Regals this past season. Back at the blue line, Blujus collected 22 points (5 goals and 17 assists) in 48 games last season. Of those 5 goals, 4 of them came on the powerplay, which I'm sure has scouts and coaches in the USHL drooling about the possibilty of using Blujus as a powerplay quarterback. Blujus also racked up 36 penalty minutes in 48 games. This speaks to his physicality. I would compare Blujus to Des Moines blueliner Eric Knodel. Not based on the size, but on offenseive output and PIMs.

Sam Piazza (Chicago Mission U16) is the opposite of Blujus. He is solid defensively more than he is offensively. Based on his playstyle, his offensive numbers were right on par. That said, Piazza has shown his glimpses of his potential offensive skills. In 21 games with the Mission midget minor squad, Piazza collected 3 goals and 6 assists for a total of 9 points on the year. He also played 29 games with the midget major squad, collected 2 goals and 2 PIMs on the season. The fact that he played with the U18 squad as a 16 year old speaks to his skills and it is obvious that he is a very solid defensive defenseman. Piazza is getting quite a bit of college interest too. While the 6'0"/190 defenseman out of Hinsdale, Illinois has not gotten a scholarship offer from any colleges yet, Boston College, Harvard, Yale, Michigan State, and Northeastern have all shown interest. I would compare Piazza to Lincoln Stars shut down defenseman Dax Lauwers. Expect to see Piazza's name called on Monday.

~~Mark Yanis (Belle Tire U16)~~ is a big shut down style defenseman. At 16, Yanis already has pro caliber size, standing at 6'3" and 190 pounds. Yanis, like Piazza, plays a more defensive game, not really producing offensively. In 38 games played with Belle Tire's midget minor squad, Yanis posted 3 goals and 8 assists contributing 11 points on the year. The big blueliner has garnered plenty of college attention, and he will most likely attend the University of Minnesota. He has other teams interested, as Miami Ohio, Michigan State, Notre Dame, and Wisconsin have shown interest in bringing Yanis in. As for the USHL comparision, I would compare Yanis to Sioux City Musketeers defenseman ~~Kevin Gravel~~.
Signed with the Muskegon Lumberjacks.

Grant Webermin (Honeybaked U16) was recently drafted in the first round of the OHL Draft last week. However, Webermin will more than likely stay in the US and play college hockey. Webermin is another guy who plays shut down defense with not much offensive production. In 32 games, he had 2 goals and 11 assists, adding 62 PIMs. Here is a quote from Webermin's Pointstreak profile:

"Grant is an intense ‘old school ‘competitor that plays with heart and passion for the game. He is a solid defenseman with outstanding physical and technical skills and has played AAA hockey for six years. Grant has been on three International Silver Stick Championship teams, Bell Cup Champion, State Champion, and Quebec PeeWee Championship teams. Grant is an honor student at Detroit Catholic Central with a 4.0 GPA and National Junior Honor Society Member. His goal is to play for the US Development program and to play Division I College Hockey."

I would compare Webermin to Omaha defenseman Mathieu Brisson.

Justin Wade (Chicago Mission U16) is Sam Piazza's defensive partner. Wade plays a very tight defensive game. His most recent size, 6'2", 197 pounds, is very big for a player of his age. That said, his game is not just one dimensional. Wade also has some hands that can dish out assists. In fact, Wade collected 12 assists in 34 games this past season. The defenseman out of Aurora, Illinois has also got a college to become interested in his game. Wisconsin has shown intrest in Wade, but has not gotten a scholarship offer from any universities. I would compare Wade to Fargo blueliner Marek Hrbas. Wade could be in the USHL within the next few years.

Please leave comments, I would love to hear them!

USHL Futures Draft Coverage- Forwards

2010-05-13T14:47:00.000-07:00

Gavin Stoick (Colorado Thunderbirds U16) will lead off the Futures Draft Coverage. Stoick led the Thunderbirds in scoring this year with 28 points in 38 games played. Of those 28 points, 15 points were goals and 13 were assists. Stoick helped out on the powerplay adding two tallies on the PP during the season. Stoick also played while the Thunderbirds were shorthanded, getting a goal with a man down. He also racked up 27 PIMs on the year. Stoick is very big for a player of the midget minor level, standing at 6'2"/ 200 pounds. He is still uncommitted for college, but BU, Cornell, Harvard, Yale, and Michigan are very interested in him. With that list of colleges, it's obvious that Stoick is very smart and more than likely shows those smarts out on the ice. I would compare Stoick to Indiana's leading scorer Bryon Paulazzo. Stoick will definitely be drafted in this year's Futures Draft and could even end up on a USHL roster next year if the situation presents itself.

Zach Stepan (Shattuck St. Mary's U16) is an average sized forward out of the great hockey program Shattuck Saint Mary's. Stepan put up some good numbers at Shattuck this year showing off his offensive talent. He averaged over a point a game this season. In 40 games played, Stepan racked up 19 goals and 23 assists for a grand total of 42 points on the year. The 6'0", 162 lb forward out of Faribault, Minnesota also received 20 penalty minutes all year. Stepan is obviously very talented and also very disciplined which is very attractive to very many teams. Too many very's there? Well expect to hear a lot more very's to describe Stepan. I would compare Stepan to fellow Wisconsin recruit Ryan Walters. Stepan is most likely to going to go to Wisconsin, where his cousin Derek plays. I would also expect Stepan to be drafted on Monday.

Riley Barber (Compuware U16) performed very well in midget minor hockey last year. He is widely regarded as one of the best '94 U.S. born forwards. He is a very good skater with good speed apparently, and has very good hands that make him a good passer. The last info I have on Barber from July of 2009 says that he was 5'10"/168. I would assume that he has grown quite a bit since then, and if you have his current size, please feel free comment on this post. Barber posted some great stats as mentioned before, getting 38 points in 38 games this past season. Of those 38 points, 16 were goals and 22 were assists. He also added 2 powerplay goals on the season and 28 PIMs this year. Barber also performed well when it counted most, getting 5 points in 5 playoff games and 5 points in 6 games of the MAHA State Hockey Tournament. I would compare Barber to Chicago forward Andrei Kuchin. Expect to see Riley Barber drafted on Monday.

AJ Coleman (Pittsburgh Hornets U16) is the guy with the best stats so far in this post. In 70 games played this past season, and got an astonishing 87 points, an amazing number for midget minor hockey. He is obviously a a very talented playmaker, getting 53 of those 87 points on assists. But that said, he still added 34 goals to his overall point total, which is a very good number. Coleman also only had 22 penalty in those 70 games which shows that he is very disciplined. The forward from Moon Township, Pennsylvania has gotten some college hockey attention, and has already got an offer from the Robert Morris hockey program at just 15 years old. Michigan and Ohio State have also shown interest in the 5'10"/175 playmaker. I would compare Coleman to, get ready, Tri City Storm star Jaden Schwartz. Expect for Coleman's name to be called on Monday during the USHL Futures Draft.

Ray Pigozzi (Chicago Mission U16) missed some games this season with a knee injury, causing him only to be able to play in 20 games with the Chicago Mission's midget minor squad. Even though he only appeared in 20 games, he made the most of those games gaining 30 points. Pigozzi had 11 goals and 19 assists showing his passing ability. The thing that stood out to me most on Pigozzi's stat sheet however, was the 24 penalty minutes he racked up in 20 games. This shows me that Pigozzi has a physical aspect to his game as well, which probably has quite a few USHL teams drooling over having Pigozzi join their team next year. Pigozzi has average size for a player coming into the USHL, standing at 5'11", 165 pounds. He also has a few colleges looking at him. Michigan, Wisconsin, and New Hampshire are all interested in Pigozzi, and all three of those team were in the NCAA Hockey Tournament last season. I would compare Pigozzi to Chicago Steel scorer Tyler Barnes. Expect to see Ray Pigozzi get drafted on Monday's Futures Draft.

Nate Arentz (Lakeville North HS) is a forward out of the widely watched Minnesota High School hockey system. Arentz plays for the Lakeville North Panthers where he put together a very nice season. In 30 games played this past season, Arentz put up 31 points. He showed his scoring ability, scoring 20 goals and 11 assists. Just like Pigozzi, his penalty minutes stand out a lot to me. In 30 games, Arentz only had 6 PIMs which shows that Arentz is not only a great scorer, but he is very disciplined. I don't have current a size for Arentz, but in July 2009, Arentz was 5'10"/155. Just like Riley Barber above, he's probably grown since then, so I can't really give you an accurate size measurement. I would compare Arentz to Green Bay Gamblers forward Reed Seckel. Keep an eye out for Nate Arentz as a future USHL player.

Gage Torrel (Monticello/Annandale/Maple Lake HS) is another forward from Minnesota High School hockey. Torrel played 26 games for the Monticello Stars this past season. Torrel showed his offensive talent in those 26 games, putting up 26 goals and 19 assists for 45 total points. Averaging a goal a game in Minnesota High School Hockey is no easy task, and you have to be a very talented scorer to do so. Torrel has average size, coming in at 5'10", 170 pounds. Torrel is currently flying under the radar in terms of college hockey as it appears no teams are interested in him at the moment. Expect that to change in the next few years. I would compare Torrel to Waterloo Blackhawks star JT Brown, based on his scoring ability and size. I would expect to see Gage Torrel in the USHL within the next few years.

Cody Payne (Mississauga Reps) is a guy that I don't have any statistical info on. If you can contribute to this, please comment. I can tell you that he has very good size, standing at 6'2", 195 pounds as a 16 year old. I would expect to see him in the USHL soon.

Matthew Lane (Mississauga Reps) is another guy from the Reps who I have no statistical data for. He is 5'9" and 160 pounds and is 16. If you have any stats for either of these players, please comment.

AJ Michaelson (Apple Valley HS) is the last forward from Minnesota High School hockey that I'll be writing on. Michaelson is a guy that averages over a point a game. In 24 games played last season, he got 35 points. Of those 35, 19 were goals and 16 were assists. That just shows that he has great scoring talent. Michaelson has also proved a valuable player when it counts most: the playoffs. In Apple Valley's section playoffs, Michaelson had 9 points in 3 games, including a hat trick in February 25th's game against Hastings. When the Apple Valley Eagles made it to the state playoffs, Michaelson didn't have any impact however. Apple Valley beat Blaine in the first round, but then lost to Edina to get into the third place game. But in that third place game against Hill-Murray, Michaelson scored a goal in the 6-3 loss. I would compare him to Sioux Falls forward Matt Lindblad. I would expect to see Michaelson in the USHL soon.

Alex Galchenyuk (Chicago Young Americans U16) posted incredible numbers in midget minor hockey this past season. The forward out of Chicago, Illinois played in 38 games for the Chicago Young Americans midget minor squad. In those 38 games, Galchenyuk collected an amazing 87 points. He had 44 goals, and 43 assists. That is a ridiculous amount of points in 38 games. Galchenyuk stands at 6'1"/180 which is pretty good size for a player coming into the USHL. He has a couple of colleges looking at him, with good reason. Wisconsin and Yale are both interested in getting Galchenyuk. I would compare Galchenyuk to Jaden Schwartz, who will be drafted in the first round of the NHL Draft this summer. I can't imagine Galchenyuk won't be drafted in the first round of Monday's Futures Draft.

Brad Hawkinson (Colorado Thunderbirds U16) will be the last forward I profile for the Futures Draft. The forward from Aurora, Colorado collected 26 points in 38 games played this past season. He was very balanced in his points, getting 13 goals and 13 assists. With those 26 points, he was second on the Thunderbirds in scoring. The place where Hawkinson really excelled was on the powerplay. Six of his 13 goals came on the powerplay. He has average size, standing at 5'11", 175 pounds. Hawkinson obviously has smarts which has resulted in getting interest from Boston University, Cornell, Denver, Harvard, Northeastern, and Yale. I would compare Hawkinson to Patrick Divjak, a forward from the Waterloo Blackhawks. I would definitely say that we will be seeing Hawkinson in the USHL very soon.

Please leave comments, I would love to hear them!

Gamblers Win Clark Cup

2010-05-12T21:22:00.000-07:00

Before I jump into my coverage of the 1994 born players for the USHL Futures Draft, I'll write a little article on the Green Bay Gamblers and their road to the Clark Cup.

Tonight, May 12th, 2010, is the night that will live in history as the night the Green Bay Gamblers were crowned as the 30th winners of the Clark Cup in the USHL. The Gamblers came back from a 2-0 Force series lead to win the deciding fifth game of the series with a score of 5-3. Scoring goals for the Gamblers were playoff MVP Anders Lee, Robert Francis, Ryan Furne, and Sean Little, who scored his only goal of the playoffs when it counted most, the series winning goal.

Scoring for the Force were stars Garrett Allen and Matt Leitner, with Joe Rehkamp adding another tally in Fargo's losing effort. The Force battled hard in this series, and it would be completely unfair to say they gave away the series. The Gamblers simply took the series after battling the Force in game three to a triple overtime win. Both teams played very well and it was one of the best Clark Cup Championship series I've seen in a long time.

The deciding factor in this series however, was the goalies. Steve Summerhays is obviously a top tier goaltender, but Fargo's Ryan Massa has to be given major credit for allowing his team to go this far into the playoffs. Summerhays had great stats through the playoffs, posting a 9-3 record with a 2.22 GAA and .909 SV%. On the other side of the center line, Massa also willed his team to many victories through the playoffs posting a 8-5 record, with a 2.43 GAA and .918 SV% in the 2010 playoffs. Oh yeah, and he scored a goal.

Congrats to both teams on a wonderful series, but a special congratulations to the Green Bay Gamblers, your 2010 Clark Cup Champions.

Please leave comments, I would love to hear them!

Hockey and TBI

2010-05-12T16:01:00.000-07:00

I am taking a break from profiling USHL Draft Prospects to publish an article sent to me by Care Meridian.

Author Bio:

Chelsea Travers is an outreach representative for CareMeridian, a subacute care facility located throughout the Western United States for patients suffering from traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury or medical complexities, such as neuromuscular or congenital anomalies.

Hockey and TBI
Hockey is arguably one of the most physical professional sports. Hockey players are constantly getting body checked, slammed into boards, falling to the ice, slapped by a stick, hit by a dense, speeding puck or getting punched during a fight. If that isn’t bad enough, hockey players take part in one of the longest regular seasons of any sport, effectively taking on harsher pain for a longer amount of time throughout the year. Risk of injury couldn’t be clearer as you all too commonly see hockey players missing their front two teeth. With all of the injuries that can occur, one of the most dangerous is a traumatic brain injury (TBI). A TBI is a silent injury that can cause harm to the mind and body of an individual. An injury to the head or brain can alter someone’s life and can even require long-term rehabilitation and care from a skilled nursing facility. These injuries are often far too common in the sport of hockey and if not properly treated can permanently leave a hockey player's life challenging than the game they play.

TBI is an injury that Philadelphia Flyers player Ian Laperriere knows all too well. In game 5 of an NHL playoff game with the New Jersey Devils, Laperriere took a slap shot to the face that immediately caused him to bleed excessively from the wound above his eye and lose sight. Laperriere was diagnosed with a brain contusion after having a MRI a few days later. While Laperriere may have originally thought that losing sight in one of his eyes was the worst of the two injuries, in reality the bigger concern could wind up being the long-term effects of the brain injury.

Concussions have been dismissed as minor injuries because the physical nature of most sports causes them to occur regularly, but, frequently occurring or not, they are still head injuries where the brain is forced to move violently within the skull and the way it functions could change permanently. When the brain moves in such a manner, it can bruise, bleed, and even tear, which can cause irreversible damage to the victim. For a sport like hockey, this type of injury is very common and unfortunately at times ignored. Many hockey players don't take into account the possible effects of the injury and because it might not seem like a serious problem exists at first, they keep on skating as if nothing occurred. Their unawareness of the injury makes the it so much more dangerous because a mild brain injury can turn into a life threatening injury in a very short period of time without seeking immediate medical treatment.

Studies by the National Academy of Neuropsychology's Sports Concussion Symposium in New York have shown that since 1997, 759 NHL players have been diagnosed with a concussion. Broken down, that averages out to 76 players per season and 31 concussions per 1,000 games of hockey. That is far too frequent of an occurrence for such a serious injury. It's a frightening statistic that should send up a red flag to hockey officials that actions need to be taken to further prevent this type of injury from occurring.

The best, and sometimes only, treatment for TBI is prevention. For the National Hockey League, new rules are being considered that preserve the game but also help protect the players. Rule changes concerning blindside hits, rink size (which effects players space from each other and their proximity to walls), and stronger helmet requirements all have been considered to help curb TBI and its effects. This demonstrates that the NHL is aware of the seriousness of the injury and is taking proactive steps to help prevent it from happening.

Hockey is one of the most popular sports in North America and has millions of people participating in it every year. Unfortunately, the sport comes with the risk of a TBI. With the right awareness of the injury and the necessary precautions in place, the game should be able to continue with players excited to lace up their skates and enjoy it.

USHL Draft Coverage- Goalies

2010-05-11T17:16:00.000-07:00

I have been contacted by sbnation.com to write up some profiles on players that may be drafted into the USHL this year in the USHL Entry Draft. I will be writing a profile almost every day leading up to the draft beginning with forwards, then on to defensemen, and finishing with goaltenders. These are in no particular order, as the Entry Draft is hard to predict. I haven't seen these players play either, so if you have seen them play and have something to add, please do. Enjoy!

In an effort to save time and feature players to be drafted in the USHL Futures Draft, I've decided to lump the goalies into one post.

Hunter Leisner (Chicago Fury U18) is one of the goalies who made it to the All-Star Game of the USHL '92 and '93 Combine. In midget majors this year, he didn't have the best year statistically, having a record of 13-23-4 for the Fury, who finished last in the Chicago Division. Leisner played in 40 games for the Fury U18 squad this year, posting a 3.20 GAA and .860 save percentage, average numbers for a midget major goalie. It would be very tough to compare these AAA goalies to USHL goalies because you really can't tell their play styles based on their stats.

Noah Klag (Team Comcast U18) is another goalie who played on a last place team and was just average speaking statistically. Team Comcast finished in last place in the Tier 1 Elite League East Division with 25 points on the season. For Team Comcast, Klag had a record of 6-21-5. Klag posted a 3.73 GAA and a .869 save percentage which again, is a little underwhelming for a guy who very well could be playing in the USHL next year, maybe he ends up on a better team, and post some good stats in the USHL.

Colin Greeley (Victory Honda U18) continues the trend of goalies that have average stats but made the All-Star Game at the Combine. Greeley played midget major hockey for Victory Honda, who finished last in the Detroit Division of the Tier 1 Elite League. He appeared in 25 games this past season posting a 6-14-2 record in those appearances. Greeley ended up with a 3.80 GAA and .863 SV%. You don't have to much about hockey to know that those aren't exactly great stats, but obviously he performed well at the Combine to be picked to play in the All-Star Game. That makes me believe that we will be seeing Colin Greeley in the USHL next year.

Charlie Millen (Huntsville Otters) is the first goalie on this post not from the Tier 1 Elite League. But like the others, he did not put up great numbers this past year, and he impressed the scouts at the Combine enough that he was selected to play in the All-Star Game of the Combine. Playing the OJHL, or Ontario Junior 'A' Hockey League with the Huntsville Otters and Pickering Panthers, Millen posted a 3-7 record in 15 appearances last season. In those 15 games, Millen ended up with a 5.13 GAA and .852 SV%. To be fair to Millen, he had a 4.63 GAA with Huntsville, where he played 13 games and a 8.72 GAA in Pickering where he only played one full game. Obviously he was impressive at the Combine, and we should see him on a roster next year.

Please leave comments, I would love to hear them!

USHL Draft Coverage- Josiah Didier

2010-05-10T15:03:00.000-07:00

Josiah Didier (Colorado Thunderbirds U16) is a big defenseman that has the size and skill necessary to make a big impact in the USHL and beyond. Didier stands at 6'3" and 190 pounds. That's very tall for a midget minor player. He has the size that can make him a star in the USHL next year. He potentially could be a very physical defenseman next year and that should make many teams drool over the potential of this young defenseman. But he's not just a big body out there on the ice. Didier made a big impact in the Tier 1 Elite League this year offensively. He very well could be one of the best offensive defensemen in the USHL next year. I can just about guarantee that whatever team Didier ends up on next year will use him as their powerplay quarterback. In 38 games of midget minor hockey this year, Didier had 20 points. Of those 20, 7 were goals and the 13 left were assists. Didier also got some time on the powerplay for the Thunderbirds this year, gathering 2 goals on the PP. I would compare Didier to Sioux City Musketeers defenseman Kevin Gravel. Not only do I make this comparison based on the size of these players, but also on the offensive production. Of course you can't expect Didier to get 20 points next year, but I do believe he can contribute and he very well could be your team's newest powerplay quarterback.

Please leave comments, I would love to hear them!

USHL Draft Coverage- Geoff Fortman

2010-05-09T09:54:00.000-07:00

Geoff Fortman (Chicago Mission U16) is a big blueliner who we should be seeing very soon in the USHL. The defenseman from Crystal Lake, Illinois has the great combination of offensive ability, size, and physical play. Fortman stands at 6'1" and 205 pounds which is not incredibly tall, but he has that bulk to make him a great physical presence for a team, which is something every team can use back on the blue line. In 38 games of Tier 1 Elite midget minor hockey this past season, Fortman had 44 penalty minutes, most of which came on physical plays. He only had one game where he recieved more than 4 PIMs in a game though. The game he got more than four was December 4th, while his Mission were playing the Colorado Thunderbirds. In that game, he ended up with 12 penalty minutes, a checking from behind minor and then a 10 minute misconduct for the same infraction. But, as was mentioned before, Fortman is a complete player. In those 38 games, Fortman collected 23 points from the blue line. Of those 23 points, 9 were goals and 14 were assists. Of the defensemen I have profiled so far, Fortman has the best offensive numbers. Because of this offensive skill, physical play, and size, I would compare Fortman to Youngstown Phantoms defensman David Donnellan. Geoff Fortman is definitely a guy who we will be seeing in the USHL next year.

I put my email up on the left side of the blog, so if you have questions, comments, or concerns, feel free to email me!

Please leave comments, I would love to hear them!

USHL Draft Coverage- Greg Johnson

2010-05-08T14:21:00.000-07:00

Greg Johnson (Dallas Stars U18) is a defenseman from the Tier 1 Elite League, and is one of the best defenseman in the league. He's not the biggest offensive producer, but he has enough offensive ability to be a second-line powerplay blueliner. In 48 games of midget major hockey this year, Johnson had 18 points. Of those 18 points, 10 were goals and 8 were assists. Those 10 goals speak to the kind of shot he has from the point which will make him a popular prospect in this year's USHL Draft. The reason I brought up being a powerplay blueliner is because of the fact that 4 of Johnson's goals came on the powerplay. On the other side of the puck, Johnson has average size, standing at 6'1", 180 pounds. The biggest stat you notice on his profile is his penalty minutes. In those 48 games this year, Johnson compiled 54 PIMs. Most of these minutes came on physical plays such as elbowing, cross checking, interference, etc. I would compare Johnson to Green Bay Gamblers defenseman Scott Czarnowczan. This is a good comparision I would say based on the type of game these guys play. Keep your eye out for Greg Johnson, because he is a defenseman we will definitely be seeing in the USHL next season.

On a side note here, as many of you know, the USHL is expanding next year, and one of the places that is getting a USHL team is Muskegon, Michigan. Well, I believe it's safe to say that not very many people in Muskegon are very happy about losing a semi-pro team and moving into an elite junior hockey league. One the examples of this is on the comments of this article. One of the comments is:

"Pro hockey has not left town. The Blizzard will be back. Its a shame more people have not checked them out. If the Lumberjacks owners had a little more backbone we would still have the jacks and not some kiddie league. Say no to high school hockey and go Blizzard!!!!"

Now, it's just not fair to call the USHL a "kiddie league". I understand that this is just one ignorant blogger, but if you contune down the articles on that site, there's many comments bringing down the USHL. I just hope that the citizens of Muskegon give the USHL a chance.

Please leave comments, I would love to hear them!

USHL Draft Coverage- Sean Flynn

2010-05-06T16:25:00.000-07:00

Sean Flynn (Carolina Jr. Hurricanes) will continue the coverage of defenseman here. Flynn, unlike some of the other players I have written about, Flynn plays midget minor hockey, which isn't the highest level of play, but it's still good enough to make the transition into the USHL. Also helping Flynn's case is that he plays in the North American Prospects Hockey League (NAPHL), which is very good competition for junior players. Flynn has average height, 5'11", but has a big frame, weighing 185 lbs., which would definitely help with his physical game. Offensively, Flynn can help with your powerplay, gaining 3 assists on the powerplay this year, but I believe he tools his game to play a more defensively skilled game. In 20 games this past season, Flynn had only 8 points, with only 1 being a goal, and the other 7 were assists. Flynn did produce nicely in this past year's NAPHL Playoffs, getting 2 points in 4 games for the Jr. Hurricanes. Flynn also has the added bonus of being very disciplined which is a rarity in defensemen at this level of hockey. In the 20 games this year, Flynn only had 4 penalty minutes. I would compare him to Lincoln Stars defenseman Cory Hibbeler in the way that he can be a shut down defenseman and the way both players can make plays in any way possible. Even with his age, Flynn has the numbers necessary to make it in the USHL. Keep an eye out for Sean Flynn, he could be your team's next young star defenseman.

USHL Draft Coverage- Brian Hickey

2010-05-05T14:41:00.000-07:00

Brian Hickey (Team Illinois) continues the USHL Draft coverage of defensemen. Hickey is your typical tough blueliner, but he has that added bonus of being able to get the puck in the net. Hickey stands at 6'0"/185 which is average height, but he has some bulk there which should help him adjust to the speed and physical aspects of the USHL. Hickey has played at the midget major level for two straight years now, which is very impressive for a 17 year old. Hickey's physical aspect has been shown, by his PIMs the past two years. In 93 games at the midget major level with Team Illinois, Hickey has racked up 117 penalty minutes. But even with all those minutes, he has proved he can be a valuable offensive player back on the blue line. This year, in 48 games, Hickey picked up 11 points, 6 of them goals, and the 5 left were assists. In his total midget major career, he has 24 points in 93 games. I would compare Hickey to Indiana Ice blueliner Nick Mattson, based on size, play style, and offensive production. Hickey has a very good chance to be your team's new shut-down defenseman.

USHL Draft Coverage- Jordan Oesterle

2010-05-03T16:45:00.000-07:00

Jordan Oesterle (Belle Tire) is the first defenseman I'll be writting on for my coverage of the USHL Entry Draft. In case you haven't been keeping track, we have 15 days until the Draft. On to Oesterle now, he is what would be referred to as an offensive defenseman. In 47 games with Belle Tire midget major, Oesterle had 30 points. He wasn't the greatest goalscorer, only netting 5 this past year. But where he lacked in goal scoring ability, he made up in playmaking skill. Oesterle had 25 assists on the season which shows his passing ability, and I'm sure a good number of those assists came off deflected shots by his teammates. Oesterle showed up at the USHL Combine standing at 6'0"/165 pounds which is average size for a defenseman at this level. In the USHL, expect Oesterle to be used like a fourth forward for whatever team he ends up on. Also, he should be a great powerplay quarterback at the USHL level. I would compare him to Fargo Force defenseman Eamonn McDermott, who is one of the best powerplay defenseman in the league. Oesterle is definitely a guy to keep your eye on in the future.

USHL Draft Coverage- Zach Wilkinson

2010-05-02T20:01:00.000-07:00

Zach Wilkinson (Chaska/Chanhassen Storm Hawks) is the first player I've covered who is coming out of high school. The Minnesota High School Hockey Playoffs is one of the highest attended events in junior hockey. In these playoffs, Wilkinson's Storm Hawks didn't make it out of the first round, but Wilkinson certainly made his presence known in the loss versus the Holy Angels Stars. He had two goals in that game and was a +1 despite the 6 goals Holy Angels scored on them. Wilkinson is also the first average sized player I've written about. The players I've written about were either huge or very small. Wilkinson stands at 5'10"/165 and has better than average scoring ability. Wilkinson, paired on a line with Jack Storo has compiled some pretty good stats this year. In 26 games this year, Wilkinson had 25 points. Of those 25 points, 13 were goals and 12 were assists. To compare Wilkinson to a USHL player is not an easy task, but I'd say Fargo's Corey Leivermann is a good fit based on size and scoring stats. Just like every player I've written about, Wilkinson should be in the USHL next year, but his teammate, who was mentioned above, Jack Storo should be making his debut in the USHL next year. So keep your eyes open for these two talented forwards out of Chaska.

USHL Draft Coverage- Jakob Batcha

2010-04-30T16:04:00.000-07:00

Jakob Batcha (Milwaukee Jr. Admirals) will continue the trend of big players with scoring ability. Batcha plays at the midget major level which is the closest level in overall speed and difficulty to the USHL (junior hockey). Batcha is huge for a 16 year old at 6'3" and 175 pounds. The Jr. Admirals play in the NAPHL, which is AAA midget major hockey. Batcha has that great mix of size and skill which has scouts and coaches in the USHL drooling. He played in 64 games this past season and had 52 points in those games. Of those 52 points, 21 were goals and 31 were helpers. To compare Batcha with a USHL player from last year is tough, but I would compare him to Green Bay's star forward Anders Lee. Now I'm not saying Batcha will be in the top 10 in scoring next year, I'm just saying that based on size and numbers, Batcha matches up pretty well with Lee. As with the other prospects I've been writing about, Batcha will most likely be playing in the USHL this year, so definitely keep your eye on him.

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USHL Draft Coverage- Ian McGilvrey

2010-04-29T15:15:00.000-07:00

Ian McGilvrey (Omaha AAA) is another undersized player with great numbers in AAA hockey. McGilvrey is 5'8"/165 which is a lot smaller than most of the players I've written about for this draft. I've never seen McGilvrey play, but I can almost guarantee that he uses his size to dart in and out of potential problems on the ice. This is one of the advantages of being a smaller player, although in most scouts' eyes, the negatives of a smaller player outweigh the positives. Omaha AAA plays in the North American Prospects Hockey League (NAPHL), which is pretty good competition. This season, McGilvrey played in 57 games in which he had 64 points, 20 of them goals and 44 of them assists, averaging over a point a game. McGilvrey was also a good all around player for Omaha, collecting 6 points on the powerplay and 4 points while his team was short handed. His size and number of assists conjure up images of Omaha Lancers star Matt White, who was recently named USHL player of the year. I definitely think McGilvrey will end up playing in the USHL next year, but I would also like to jump to another prediction when it comes to McGilvrey. I believe as a born Nebraskan, he will either end up on the Lincoln Stars or the Omaha Lancers, which both have a history of having native Nebraskans on their rosters. Just last year, Lincoln's captain was Matt Bruneteau, a defenseman from Omaha. The Lancers, on the other hand, had Omaha native Nick Oddo.

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USHL Draft Coverage- Zach Saar

2010-04-28T18:09:00.000-07:00

Zach Saar (Little Caesars) is another forward from the Tier 1 Elite League, and like Moran, is a '93 and plays at the midget minor level. Saar, like Moran, also has great size. Saar showed up at the USHL Combine standing at 6'4" and weighing 190 pounds. Saar also has some offensive skills, putting up 23 points in 38 games played. Of those 23 points, 11 were goals and 12 were assists. He got some time on the power play this year too. Saar racked up 3 goals on the PP this year. But Saar apparently uses his size to play a very physical game. Now this isn't the be all and end all of physical play, but in his 38 games played, Saar had 52 penalty minutes which was fifth on the Little Caesars midget minor team this year. If I were to compare his play style and his scoring ability to a USHL players from last year, I would definitely compare Saar to Waterloo's Tony Turgeon. We will be seeing Saar in the USHL next year for sure.

USHL Draft Coverage- Mike Moran

2010-04-27T18:23:00.000-07:00

Mike Moran (Victory Honda) is another forward from the Tier 1 League. The only difference between him and Berry, Irvin, and Luc is that Moran played midget minor hockey, while the three players listed before played midget major hockey. Moran only played 9 games with the Victory Honda U18 team this year. But with the U16 midget minor team, Moran collected 27 points (14g, 13a) in 37 games last year. Moran obviously has a good scoring touch, but it just complements his size. Moran is one, if not the biggest, forward in the draft. He is 6'5" and 205 pounds which is incredible size for a midget minor player. Moran also has a physical playing style with 48 total penalty minutes in the games he's played with both the U16 and U18 Victory Honda team. Most of those PIMs have come on physical penalties such as boarding, cross checking, etc. I know I've already used Nick Czinder (YNG) as a comparison but I can't think of a better comparison to Moran. Both players are 6'5", and both had similar numbers. Based on Moran's size and scoring touch, I would definitely say that we will be seeing him in the USHL next year.

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USHL Draft Coverage- Chris Tracy

2010-04-26T20:54:00.000-07:00

Chris Tracy (Philadelphia Jr. Flyers) is once again a forward from the Tier 1 Elite League and also has good size for a midget major player. Tracy has that great combo of size and scoring ability that has scouts drooling. Tracy is 6'2"/193 which is great size for a player coming into the USHL. He should have no problem transitioning from midget majors into USHL hockey. In 18 games this year, Tracy had 9 goals and 4 assists, with one of those goals coming while the Junior Flyers were shorthanded. Tracy also had 34 penalty minutes in those 18 games which were all two minute minors except for one ten minute misconduct Tracy received on February 15th against Russell Stover. If I had to compare Tracy to a current USHL player, I would compare him to Green Bay's Chris Crane, who has around the same size and scoring ability as Tracy. Also, both of the players like racking up the PIMs with Tracy having his 34 in 18 games and Crane having 107 in 52 games this year. Expect to see Tracy drafted this year and be playing in the USHL next year.

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USHL Draft Coverage- Boby Luc

2010-04-25T18:08:00.000-07:00

Boby Luc (Chicago Fury) is a very intriguing prospect for the USHL. Luc has huge size, and that definitely sets him apart from the pack of potential USHL draftees. Luc is 6'4", 200 pounds, and oh yeah, he's a forward. With that size, Luc scores goals and has some nice skills when it comes to passing also. He was second on the Fury U18 team in scoring this year with 35 points in 48 games. Luc has not been drafted in either the Futures or Entry Draft before, which is surprising based on his size, but he didn't have the numbers to merit being drafted last year (6g and 8a in 31gp). A player that I would compare him to in the USHL would be Youngstown's Nick Czinder in terms of size and offensive ability. Czinder had 22 points in 52 games this year, which is about equal with Luc's numbers considering the difference in skill levels and speed of the game between the USHL and midget major level. Look for Luc to be drafted first round in this May's USHL Entry Draft, and be on a USHL roster next year.

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USHL Draft Coverage- Kevin Irwin

2010-04-23T12:06:00.000-07:00

I have been contacted by sbnation.com to write up some profiles on players that may be drafted into the USHL this year in the USHL Entry Draft. I will be writing a profile almost every day leading up to the draft beginning with forwards, then on to defensemen, and finishing with goaltenders. These are in no particular order, as the Entry Draft is hard to predict. I haven't seen these players play either, so if you have seen them play and have something to add, please do. Enjoy!

~~Kevin Irwin (Cleveland Barons)~~ is another talented forward out of the Tier 1 U18 Division. What's different about Irwin then the rest of the guys from this league that will be drafted into the USHL, is that he was born in 1993. Irwin tied for 22nd in points this year in the U18 Division with 49 points in 48 games. Of those 49 points, Irwin was very balanced with 25 goals and 24 assists. The forward from Hinkley, Ohio has been listed on the USHL CSS '93 list for a long time and has a 3 out of rating on that list. Irwin wasn't drafted last year which was a suprise, but I'm fairly sure we'll see him drafted this May. Irwin has good size and apparently good scoring ability. Irwin stands at 6'0"/170 which is pretty good size for a player at a level below the USHL. Stay tuned because I'm pretty sure we'll be seeing Kevin Irwin in the USHL next year.

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USHL Draft Coverage- Matt Berry

2010-04-22T18:57:00.000-07:00

Matt Berry (Belle Tire) led the U18 Division of the Tier 1 Elite Hockey League this year in points. In 48 games, Berry compiled 77 points, 32 of them goals and 45 were assists. The winger from Canton, Michigan is very little which is most likely why he wasn't taken in the Futures Draft before. Berry stands at 5'8"/140, which is not standard USHL size. But, stereotypes about small players can sometimes cloud our minds to an extent where we think that smaller players just can't compete at the USHL level. But folks, the perfect example of a small player doing exceeding in the USHL is Des Moines' T.J. Tynan. Tynan was tied for fifth in points, first in assists, and first in assists on the powerplay. If Berry can come in and score the same amount of points he is in midgets and he could very well be a star in the USHL.

USHL Prospect Report- Connor Brickley

2010-04-21T15:53:00.000-07:00

So I haven't written an article in awhile, but I'm back. I previously wrote an article on Connor Brickley (DM), but it was very short and not very insightful so I thought I'd write another one that is hopefully better than the last. Brickley is a great talent who appears to be the second USHL player that will be drafted this summer in the NHL Draft. The forward from Everett, Massachusetts has good size and that makes him very appealing to scouts looking on his game.

Offensively, Brickley has very good speed that he can use to burn defenders to the outside and create plays all by himself. Brickley makes goals by himself with his great shot. He releases his shot so quick that it's rarely blocked, and on that same note, he does have better than average shot selection which makes him an even bigger offensive threat. Playing alongside T.J. Tynan has given Brickley a chance to really break out. Brickley compiled 43 points in 52 games this year.

Brickley is also very talented on defense. Brickley is a very good back-checker and is usually the first forward back into the defensive zone ready to break up offensive plays single-handedly. This guy has absolutely no quit in him. He gives his all on every play you can really tell.

Brickley will be the second player drafted from the USHL this summer. Brickley will attend Vermont begining in 2011, which means he will probably stay with Des Moines another year to develop before college. This guy is definitely one to keep your eye on.

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USHL Prospect Report- Brendan Woods

2010-04-16T14:49:00.000-07:00

This article will be a little different than the rest. I am totally writing it on the fly and I'm not sure how short it's going to be. The reason it's going to be so different is that I haven't actually seen Brendan Woods (CHI) play. This normally wouldn't be problem except for the fact that Woods is rated 83rd for North American skaters on CSS's final rankings. So, I'll mainly be basing this article on stats and what I've heard from my network of other scouts.

First let's start out with his stat sheet. Woods has good size and it fits his play style well. Woods stands at 6'2"/180 and he uses that size to play more of a power-forward type style. Woods had 10 points in 34 games this year after suffering an arm injury in the 2009 USHL Fall Classic, which he ended up missing the first half of the seaosn with. Of those 10 points, 6 were goals, and 4 were assists. Woods' six goals speak to his ability to score even with his power-forward play style. The winger from Palmyra, Pennsylvania had 2 of those 10 points on the powerplay which meant that Chicago Steel coach Steve Poapst trusted him enough to have him out on the PP.

Now on to what I've heard from some other scouts, Woods' biggest strength is his skating. Apparently he is very fast and doesn't give up on any plays. This work ethic will work in his favor and his skills will develop in college. Woods' is commited to play at the University of Wisconsin, who recently lost in the NCAA Hockey Championship Game. Even though I haven't seen him play, Woods should be in the top 6 or 7 USHL players drafted in the NHL Draft this year.

A little shorter than usual, but it's tough to write on a player you've never seen.

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USHL Prospect Report- Nick Mattson

2010-04-14T17:47:00.000-07:00

Nick Mattson (IND) is one of the USHL defensemen in the running for 2nd place in their position. The fight for second has come down to Mattson, Aaron Harstad (GB) (Report), Eamonn McDermott (FGO) (Report), and Kevin Lind (CHI) (Report). Mattson is with Indiana in the playoffs playing Cedar Rapids tonight. Mattson has been a key piece in the Ice's series with the Roughriders. The defenseman from Chanhassen, Minnesota has 3 points in 4 games thus far in the series. Add those three onto the 19 he had during the regular season, and we've got a two-way defenseman on our hands.

We'll start with Mattson's offensive ability. He was highly regarded coming into the USHL this year as a pure offensive-minded defensemen. Mattson has a good shot from the point and makes good passes. He could work on his skating a little more, but that will come in college and whatever level he plays following college. He has a quick release on his shot and the shot itself is quick. It lacks accuracy and that has led to some unimpressive numbers in the USHL this year. Mattson only had 5 goals this season with 19 points. While the goals have not come, Mattson still has a good shot and if you look away from the stat sheet to watch him play, you can see that. His passes are good and crisp, almost always tape-to-tape, Mattson compiled 14 assists this year. He has also lived up to his offensive hype in one aspect of his game: the powerplay. 3 of Mattson's 5 goals came on the PP, adding 6 assists to make 9 points on the powerplay.

Defensively, Mattson has improved incredibly since coming into the USHL this year. He blocks shots and gets into passing lanes. When you look at his stats, it looks like the stat keepers are putting down the wrong numbers for one stat category. Mattson only had 14 penalty minutes in 51 games this season. That's virtually unheard of for a defenseman to have that little of PIMs in a season. It really speaks to the discipline of Mattson's game that he isn't constantly putting his team down a man like some defensemen in the USHL and all around the world of hockey.

Mattson's defensive improvements have helped him greatly help his chances of getting drafted in late June. Mattson will have to improve during college if he wants to play pro hockey and the University of North Dakota, where Mattson committed, will be a good place for him to develop his skills. I'm very excited to see what the future will bring for Mattson.

Credit for the photo goes to R.J. Meyer.

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USHL Prospect Report- Willie Yanakeff

2010-04-13T16:42:00.000-07:00

Well, I've finally given up hope that Cab Morris (IND) is the top eligible goaltender for the 2010 NHL Draft from the USHL. Willie Yanakeff (WAT) has taken that spot in my book. In a season full of suprises at the goalie position in the USHL, Yanakeff has been the one sure thing as far as the NHL Draft goes. His size has kept him afloat in a season where his numbers haven't been what you would expect out of a goalie ready to be drafted into the NHL. Yanakeff stands at 6'2"/185. Even in the butterfly, where Yanakeff seems to be the most at home, he is still very tall which means he's not too vunerable to getting beat top shelf too often.

Yanakeff's strengths have to be his positioning and his glove. His positioning is solid from what I've seen, and he is almost always (you guessed it again!) square to the shooter. He comes out and challenges the shooter initially, cutting down angles and removing the the possibility of cross-slot passes from the forwards on odd-man rushes. After he comes out and challenges, he slides back getting lower and anticipating the shot untill he's finally in the butterfly, which as mentioned before, is where he's most comfortable. Whether out of the crease or in it down in the butterfly, Yanakeff is always there with his golve to snag shots on his left side. He can really get that glove up fast and that's an advantage when you're facing the fast shots of the USHL.

Yanakeff does have weaknesses however, and they've contributed to the unimpressive stats Yanakeff has compiled this year. One of those weaknesses is that his blocker side is not nearly as impressive as his glove. The biggest percent of outside shots that goes in on Yanakeff come from his right side where the top shelf is easily attainable for shooters. But Yanakeff's biggest weakness and the thing he needs to work on a lot in college is his rebound control. In 22 games this season, Yanakeff had a 10-9 record and 3.31 GAA with a .880 SV% which is very underwhelming. His rebound control is probably what leads to over 70 percent of the goals scored against him, so that is what Yanakeff will be working on in the years to come.

At the moment, Yanakeff is looking like a 5th or 6th rounder in this summer's NHL Draft. As mentioned above, Yanakeff needs to work on his weaknesses in college. Yanakeff is comitted to play at Michigan State University for next season which is a good fit for him. Yanakeff's professional future completely depends on how much he develops at MSU.

USHL Prospect Report- Aaron Harstad

2010-04-12T16:18:00.000-07:00

Aaron Harstad (GB) was 8th on my latest Top 10 2010 NHL Draft Eligible List. I believe I may have had him a little lower then he should be, but I'm going to try and correct some of my errors in my final list which will debut sometime in late May. The battle for second-best defenseman from the USHL is in full swing between Harstad, Kevin Lind (CHI), Eamonn McDermott (FGO), and Nick Mattson (IND). With Fargo, Indiana, and Green Bay still active in the USHL playoffs, it should be fun to watch who comes out on top of that battle.

Now on to Harstad, who has the size to set him apart from the pack. Harstad is 6'2"/183. Harstad has a more defensive-based game than offensive. He plays the body well and almost always finishes his checks. In my opinion, he lacks in the area of blocking shots and passing lanes. Harstad shone offensively in Wisconsin High School hockey, averaging two points a game. In the move from high school to the USHL, the competition has obviously gotten better, and in his first full season in the USHL, Harstad only had 8 points in 47 games. The speed of the game at this level was probably the biggest reason for the drop-off in offensive numbers, as it is with most players in their first year. That said, Harstad has good shot from the point and he skates well. He has the potential to develop into a balanced defenseman.

Harstad is committed to play at Colorado College next year, along with Jaden Schwartz (TC), Eamonn McDermott (FGO), Dakota Eveland (OMA), Alex Krushelnyski (SC), and Scott Wamsganz (WAT). I expect Harstad to go on and play there next year. Expect Harstad to get some looks in the NHL Draft around the 4th or 5th round. We definitely have a future professional on our hands here.

Credit on the Harstad photo goes to R.J. Meyer.

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USHL Prospect Report- Jeff Teglia

2010-04-09T16:45:00.000-07:00

Jeff Teglia (OMA) like Steve Summerhays, has his team in the playoffs for the second straight year. Teglia recently commited to the University of Massachusetts and it took longer than a lot of people thought for him to commit. The goalie out of Bloomingdale, Illinois for the second year has great stats that make him stand out from the pack. Teglia had a 2.27 GAA and .921 SV% in 45 appearances. On Wednesday, in his first USHL playoff start, he led the Lancers to a 7-1 win.

Teglia had a great year and he's really showed up on the radar with his stats this year. I got to see Teglia play quite a few times this year. Every time I saw him he was extremely solid, staying square to the shooter and anticipating one-timers, sliding across the crease to stop them before the shot can get to the net. Teglia's glove is definitely his biggest strength which common among junior goalies. Teglia also gets into the butterfly faster than most, if not all, of the goalies in the USHL.

Now Teglia does have a few things going against him. For one, just like Summerhays, Teglia played behind a good team this year. This shows that he can be successful behind a good team, but he may not be able to win games by himself. That said, Teglia is very capable of keeping his team in the game. Also, unlike the other USHL goalie top prospects, Teglia isn't super tall. This also takes away a little from his value. Teglia is 6'0", which is about average.

Teglia has a chance of getting drafted this summer, but it's not much of a chance. I think if he contunies on at his current level of play at UMass next year, he definitely has a shot at being signed by a pro team and going on to play professional hockey someday.