USA Hockey: Schumacher Victory for Honda

Detroit Victory Honda defenseman Frankie Schumacher could be a stud in the making and Charles Helmstrom is giving scouts a reason to watch the Detroit Honeybaked Minor Midgets this season. McKeen's director of scouting Max Giese files reports on both Schumacher and Hemstrom along with Jamie Peplinski, Andy Ryan and goaltender Jared Rutledge of the Chicago Young Americans.

Andy Ryan (2011), D, Detroit Victory Honda Major Midget

The younger brother of Nashville Predators' draft-pick and current Notre Dame forward Ben Ryan .. decent skater with some potential, but he has not progressed as expected and has struggled this year .. has a good shot and some offensive skills, but he has watched too much TV and tries things that are beyond his capabilities .. for example, he'll attempt a Brian Campbell like spin'o'rama in the open-ice when he's the last man back .. plays with grit and physicality in his own end, but his positioning is often awry.

Frank Schumacher (2012), D, Detroit Victory Honda Minor Midget

A gifted defenseman with star potential that leads the Minor Midgets in scoring and has seen some time up with the Major Midget team this season .. an excellent skater with good size and dynamic offensive skills .. plays with an edge and has the upside to develop into a real force at both ends of the rink.

Jamie Peplinski (2011), RW, Detroit Victory Honda Minor Midget

Has great size and superb hockey sense, but his game and status as a prospect are being held captive by his heavy, bad feet that prevent him from having a burst to his stride or a

secondary gear.

Charlie Hemstrom (2011), D, Detroit Honeybaked Minor Midgets

Surprisingly, the Detroit Honeybaked Minor Midget team doesn't have a lot of attractive prospects on the team this year, but Hemstrom is one worth taking a look at .. averaged-sized and lacks the strength to consistently overpower opponents in his own end, but he does compete and has a burgeoning aggressive streak .. asserts himself at both ends of the ice and has good toughness.

Jared Rutledge (2012), G, Chicago Young Americans Minor Midget

One of the rare 1994-born prospects playing at the Minor Midget Level, Rutledge is an athletic goaltender that defies his age with his polished game .. hybrid goaltender that uses standup and butterfly techniques to stop the puck .. properly positions himself in the middle of the crease and patiently plays the percentages .. has refined pad control and a compact butterfly .. never cheats and hugs the post when the puck is in tight, short-side .. controls rebounds well because he tracks the puck all the way into his body .. holds his glove a bit funny, but he uses his stick well to deflect pucks to the corners.