U-18 5N Report: Team USA
The US National Under-18 team, coached by former NHLer Moe Mantha, made their
first trip to the Czech Republic this season with a completely different squad
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than the one that hit the ice during the summer's World Junior Cup. With captain
Ryan Suter leading the way, the American squad proved that they not only possess
the grit to muck and grind along the boards, but also the skill to successfully
adapt to the European style. However, it was an inconsistent showing from Team
USA here at the Five Nations tournie. They enjoyed a strong effort against Russia,
the eventual champions, who were fortunate to avoid overtime as the Americans
had numerous excellent scoring chances late in the game, but were unable to find
the equalizer. Conversely, they weren't nearly as resilient against Team Sweden,
blowing a 3-0 lead before pulling the game out in overtime. The net result was
a disappointing fourth-place finish.
Top performers
Ryan Suter - the anchor of the defense was also the best American player
at this tournament. Building on his strong showing at the Under-20 World Juniors,
Suter showed great composure and confidence at all times. A classy skater with
strong acceleration, Suter is a reliable defenseman with a nice offensive flair.
He is a smooth puckhandler and distributes the pucks smartly and effectively.
Suter excels as a powerplay quarterback thanks to his above-average passing
skills and tremendous hockey sense. He possesses a very solid shot from the
point, although he didn't unleash his blast as frequently as he could have.
As for the defensive aspects of his game, Suter looks poised and always stays
with his man. He is positionally sound and tenacious around his own net. Not
only does he play with a nasty edge, but Ryan is also able to outsmart his opponents.
Definitely first-round material.
Chris Holt - one of the best netminders in the tournament, Holt covers
lots of net with his hulking frame and is exceptionally quick for his size.
He plays more of a standup style, but is fast to recover when he drops to a
butterfly. Holt plays his angles very well and likes to challenge shooters.
He takes pride in his poise and confidence and plays a very mature game. Holt
is solid with his stick, although he didn't show much of this skill here. He
also has a good glove hand and seems to thrive under pressure. However, he did
display a tendency to allow the odd soft goal, although there are signs that
this weakness will correct itself with more maturity. Unlikely to become a top
prospect, but Holt should be a solid draft choice for some team.
T.J. Hensick - may not have the size that NHL scouts crave, but this energetic
waterbug definitely enjoyed a strong showing, using all of his skill and drive.
He is a speedy center who can execute at a high tempo and knows how to take
advantage of his agility and elusive moves. Hensick drives very hard to the
net and tries to overcome his size deficiency with his spirited and determined
play. He isn't afraid to hit and maneuvers quite well in high-traffic areas.
Hensick is a decent puckhandler who likes to fire the puck, using his excellent
slap shot or accurate wrist shot. His stickwork could use more work, but it's
not a huge weakness. On the defensive side, Hensick is solid but unspectacular.
Thanks to his late birthdate, the draft awaits him next year, where he'll no
doubt be a coveted prospect.
Adam Pineault - the youngest member of the American squad contributed
to his reputation as an elite prospect. Pineault was throwing his body around,
fighting for pucks and creating good scoring chances. He is a good skater for
a player of his size, although he still could use a bigger burst of speed. Well-balanced
and strong, Pineault really knows how to use his size to protect the puck. Blessed
with sharp instincts, he is not only a creative playmaker, but also has considerable
finishing skills. Pineault has a heavy slap shot and a quick wrister, both of
which he releases in a hurry. He likes to drives hard to the net in search of
rebounds. Also aware defensively, Pineault is developing into a premier power
forward who looks to have a very promising NHL future. The only underaged player
on the team, Pineault's stock definitely kept rising with this good showing.
Jeff Likens- size is an issue for Likens, but intensity and desire
are definitely not. Jeff is a spirited and belligerent defenseman who gives
100 percent every shift. He skates effortlessly and is very fast both forwards
and backwards. Although he concentrates on his defensive duties first, Likens
also has decent offensive upside and occasionally will join the rush. He is
capable of solid outlet passes, however, his shooting skills need some improvement
in the accuracy department and he must also learn to keep his shots lower. He
doesn't have the best vision or hockey sense, but he doesn't make glaring defensive
mistakes either. Likens plays his position well, but stronger and heavier opponents
can outmuscle him. He also doesn't clear the crease very effectively. Likens
will have a tough time battling bigger opponents at the pro level, but he is
a good player with the tools to find his niche in some capacity.
Mike Bartlett - laying out an opponent with a huge hit is a natural talent
for the tough-as-nails Barlett, who proved his mettle several times at this
tournament. He was a huge factor along the boards where he was an intimidating
physical force. He won the puck battles and also used his nasty edge in open
ice. Barlett possesses lots of determination and solid defensive awareness,
but he lacks the necessary skill to excel in the NHL. He is a decent skater
with good lower-body strength and balance, however, he needs to work on his
agility and speed. A main drawback is his average puckhandling, as Barlett won't
beat you with finesse stick-moves and dekes. But he will do damage given his
tenacity and mean physical habits. By no means a sure bet to get drafted, Barlett
will draw some late-round interest due to his toughness and attitude.
Below expectations
Robbie Earl - although he wasn't a complete disappointment, this wasn't
the best showing from Earl. He took advantage of his solid speed and skills,
but was too often tied up by the opposing defensemen and neutralized. A quick
skater with a fast change of pace, he could drive to the net harder to take
the better advantage of his wheels. Earl possesses soft hands and is a smooth
puckhandler. He handles heavy traffic quite well and has good hockey sense.
He likes to fire his quick wrister frequently, however, his slapshot needs to
be upgraded. He is also quite intense and doesn't take shifts off, albeit he
does lack defensive awareness, a deficiency that will need to be addressed if
he has aspirations of becoming a regular NHLer. Earl is no blue-chipper and
is slated to be drafted in the later rounds, a ranking that was verified by
his showing here.