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Fri. 5/30/14

QMJHL Draft on Tap

Cam Askew, a former St. Sebastian’s and Cushing center – and Northeastern and BU commit – was traded Tuesday in a three-way QMJHL trade. Askew, a ’97 from South Boston who put up a 5-9-14 line in 64 games as a rookie with Drummondville, will ply his trade with Moncton next season, his fifth team in five years.

Askew was the highest-drafted American in last year’s Q draft, at #11 overall. This year’s draft takes place tomorrow, Sat. May 30^th, at Sherbrooke, starting at 10:00 am EST. Who will be the top American taken?

If he’s interested, the top U.S. kid selected would almost certainly be ’98 defenseman Chad Krys, who’s already committed to the NTDP for the next two years. The son of former BU defenseman Mark Krys, and a Ridgefield, Conn. native, Krys played the past season for the NJ Rockets 19U team. Don’t put it past Moncton or Quebec to take a shot.

The Q’s Central Scouting has ranked Salisbury winger Mike O’Leary, a Halifax, NS native who had a 2-3-5 line in 29 games as a sophomore this past season, as the #6 overall prospect in the draft.

Last spring, 41 Americans were selected in the Q draft, up four from 2012, when 37 were taken. In the previous five-year period, 2007-11, the most Yanks selected in a single draft was 10.

Of the 41 Americans selected last season, the net yield was six players: Askew, Chase Harwell, Connor Moynihan, Willy Smith, Tucker White, and Bobby Dray.

Here is a link to the final QMJHL Central Scouting list. The Americans aren’t ranked, but if you scroll down you will find them listed alphabetically. It’s a rather long list – everyone and his cousin is on it.

QMJHL 2014 Draft -- Final Rankings (PDF file)

Thurs. 5/8/14

Filling the Hotels

A total of 120 teams will be playing at two Boston-area showcases this weekend.

-- At the New England Sports Center in Marlborough, Mass. the USPHL Spring Showcase will feature 44 teams spread across two divisions.

Here is the schedule.

And here are the rosters. (Note: It's a zip file.)

-- At the same time, in Walpole and Foxboro, the Pre-Draft Showcase will be taking place, with 76 teams from all over creation.

Here’s a link to the tournament’s web site. Schedules and rosters can be found there.

Pre-Draft Showcase

Thurs. 5/1/14

U16s at Nationals: The Forwards

Here are our rankings from the U16 Division at U.S. Nationals in Green Bay, April 2-6.

In the championship game, Team Wisconsin edged the Colorado Thunderbirds, 2-1, when defenseman Anthony Stillwell, a Green Bay native, scored the game-winner in the fourth overtime period.

In the semis, the Thunderbirds shut out Omaha AAA 1-0, and Team Wisconsin did the same to the St. Louis Blues, by a 2-0 score.

This document -- 100 players are ranked -- has taken a little while to pull together. And we have to warn you that it’s a long one. As a matter of fact, it is so long that we couldn't get it into one file, so we broke it up into two sections, with forwards in Part I and defensemen and goalies in Part II.

Forwards:

1. Trent Frederic (LC, #7 St. Louis Blues, 6-2/180, ’98) – Frederic, who went into the tournament as perhaps the top uncommitted prospect in the country, committed to the University of Wisconsin only days afterward. A St. Louis native, who’s next stop will be the NTDP, has the frame and skating ability to be a high-end NHLer in the future. It is hard to pinpoint his best attributes, as he possesses so many -- a long fluid stride, excellent agility, size, hands that are both quick and soft. Frederic is not necessarily a cerebral type of player,  but he does have a lot poise and waits to make his move. A center, he wins a lot of draws -- likely north of 70% -- and has impressive hand-eye coordination. His shot is prolific both in velocity and we also liked his physical play. When entering the zone at full speed, Frederic was untouchable. The knock on him? His lack of acceleration and thin build. As he fills out, he will likely become more of a physical presence on the forecheck and in front of his own net. He’ll also likely improve his first three steps. In addition, we noticed that his compete level was not totally consistent, but when he turned it on…watch out.

2. Graham McPhee (LF, #21 Shattuck-St. Mary’s, 5-11/165,’98) -- The BC commit was one of the most exciting players to watch in this age group in Green Bay. McPhee has soft hands, elite stickhandling ability, and a plethora of jukes and dekes. He has high-end athleticism, hand-eye coordination, and hockey instincts that allow him to go into a crowded area and come out with possession. While we love his creativity and confidence with the biscuit, his energy and edge are inconsistent -- sometimes he’s too hyped up, aimlessly throwing his body around and at other times he’s less than fully involved.  In the big picture, however, he has size, speed, strength, and hands. He projects well.  Will suit up for NTDP U17 team next season. He was 3-0-3 on the week and finished the season averaging a point per game with a 28-30-58 line. Sarnia Sting drafted McPhee in the 9^th round of the OHL draft this year. The son of George McPhee, the former Washington Capitals GM who played at Bowling Green for Jerry York, winning the Hobey Baker Award in 1982.

3. Tarek Baker (LW, #9 Omaha AAA, 5-11/185, ’97) -- The former Verona (Wisc.) HS player put himself on the radar last year with Omaha’s U16 squad, scoring 95 points in 67 games, then following that up with a 42-105-147 line in 63 games this season. Baker, who played a few early-season USHL games with Des Moines, has an explosive first step, elite speed and a great shot that he gets off as fast as anyone here. His hands are both smooth and strong as he does a great job of not over-exposing the puck, but when he has no room to move he can certainly deke his way out of trouble. His poise in the offensive end and speed through the neutral zone will fit in well at the University of Minnesota, to whom he committed in September. From what we saw, Baker is a complete player who pays attention in his own end and does all the little things – tying ties up his guy on the draw, blocking shots, battling in the dirty areas, protecting the puck. Our only reservation is our feeling that Baker tended to play on the perimeter and passed up chances to penetrate the interior of the defense to create shooting opportunities. Not that his passing is poor, quite the contrary, but he wastes his shot, which is excellent.  As a ’97, he was on the older side here.

4. Patrick Khodorenko (LC, #13 HoneyBaked, 5-11/185, late ’98) -- The Walnut Creek, Calif. native was the leading scorer for #1-ranked Honeybaked with a 9-21-30 line in 22 HPHL matchups, and will play with the NTDP next season. Khodorenko can play a north-south power forward style of play, beating you with power and strength. He also has ultra-soft hands and elite moves in 1-on-1 situations, is a gifted passer and, with his strength and balance, can hold onto the puck for that extra second, lure the defense to him, absorb a hit and make a tape-to-tape pass. We feel Khodorenko’s #1 asset is his vision, although you can say the same of his stickhandling. From cross-corner dumps to a streaking winger to backdoor feeds on the powerplay to perfectly-placed indirect passes Khodorenko showed he is a strong intuitive player who seems to know where everyone is on the ice and possesses the skill to get the puck there. The knock is his speed. He is not at all slow, but he does not have that extra gear the very top players possess. Was held to 2 goals in 4 games on the week. His WHL rights are owned by the Everett Silvertips

5. Mike Pastujov (F, #21 HoneyBaked, 6-0/180, ’99) -- The younger brother of Nick Pastujov, the Bradenton, Florida native was the youngest player on the best U16 team in the country, averaging nearly a point per game in the HPHL with a 7-6-13 line in 14 games. Pastujov has high-level hands and can maneuver through traffic areas, is lethal in front of the net and is able to cradle through the neutral zone. He also puts the perfect amount of zip and touch on his passes – you’ll rarely see one bounce off a stick. One of the top ‘99s in the country, Pastujov has a rare combination of size and skill, finding the back of the net twice in four games here. His composure and leg strength have improved, but he will need to continue to develop his speed and lateral movement. Questions remain about whether he will be taking the college or major junior route.   

6. Dante Palecco (LW, #15 Long Island Gulls, 5-11/165, ’98) -- The Yale commit was on the tournament’s most prolific scorers with a 3-5-8 line in only 3 games. Palecco is smooth, with elite speed. He’s a goal scorer who can score from long range or in tight. He is responsible in his own end, covers the points, and can come down for support when needed. He gets his stick in passing lanes well and is quick to transition the puck up ice. In 24 AYHL games with the Gulls he produced an impressive 34-19-53 line. His goals to assists ratio is not surprising, but he can also seek 1-on-1 situations instead of using the players on his team to create opportunities. In that sense, we think Palecco will need to improve his hockey sense and use his teammates more often and more effectively if he wishes his talent to translate well to the next level. That said, the Whippany, NJ native is as dynamic in the offensive zone as anyone here, scoring 2 goals in the first 5 minutes of the game against the Chicago Mission, with one on a beautiful breakaway.

7. Nick Pastujov (LC/LW, #9 HoneyBaked, 6-0/186, ’98) -- Nick Pastujov got a lot of attention in Green Bay, with a lot of talk about whether he would be taking the college or major junior route (he’s a 4^th round Saginaw Spirit pick). However, for now he has accepted a spot on the NTDP’s U17 team. Pastujov recorded a 6-13-19 line in 15 HPHL game this season. He is a strong skater with quick, sturdy hands and fast reflexes. While not the prettiest skater, he is strong on his feet. He’s balanced, protects the puck well, made a few dekes on defensemen and then used his strength to drive the net to create scoring chances. His speed and agility are behind the rest of his game but his puck possession skills and creativity with the puck set him apart. The Bradenton, Florida native – and dual citizen (Russia) -- had a 2-1-3 line in 4 games. We thought his overall effort could have been better. Some might have him higher on their lists but we were expecting more out of the blue-chip prospect.

8. Sam Sternschein (RF, #21 Long Island Gulls, 6-2/170, ’98) -- The Syosset, NY native, who committed to Cornell in November, took his game to another level here. At 6-2/170, Sternschein is tall and thin, but his stride is long and fluid although he is not yet as strong as he should be on his edges. He has soft hands and great hockey sense, with the ability to find teammates and make smart decisions with the puck. He made some terrific passes in all three zones, with one-touch passes while on the boards on the breakout, long cross-ice passes through the neutral zone and crafty, no-look cross-crease passes in the offensive zone. In 3 games he put up 4 goals and 3 assists for a total of 7 points, among the highest scorers in the whole tournament. Sternschein is versatilite -- he can go wide with speed, or can cut to the middle and stickhandle around the defense, or he can post up and shoot the puck. The knock on Sternschein, who has similarities to fellow Big Red commit Beau Starrett, is that it takes him awhile to hit top speed and that he doesn’t play with enough of an edge.

9. Mitchell Lewandowski (LW, #71 HoneyBaked, 5-8/157, ’98) -- The Clinton Township, Michigan native was the leading scorer on his team, with a 13-16-29 in 22 HPHL games. Here at Nationals, the Michigan State commit had a 1-1-2 line in 4 games and was also irrelevant for long stretches.  Lewandowski has elite shooting ability, being able to shoot at top speed with both power and accuracy. While he lacks size, he is strong on his skates. He is quick and elusive, too, and will make opponents look silly if they try to play the puck on him. He needs to improve his play away from the puck and become stronger and faster to be effective at the next level.

10. Wade Allison (RW, #44 Omaha AAA, 6-1/201, late ’97) -- The Manitoba native and Western Michigan fall ’16 commit is an ideal power forward. He has straight-line north-south speed, crashes the net, plays physically, has deceptively soft hands and a powerful stride that makes him tough to handle down low. The 2012 2^nd round pick in the WHL Bantam Draft, Allison is the most college-ready player in this age group, and should get considerable NHL attention in a couple of years. Before that, he will need to improve his agility and lateral movement. He can get tunnel vision at times, but he is a pure power forward with a lot of tools at his disposal. Scored 4 goals in 5 games here, including the game winner in overtime against St. Louis. This past season he had a 62-71-133 line in 68 games.

11. James Sanchez (F, #61 CYA, 6-2/185, ’98) -- Sanchez is a raw prospect who is all over the place at times and, despite his big frame, was only able to produce a 7-13-20 line in 27 league games this season. At Nationals he was 1-2-3 in 4 games and was an absolute force. He is big, strong and skates with a purpose. When he makes contact with an opposing player, which is often, they feel it. His hands are not high-end but they are better than he gets credit for and he has good command of the puck in tight spaces, especially in front of the net.  While he is still a work in progress and has a way to go, he is a low-risk prospect with tremendous upside. If he can add another gear in his skating, and become a little more dynamic and hungry for the puck, he will, at the very least, become a solid, two-way power forward who can contribute in all situations. The Northbrook, Illinois native was drafted in the OHL by the London Knights, but all indications are that the recent NTDP commit will attend the University of Michigan, to whom he verbally committed in January.

12. Sam McCormick (RW, #17 Team Wisconsin, 5-10/168,’97) -- McCormick, an Ohio State commit said to be heading to Sioux City (USHL) next season, is an elite goal scorer who had a 32-20-52 line in 37 regular season games. His shot has no real flaws, he is explosive getting it off, it has power and velocity, and he has great control and command of where it is going. More than the technique and results is the fact that he always has his head up, surveying the goalie and looking for holes. And once he finds it, he delivers it quickly. McCormick is a strong skater with a low center making him hard to knock off the puck. He is particularly effective coming off the wall or out of the corner as his first three steps are quick enough to get him to a shooting space. He lacks end-to-end speed, but every team is looking for goal scorers and he is all of that.

13. Jason Dhooghe (LW, #14 Chicago Mission, 5-7/141, ’97) -- Out of Aurora, Illinois, Dhooghe, an Ohio State commit, is a smart, instinctual player with a high skill level. He is undersized but hits hard. His hands are smooth and he has a high level of poise and confidence with the puck, never throwing it away. His shot doesn’t get much attention as most people are too busy watching his stickhandling and puck possession skills, but he has a lot of zip on it and gets it off quickly. (Dhooghe’s younger brother, Sean, our #4-ranked prospect at the U14 Nationals, committed to Ohio State after the tournament.)

14. Troy Terry (RW, #19 Colorado Thunderbirds, 5-11/160, late ’97) -- The Indiana Ice draft pick and Denver commit from Highlands Ranch, Colorado led his team in points this season with a 16-25-41 line in 31 games, 11 points better than the next-highest scorer. Terry has poise with the puck, slick hands and high-end hockey sense that allows him to slow the game down and exploit the holes in the defense. Terry appears to be a student of the game and appeared to pick apart different defenders in different ways. He knows where his teammates are on the ice, where the pressures are, where the holes are -- and then finds ways to get to open ice and create offense.  He was one of the tournament’s leading scorers with a 4-4-8 line in 6 games including two game-winning goals.

15.Ty Pelton-Byce (LC, #19 Team Wisconsin, 6-2/180, ’97) -- Pelton-Byce was one of our favorite prospects here. The Madison, Wisconsin native has a high compete level, plays physically, and has a motor that never stops running. Pelton-Byce is a true center who plays the full length of the ice, supports his wingers, and is always the first guy back on defense. The best part of his game is his forecheck, where he is relentless, forcing turnovers. Pelton-Byce, a UMass commit, is a north-south skater but lacks high-end speed and agility. He’s slow out the gate, which is something he will need to focus on over the next few seasons. He led Team Wisconsin in scoring here with a 4-4-8 line in 6 games, getting on the board in all six games. During the regular season, Pelton-Byce led Team Wisconsin in points with a 17-36-53 line in 35 games. Muskegon Lumberjacks 2013 USHL Futures Draft pick. 

16.Tanner Laczynski (RC, #8 Chicago Mission, 5-10/161, ’97) -- Laczynski is tall and thin and looks as if he could easily be taken off the puck. But that doesn’t happen:  Laczynski has exceptional hands, and moves the puck to places where his teammates can make plays. A cerebral, perimeter-type player who uses his vision and hands to create time and space and exploit the defense with crisp, accurate passes, the Shorewood, Illinois native is never in a rush, rarely getting rid of the puck without knowing its destination. Was the Mission’s leading scorer with a 20-18-38 line in 25 games. The playmaker with a finisher’s blade committed to Ohio State along with linemate Jason Dhooghe, but will likely play a year or two with the Chicago Steel (USHL).

17. Joseph Cipollone (LC, #16 Selects Academy, 5-9/155, ’97) -- The recent UNH commit out of Purchase, NY led Selects in points with a 2-2-4 line in 3 games here. Cipollone plays the game at a fast pace and uses his skill -- exceptionally quick and agile feet to go with his soft hands -- to advantage. Cippolone is a gifted playmaker with vision and passing ability. He roams the perimeter on the powerplay and has tremendous poise with the puck. We like his versatility and craftiness with the puck but, more importantly, he competed at both ends and isn’t afraid to make the simple play whether it’s chipping pucks out of his end or picking up sticks in front of his net. Given his lack of size he will need to improve his lower body strength and balance to be a top six guy at UNH but it’s well within his reach. Cippolone was the second-leading scorer on his team this season, amassing a 14-25-39 line in 27 league games.

18. Cole Gallant (RW, #98 HoneyBaked, 5-10/170, ’98) -- The Dover, Florida native played on HoneyBaked’s top line along side Lewandowski and Khodorenko, but was kept off the sheet in 4 games here. We do question his ability to finish, having watched him against Buffalo, a game in which he was unable to convert on three different breakaway opportunities. On the other hand, Gallant impressed with his speed and poise through the neutral zone, creating time and space for his linemates off the forecheck by entering the zone with speed and playing the body. He remains uncommitted at this point but is said to have several offers. Was drafted by the Guelph Storm in the 4^th round in this year’s OHL draft.

19. William Knieram (RW, #92 Chicago Mission, 6-3/207, ’98) – Though one of the youngest players on his team, Knierman has tremendous size and strength. He protects the puck well, uses his reach and drives the net with a purpose. A prototypical power forward type, he is a lot to handle down low and in the corners and has enough skill to get his scoring opportunities. We would like to see him shoot the puck more and use his strength to gain better body position in front of the net but he is a massive two-way forward who plays the body and plays to the whistle. He was 2-1-3 in 4 games which put him 4^th on the team in this tournament.  The high selection in the OHL – he was selected in the 2^nd round of the OHL draft by the Owen Sound Attack -- has us assuming the Skokie, Ill. native will take the major junior route. Was also at the NTDP U17 camp.

20. Grant Jozefek (LW, #95 Long Island Gulls, 5-9/165, late ’97) -- The Chester, NY native played this past season with the New Jersey Hitmen U18 team, leading them in scoring -- 14-21-35 line in 22 games -- despite being one of the youngest players on the team. Jozefek has silky-smooth hands, a quick shot, and the willingness and focus to play at both ends of the ice. Jozefek plays the game physically, blocks shots, takes the hit to make the play, battles along the boards, and isn’t afraid to chip the puck deep in the zone and go after it. Once he maintains possession he can slow the game down, and is patient with the puck. He will need to improve his skating -- both speed and acceleration -- to reach his potential but he has a good foundation in place. Not the best showing here, but solid in all areas. He committed to Northeastern in December after being drafted in the first round of the USHL Futures Draft by Muskegon. Is also a late-round pick of  the Plymouth Whalers (OHL).

21. Noah Lalonde (LW, #87 HoneyBaked, 5-10/170, ’98) – Yet another Michigan State commit from the Honeybaked team, Lalonde is not a pretty skater, nor is he fast but he is a hound on the puck and highly productive in the offensive zone. In 22 games in the HPHL he produced a 5-12-17 line and led his team at Nationals with a 2-2-4 line in 4 games. Lalonde is a three-zone player who competes for loose pucks, drives the net, has a strong stick in front of the net, and loves the mix it up in the corners. He will need to improve his straight-line speed and become a more dynamic skater before suiting up for the Spartans (fall ’16). Was drafted in the  11^th round by the Plymouth Whalers (OHL).

22. Kailer Yamamoto (RC, #17 LA Jr. Kings, 5-6/135, late ’98) -- Yamamoto is a smooth, polished skater with great acceleration in transition and high-level playmaking skills. He makes passes to where his teammates will be and not always to where they are  -- he favors the saucer pass -- and is able to process the game at a fast pace. He sometimes stay on the perimeter too long given his size but we are impressed with his passing touch, and delivery -- just a quick look and the puck is on a teammate’s stick. Size is a concern as he is both short and thin but he’s also a late ’98, so he has time. Yamamoto, from Spokane, Wash., led his team in points here with a 1-4-5 line in 4 games. Was an invite to the NTDP camp in late March. Drafted by the Fargo Force of the USHL and his hometown Spokane Chiefs (WHL), for whom his older brother, Keanu, plays.

23. Dominick Mersch (LW, #25 Chicago Mission, 6-0/180, late ’98) – Mersch, the younger brother of Wisconsin senior forward Michael Mersch, has game-changing speed and hustle, is a hound on the puck, and does all the little things well -- finishing checks, blocking shots and picking up guys in the defensive zone. He has good size and strength, especially considering he is days away from being a ’99, and he uses it well to win battles and protect the puck. He will need to improve his hands and release on his shot as it takes him awhile to get it off.  That said, Mersch is an all-around talent who got increasingly comfortable as the week went on, finishing as his team’s leading scorer with a 4-1-5 line in 4 games. Was invited to the NTDP U17 camp. Committed to University of Wisconsin recently.

24. Kevin Conley (LW, #18 Team Wisconsin, 6-1/190,  ’97) -- The Wausau, Wisc. native is a big, strong, two-way winger who competes in all three zones, and plays a physical, rugged style which opens space for his linemates. He is tough in the corners and along the boards, rarely losing the physical battles. If he finds an opening, he has a powerful yet accurate wrister and snap shot. On the powerplay he mans the point. He is not a finished product as his speed is missing, acceleration is slow, and he can be stationary at times. However, his size, strength, and shooting ability separate him from other players here. Committed to the University of Denver in August. Was selected by Youngstown in the second round of the USHL Futures Draft last year.  

25. Donovan Ott (RW, #12 Selects Academy, 6-1/200, ’97) – Ott, a big, strong power forward committed to Cornell as a 15-year-old but his game has come a long way since then. Ott, from Lebanon, PA, has great size, often towering over his competition, a powerful snap shot and long, powerful strides. We saw him at the Selects Academy Tournament earlier in the season and were impressed with how far his game has come especially in his edgework, north-south speed and shooting ability. In 24 USPHL U16 games this season he registered only 8 goals and 11 assists putting him 13^th in scoring on his team, but the numbers do not give his game justice. He is raw and still a project at this point, but his frame, strength on the walls and in front of the net, and improved skating make him a high-ceiling prospect if he can become a more complete player. He is still slow accelerating, his hands are OK but not special, and he will need to be more physical, especially in his own end to reach his elite potential. He was selected #12 overall (by Sioux Falls) in the USHL Futures Draft last year. Also was an 11^th rounder in the OHL draft, selected by the Ottawa 67’s.

26. David Keefer (RW, #14 HoneyBaked, 5-9/170, late ’97) -- Keefer didn’t produce much by way of points here – just one assist in four games played -- but there was a lot to like about this Michigan State recruit’s game. He has a great shot, hard and well-placed, but even more impressive is his awareness. He is always in a good position to shoot, he has good hands and he is quick and balanced in the corners, hard to take the puck away from. The Howell, Mich. native will not head to East Lansing until 2017, but the Spartans have a great get here as he can finish, makes firm and smart passes and has good acceleration. Some scouts thought he was overrated and questioned his size and speed but his first few steps are there and he’s strong enough to make up for his height.  Keefer was one of Honeybaked’s leading scorers in HPHL games – 10-11-21 in 18 games.

27. Kole Sherwood (RW, #88 Ohio Blue Jackets, 5-8/154,’97) -- The younger brother of Miami commit and Youngstown Phantoms forward Kiefer Sherwood led the Ohio Blue Jackets in points this year with a 24-18-42 line in 34 contests. A quick, shifty playmaker with a finisher’s touch is an agile winger who can work his way in and out of a crowd maintaining puck possession. Sherwood lit the lamp from just inside the blue line with a terrific top-corner wrister over the goalie’s glove. The best part of his game is his  competitiveness. He’ll go into the corner with reckless abandon and while he can get bounced around due to his small frame he finds a way to escape with the puck. His vision is OK but will need to improve at the next level where he will not be able to crash the net and have the same level of success as he does here. He was productive on the week with a 3-2-5 line in 3 games. The New Albany, Ohio native was drafted by Youngstown in last year’s USHL Futures Draft.

28. Alex Limoges (LC, #26 Selects Academy, 6-0/176, late ’97) -- Limoges, who’s from Winchester, Virginia, was the leading scorer for Selects Academy this year, finishing the USPHL U16 season with a 25-26-51 line in 27 games, 12 points better than the next highest scorer. Limoges has a big frame with room to grow, prolific shooting ability, and hockey sense. He is in the right place at the right time, an opportunistic scorer who makes plays in all three zones. He will need to improve his stride, edges, and first three steps to be a high-end D-I prospect, but his ability to read the play and exploit the defense gives him an edge. Will not stay uncommitted for long.  

29. Van Barr (LW/LC, #18 Omaha AAA, 5-10/165, ’97) – Barr, from Kansas City, Missouri, had a good showing here with 4 goals in 5 games. The Western Michigan commit is coming off a great season with Omaha, amassing a 54-61-115 line in 73 games, and earning a First Team All-NAPHL selection. A fluid skater, Barr has smooth hands, reads the play well, and has an accurate shot with a quick release point. He is not overly flashy and does not have the 1-on-1 skills his high point totals suggest, but his hockey IQ, vision, and finishing touch allow him to create a lot of  opportunities. He is at his best on the powerplay where he can shoot from anywhere and also make cross-ice passes without forcing it through traffic. Will need to add strength, and play his position – he tends to run around in the defensive zone, chasing the puck.  

30. Joshua Dunne (LW, #17 St. Louis Blues, 6-1/150, late ’98) -- Late ’98 has a great frame but is very thin. His mobility is excellent, and he possesses fairly soft hands. He is raw and has holes in his game -- quickness and lateral movement, for example. However, once he grows into his body he could emerge as one of the best of this entire group. He was selected to tryout with the US NTDP U17 team. Dunner was not at his best here -- he found the back of the net only once in five games -- but college coaches liked what they saw. We don’t believe he will be uncommitted for long. Had a productive year, finishing with a 12-13-25 line in 37 games with the Blues, giving him a tie for second in scoring. He was also the Blues youngest player.

31. Josh Wilkins (LW, #12 Thunder Hockey, 5-11/170,’97)  -- Atlanta, Georgia native came off an impressive season, leading the Thunder with a 31-42-73 line in 50 games and a +48 rating. Here, he kept up his scoring touch and, despite his team’s 0-3 record, he had a 5-1-6 line in those games. His shot is the first thing that stands out: he scored on a beautiful top-corner snipe just under the crossbar in the game we watched against HoneyBaked. Wilkins is a fluid skater with good speed and a quick first three steps which, coupled with soft hands, put him in a lot of situations to score. His shot has eyes and he finds the back of the net without having high velocity. He is a pure scorer who shoots with his head up, and can release it from a standstill or in stride. He will need to get stronger especially in his lower body and become a more complete player as he tends to cheat in the defensive end. We feel he has great upside.

32. Zachary Walker (RW/RC, #92 Colorado Thunderbirds, 6-1/175, ’98) -- The Thunderbirds’ second-leading scorer with a 13-17-30 line in 37 games was second at this tournament as well, with a 1-2-3 line in 6 games. We know Walker is a highly-touted prospect who made the US NTPD U17 team, but he did not look the part here. Walker has great size and range for his age, elusive hands, and mature hockey sense. However, he was irrelevant for long stretches here and did more floating then participating. Took three penalties in the championship game against Wisconsin. He needs to bring a consistent effort, use his body to gain position, and improve his shot. His ability, and his combination of size and skill makes him a high-ceiling prospect. Was a third round draft pick of the Vancouver Giants in the WHL Bantam Draft.

33. Hugh McGing (LC, #11 Chicago Mission, 5-8/147, ’98) – McGing, a Chicago, Ill. native who committed to Western Michigan after a strong performance at the Select 15 Festival this past summer, was one of the younger players on the Mission. He plays an aggressive style, with speed and tenacity. He goes all-out on the forecheck and certainly disrupts the opposition’s breakout. He can kill penalties, contribute on the power play, and has nice touch around the net. He looked to be more of a set-up man than a finisher but as he gets stronger and more confident he could develop into a goal scorer as well. He was 2-2-4 in 4 games on the weekend and excelled in the transition game, gaining the zone with speed and making plays to the net. He’s schedule to arrive at Western Michigan in the fall of ‘16.

34. Frankie Melton (LW, #16 St. Louis Blues, 5-6/161, ’97) --- Melton had a coming out party here with a 3-4-7 line in 5 games. The Arnold, MO native, who was constantly creating scoring opportunities, is fast and smooth and contributes in man-down, man-up and even-strength situations. On the powerplay he plays the wing on the umbrella, and showed a willingness to shoot as well as great vision and passing ability. Melton has high skill, but also competes and wins races to the puck. He is able to process decisions at a fast pace, not hesitating to make the tough play. He lacks size, although he is stalky, and he does not get involved in the physical play, making him an easy target in the open ice for bigger defenseman. Currently uncommitted, but after his week here he should gain more respect among the scouting community. In the regular season, Melton had a 10-7-17 line in 37 league games.

35. Bailey Conger (RW, #8 Valley Jr. Warriors, 6-0/170, ’97) -- Conger, the second-leading scorer at Cushing Academy this year, was held without a point in three games. The Boise, Idaho native, a St. Lawrence commit, was not entirely blanked as he did score on the shootout against Team Wisconsin off a beautiful forehand-to-backhand deke. Conger is not a strong skater as he has an upright stance and doesn’t get that power from bending his knees and fully extending his stride. However, he has great hands, special awareness and passing ability as he dished out 27 assists in 31 games at Cushing (along with 14 goals). He is one of the smarter players we have seen at his age, with the ability to read the play, see the whole ice, and judge defenders’ speed and gap control well. He did not have a great showing here but in his defense, his team only scored a total of 5 goals in 3 games and never looked in-sync in the offensive end.

36. Matthew Pulver (LW/LC, #16 Omaha AAA, 6-1/170, ’97) –- A Chippewa Falls, Wisc. native, Pulver, who has committed to Air Force for the fall of ’16, was one of the most consistent players here. We saw him in 3 games and he made an impression in all of them. He is not a burner, but has tactical speed, smooth hands and makes a lot of nice passes, particularly on the powerplay. He is the type of player who will put his teammates in positions to be successful, a purposeful player who knows what he is going to do with the puck before it gets to him. On the season he had an 11-18-29 line in 20 games. He was unable to find the back of the net here but chipped in 2 assists and was a scoring threat in all 3 games we observed.

37. Zachary Solow (RW, #77 St. Louis Blues, 5-9/180, late ’98)  -- The Naples, Missouri native was impressive here, with a 3-5-8 line in 5 games to lead his star-studded team in points. Solow has great hands and control of the puck, and has that ability to get out of jams and/or create a scoring chance out of nothing. He doesn’t have great speed but he has a strong, balanced, fluid stride making him hard to take off the puck. A D-I prospect, Solow will need to improve his speed and agility in open ice but he has plenty of offensive skills to make up for it. He is at his best on the power play where he has enough time and space to make the plays he wants.  

38. Alex Overhardt (LC, #17 Colorado Thunderbirds, 6-0/175, ’97) -- The Cherry Hills, Col. native was the second leading scorer on the team this past season with a 15-15-30 line in 37 games.  He has good size, a long, fluid stride, quick hands, and a hard snap shot. The son of NHL player agent Kurt Overhardt is a gifted center who plays two-way hockey and is capable in both man-up and man-down situations. He was 2-1-3 in 6 games here. The knock on Overhardt is that his game lacks a true identity, that he is not a power forward type nor is he a skill guy. Rather, he is a hybrid who can do a little bit of everything well. Overhardt was drafted by the Green Bay Gamblers (USHL) in 2013 and by the Portland Winterhawks in the 11^th round of the WHL Bantam Draft in 2012. 

39. Owen Green (LC, #9 Buffalo Regals, 6-3/181,’97) -- The Williamsville, NY native has a huge frame at 6’3” and is far from filling it out. He lacks quickness but managed to win a lot of faceoffs. Once he gets his feet moving he has good end-to-end speed. Green is still figuring out what kind of player he is. On some shifts he forechecks hard and tries to use his frame and long reach to cause turnovers, and other times he sits back and tries to use uses that same reach to break up passes. He can be stationary at times which is troubling because he lacks acceleration skills but when he is moving he’s hard to handle, especially down low and along the wall. We saw glimpses here, but Green is still very raw and his potential is for down the road. Green was the Regals’ second-leading scorer this past season with a 10-21-31 line in 36 games. He drafted by the Muskegon Lumberjacks (USHL) and the North Bay Battalion (OHL).

40. Gage Mackie (LW, #17 Shattuck-St. Mary’s, 6-3/185, ’97) -- The tall, gangly prospect out of Anchorage, Alaska was one of the more intriguing prospects here. He has great height, but is thin. He is light on his skates but once he gets going he has a long stride with strong push-offs that generate speed. His hands are decent and he is strong on his stick, making him a great netfront presence in the offensive zone. Mackie scored a great goal off a feed out of the corner. He just bore down on the puck while getting checked and slashed from every angle and fired it five-hole. In 66 games at Shattuck, he recorded a 20-28-48 line. A Fargo Force draft in the USHL.  

41. Vladislav Dzhioshvili (LW, #34 WBS Jr. Knights U16, 5-10/160, ’98) -- From Moskow, Dzhioshvili played for the Moscow Dynamo before coming to the US. He has an older brother Maxim, who plays for Little Caesar’s U18. An ultra-talented forward who can score at will, Dzhioshvili has elite stickhandling ability and lower-body strength that make him hard to stop. If the D play on their toes and go after him then he will bob and weave and stickhandle right around them. If they sit back he can use his strength and size to overpower them and drive the net. He looks like he patterns himself after Alexander Ovechkin in the finesse/power combination. He’s not known for his passing ability because he’s looked upon to score goals, but we feel he skates with his head up, finds lanes and makes accurate passes. With that being said, there are glaring holes in his game and it starts with his stride, which lacks coordination, grace and fluidity. He’s one- dimensional and does not compete in the defensive zone, his acceleration and agility are a work in progress, and he’s often out of position. So he’s got some deficiencies but overall he’s a real difference maker and could help any team in need of offensive production. His stats illustrate his offensive dominance; in 18 games he had a 28-28-56 line. That’s north of 2.5 points per game.

42. Evan Johnson (RW, #19 LA Jr. Kings, 5-10/165, ’97) -- Johnson, from Huntington Beach, California, was a scoring machine in his final game here, scoring all three goals in a 5-3 loss to the St. Louis Blues. Johnson has a great shot, gets it off in stride with his head up, and generates a lot of power with very little wind up. He is not the most dynamic with the puck and does not excel in 1-on-1 situations but he plays with some jam and intensity, always hustling and extending the play. He has an active stick, pressures the puck with speed, and is relentless along the wall off the forecheck. Tied for first on the Kings in points with a 4-1-5 line in 4 games and was second on the regular season with a 19-17-36 line in 34 games.

43. Ben Lown (RC, #10 Shattuck-St. Mary’s, 5-6/150, ’98) -- The Newport Beach, Calif. native was Shattuck’s leading scorer this past season with a 26-48-74 line in 66 contests. He is small, but fast and agile. At times it looks like he is not even dug into the ice but rather floating above it, able to change direction and accelerate the other direction in a split second. He was not as productive here as he was during the regular season but he is tough to handle off the transition with the speed, lateral mobility and passing ability. He is coming off a 90-point season at the U14 level last year so this year’s point totals are no fluke.

44. Zachary Goberis (LW, #9 Colorado Thunderbirds, 6-0/180, ’97) – Goberis, a big strong power forward from Arvada, Colorado who signed with Lethbridge (WHL), has received his fair share of attention. He’s a long way from a finished product but he has the frame and the room to grow into it. He has a strong stick and makes crisp accurate passes up-ice. He has a wide stance that gives him balance and the ability to fight through checks, but also limits his north-south speed. Goberis is a one-lane player who rarely moves east-west but he has a hard shot and is strong on the puck. Will need to become more agile to be productive at the major junior level but he is a good project for Lethbridge.

45. David Brumm (LC/LW, #12 Omaha AAA, 6-2/165,’97) -- Brumm had a 0-4-4 line in 5 games here but was not always noticeable. It took us until halfway through the second game before we got a feel for how he plays. He is still thin and in the awkward growth stage but with that 6’2” frame, quick hands in front, and his ability to finish plays, Brumm, who’s from Maple Grove, Minnesota, is a good long term project who will pay great dividends once it all comes together. In 20 games played during the regular season, he posted an 18-23-41 line. Cedar Rapids has his USHL rights.

46. Alec Broetzman (LW, #21 Team Wisconsin, 6-2/190, ’97) -- Broetzman played on a line with Ty Pelton-Byce and Sam McCormick for most of the week and finished the tournament second on the team in scoring with a 2-4-6 line in 6 games. He has great size and strength -- and also soft hands. He pursues the puck, plays physically, and is at his best in front of the opposing team’s net. Broetzman, however, is not an efficient skater and will need to improve that part of his game in order to reach his full potential. But there is a lot to like in his game. He produced 13-14-27 line in 36 regular season games with Team Wisconsin.

47. Christopher Grando (LW, #3 Long Island Gulls, 5-8/140, ’98) -- Grando, out of Islip, Long Island, was one of our favorite players to watch as he plays a complete game, competes as hard as anyone, and always has his feet moving. He has a small frame so he may lack the upside of some of his teammates, but he can has speed and quickness that translates well at higher levels. His first step is explosive and he can turn on a dime. We loved his hustle and the way he does all the little things well. He backchecks and forechecks with a purpose, competes at both ends of the rink, blocks shots, finishes checks and will sacrifice his body to make a play. The speedster has already visited Hockey East schools and figures to be a scholarship player. In 26 AYHL games he sported a 25-27-52 line, second best on the team. Her at Nationals, he was unable to find the back of the net but posted 5 assists in 3 games.

48. Jake Hamacher (RW, WBS Knights U16, 5-9/155, ’97) -- One of the faster players in the tournament, Hamacher can really skate. He has the quickness, explosiveness, balance, shiftiness and edges to play at any level but the rest of his game has not caught up yet. He has a solid skill set with quick hands and an accurate shot but has to improve his strength and hockey sense. At times, he is all over the place and not always in a productive fashion. Limited upside due to his size but his speed is a rarity and could be valued by D-I programs. He was second on the team in scoring here with a 2-1-3 line in 3 games.

Other Notable Forwards:

49. Evan Wisockey (RC, #12 Long Island Gulls, 5-10/160, ’98) Paramus, NJ OHL Draft pick: Windsor Spitfires

50. Matthew Long (LC, #16 CYA, 5-11/180, ’97) Orlando Park, Ill.   25GP-11-13-24

51. Josh Bell (RC, #11 St. Louis Blues, 5-10/160, ’97) Fenton, MO  30GP-17-13-30 ( tied for the lead in points)

52. Matthew Creamer (RW, #24 Selects Academy, 6-2/185, ’97) Warwick, RI  29GP-23-14-37

53. Walker Duehr (RW, #12 CYA, 6-1/165, late ’97) Sioux Falls, SD  22GP-7-10-17   high potential

54. Collin Appleton (F, #24 Team Wisconsin, 6-1/175,’97) Green Bay, Wisc.   38GP-4-8-12 

55. Jacob Paganelli (RW, #9 Shattuck-St. Mary’s, 5-11/170, ’97) Verona, NJ  68GP-26-40-66

56. Colin Adams (LW, #43 HoneyBaked, 5-7/168, ’98) Brighton, Mich.  22GP-10-7-17

57. Eugene Fadyeyev (LC, #12 WBS Knights U16, 5-11/170, late ’97)

58. Cole Paskus (LC, #16 Team Wisconsin U16, 6-0/175, ’97)   38GP-13-7-20

59. Niko Karamanis (RW/RC, #8 Shattuck-St. Mary’s, 5-8/165, ’98) Courtenay, BC  67GP-28-33-61

60. Marcus Dickerson (RW, #29 Selects Academy, 5-10/185, ’98) West Deptford, NJ  28GP-12-12-24

61. Andrew Richter (RW, #10 CYA, 5-10/175, ’97) Darien, Ill.  25GP-6-14-20

62. Brent Hill (RW, #18 Valley Jr. Warriors, 5-10/180, late ’97) Lunenburg, MA   32GP-4-7-11 @ Cushing

63. Nikita Anistratenko (RW, #10 WBS Knights U16, 5-8/155, ’97)

Thurs. 5/1/14

U16s at Nationals: Defensemen & Goalies