USA Hockey: HoneyBaked Goods

Michigan State recruit Andrew Sinelli headlines a Detroit Honeybaked squad that also has promising defenseman Eric Preston manning the backend. Forward Will Kessel remains an enigma to scouts, but contains exciting potential. McKeen's director of scouting Max Giese files these notes on Sinelli, Kessel, and Preston.

Andrew Sinelli (2010), C, Detroit Honeybaked

Michigan State was able to comfortably recruit Sinelli at a young age because he's a fast skater with a mature all-around game .. sporty skater with good speed and commanding acceleratory strides, as he only needs to take three steps and he's gone .. displays polished vision and passing skills, although he's not a pure finisher despite owning the tools to do so .. his ultimate upside may depend on how much bigger he becomes, because the tools are here for him to develop into an effective two-way player at the higher levels of hockey .. smart and hard-working defensively, as he makes sharp defensive marks and is helpful aiding in coverage down low .. relentlessly backchecks, although he is guilty of taking wide turns away from the puck instead of using stops and starts.

William Kessel (2010), LW, Detroit Honeybaked

Blessed with ample size and appears to keep getting bigger and stronger every time he is viewed, although he still remains an enigma that is prone to lapses of invisibility despite his physical gifts .. protects the puck well using his big frame and can lean on defenders below the hash marks .. productive playmaker from deep within the offensive zone and can create some nice plays in close around the net .. sees some time manning the point on the powerplay where he is more apt to get his strong shot on net, although his accuracy overall is inconsistent .. decent skater that could improve on his quickness out of the gate, plus he needs to make sure he doesn't stop moving his feet away from the play .. type of player that floats around, doesn't finish his checks, and must begin to play with more conviction.

Eric Preston (2010), D, Detroit Honeybaked

Smart and mobile defenseman that takes care of his own end first .. great skater with smooth and fast all-compass mobility .. plays a high pressure style of defense, as he innately identifies how to angle the puckcarrier into dead ends .. employs an active stick and his gap control is superb .. makes cunning defensive reads and is ever aware of his marks in his own zone .. a poised and safe distributor of the puck that lacks the creativity to manufacture much offense, although he won't hurt you with a turnover .. does a nice job moving laterally along the point to open lanes for him to finesse a shot through .. has an adequately sized frame, but he still needs to get stronger because he lacks the strength to win the physical battles in the trenches .. gets beaten to the net by larger opponents because of his lack of strength.