USA Select 17: Billy The Kid

The 2005 USA Hockey Select 17 Festival was held this month in St. Cloud,

Minnesota and McKeen's senior correspondent was front and centre to scout the event. Read on for insight on the top 5 performers including top netminder Billy Sauer (Team Maroon). Also find out why Michael Forney (Team Gold), Andy Inderieden (Team Teal), Patrick Kane (Team Maroon) and Kyle Okposo (Team Navy) all caught our eye.

Listed Alphabetical:

Michael Forney (2006), F, Gold

The Minnesota native not only led his Team Gold in assists and total points, but the entire Select 17 Festival .. some hockey people have questioned his skating, but he is able to win his fair share of battles for loose pucks .. created a turnover getting in quick on the forecheck .. was able to get free at the side of the net and score a nice goal off of a bang-bang play .. his line was a threat to score on almost every shift .. wore #15 .. USA Select 17 totals (6, 2-9-11-2)

Andy Inderieden (2006), F, Teal

Played for Team Teal, this native of Minnesota must of woke up on the wrong side of the bed as he was a nasty piece of business on almost every shift .. he might have only scored two goals, but no one on his team scored more than three .. given his 6'3"-200lbs frame he can be quite a handful to move from in front of the net when he chooses to park himself there .. arguably the best power forward at the Festival .. came back to help on defense when the defender pinched in .. wore #14 .. USA Select 17 totals (6, 2-1-3-6)

Patrick Kane (2007), F, Maroon

Led Team Maroon in assists and points .. not a lot of meat on his 5'10" frame which isn't all that surprising given that he currently tips the scales at slender 155 pounds, thankfully the New York product that isn't eligible to be selected until the 2007 NHL Entry Draft so he should be able to grow some by then .. only scored once, however that was more a product of the team than his dangerousness as a scorer .. wore #9 .. USA Select 17 totals (6, 1-6-7-6)

Kyle Okposo (2006), F, Navy

The Des Moines Buccaneers have a star on their hands, but then they already new that when they used the first overall pick in the 2005 USHL Entry Draft to grab the forward from St. Paul, Minnesota .. played on Team Navy's number one line with Ryan Flynn .. held on to the puck a bit too long and tried to fend off two players when he turned the puck over creating a breakaway .. used his terrific skating ability to drive to the front of the net .. wore #18 .. USA Select 17 totals (6, 3-5-8-2)

Billy Sauer (2006), G, Maroon

New York native might not have had great numbers, but he was the class of the goaltenders at the Select 17 Festival and already has a legitimate chance of being selected in the first round of the 2006 NHL Entry Draft .. exceptional save stretching out and getting hid pad on a two-on-one .. his team looked much more comfortable playing in front of him than they did of Rob Madore .. never out of a play .. wore #1 .. USA Select 17 totals (Sv% 0.900, GAA 3.00)