USA Select 17: Team Gold

Nick Oliver (2009), LW, Roseau HS/Tri City Storm

Robust two-way power forward that is strong as an ox, but is also heavy footed .. a fine skater at full-flight with a head of steam, Oliver owns long but slow strides .. can emerge as a decent passer, but his hands aren't the softest or quickest and he's more valued for his play away from the puck than when in possession of it .. a big man that plays a big mans game in front of the opponents net, as he's at his best offensively when he authoritatively powers his way to the net and then plants himself once there .. does exceptional work cycling the puck down low and is very strong along the wall .. a physical player with a great motor and work rate that hits to hurt .. his play away from the puck is mature and bellies his age, as he's a committed defensive forward that is savvy in his own end .. can get down right mean while competing in one-on-one situations and his long reach married with his excellent strength make him a suffocating defender .. oozes character and will sacrifice his body to block shots .. a promising draft eligible prospect more noted for his toughness and defensive play than flashy offensive ability.

Tyler Brickler (2009), C, Undecided

A purely skilled offensive threat that seemingly developed some intestinal fortitude last year in the USHL .. a magician with the puck that relies more on his electrifying dangle then passing and speed to maneuver the puck up ice .. while it is not his game, his skating ability is up to par and he owns the quick lateral shifts to aide in his slippery one-on-one moves .. a pure sniper with a dynamic release and precise accuracy .. creative in possession, although he is still guilty of over handling the puck .. previously knocked for playing soft and careless years ago, Brickler is noticeably playing with more drive and tenacity now in puck battles .. still must upgrade his strength and improve on his defensive play, as he only moves his stick instead of his feet while defending making him prone to being beaten in his own end or taking a penalty .. good with the puck but negligent without it.

William Wrenn (2009), D, USNTDP

Big and strong defenseman that can excel in the stay-at-home role .. possessing decent all-compass mobility and long strides, Wrenn's feet and pivoting are fine although he lacks great acceleration .. makes crisp outlet passes and displays decent vision while distributing the puck from the point .. owns a hard shot, but he needs to work on getting it through to the net more efficiently .. a capable open-ice hitter, although he does get in trouble at times because he lacks influential recovery speed and can get caught up ice if he doesn't connect on his body checks .. has great desire and is a strong defender when he keeps the play in front of him, as he only gets in trouble when he over extends himself .. if he simplifies his game he could become a dependable defenseman.

Sean Little (2009), LW, Undecided

A savvy and skilled play making forward that thrives on the power play .. his quickness continues to improve and he's beginning to understand how to properly utilize this weapon at his exposal .. blessed with a high skill level and some fancy one-on-one moves that are now aided by more flourishing lateral bursts of speed which make him a darty player in traffic.. creative play maker that can execute deft tape-to-tape passes through traffic and also works well in space to manufacture offense opportunities when away from the puck .. his offensive awareness stands out positively and he's beginning to defend with the same effort that he gives when attempting to score .. still prone to lapses of invisibility and he needs to learn how to fight off checks with more fluidity .. definitely a NCAA prospect, Little should garner NHL attention if he puts together a strong campaign this season.

Colin Shea (2009), D, Boston Jr Bruins

Shea owns decent backwards mobility and deceptively strong recovery speed, however his straight-line speed is poor and his acceleration is sluggish .. owns a projectable frame with a long reach and he makes and adequate first pass.