USA Select 17: Team Orange

Tyler Amburgey (2009), D, USNTDP

Has all the physical tools of a pro-style defenseman, however he currently lacks the assertiveness of a true stud .. a strong skater with coordinated foot-work and the influential all-compass speed to maneuver himself around the ice efficiently .. not an electrifying offensive talent, however he displays the skill necessary to make tape-to-tape passes and owns a decent point shot .. fairly poised in possession while making a clean first pass and he effectively pushes the puck forward .. blessed with extraordinary athleticism, Amburgey is still raw defensively but has all the tools to develop into a horse on the back-end .. dominates the majority of puck battles and one-on-one confrontations he takes on because of his nimble feet and superior size and strength .. maintains an active stick defensively and is most effective when he plays with an edge, but it's a quality that he should exude more often .. doesn't always sense dangerous situations innately and he can be a little too passive at times while taking improper angles to the puck .. can get caught flat-footed because of slow defensive reads .. has the physical aptitude of a future NHL defenseman if he becomes more intense and aggressive initiating the play.

Ryan Walters (2009), C, St. Thomas Academy

Pure offense with exceptional skating ability with the puck, but a lack of physicality .. has great wheels with that elusive outside gear enabling him to skate around opponents with relative ease .. executes flawlessly at his top gear and displays the ability to go coast-to-coast and score the high light reel goal .. blessed with soft hands and nothing catches him off guard because he sees the ice well in possession, making him a dangerous one-on-one threat .. equally productive goal scorer and play maker, as he effectively draws a man to him before dishing off a slick pass and can execute an accurate shot while at full-flight .. opportunistic with a keen sense of anticipation, Walters is on the puck a lot and is poised under pressure with above-average offensive ingenuity .. slippery to hit thanks to his strong self-preservation skills and rapid change of gears .. his speed is also a defensive asset, as he can sneak behind the puck carrier on the back-check and strip him off of it .. he's bit of a rover though, as he's not an astute defensive player and will need to improve on his positioning and tenacity in one-on-one physical battles .. not a timid player, however he never finishes a check and must improve his on his toughness .. this future Minnesota Gopher is a promising draft prospect.

Stefan Demopoulos (2009), LW, Avon Old Farms

Skilled and savvy play making winger that lacks size .. a slippery puck carrier thanks to the shiftiness and great lateral quickness he exudes while carrying the puck .. a cerebral and crafty play maker that would benefit from an enhanced top-gear that could push back the opposition's defenses, which would aide in his ability to further open up passing lanes .. is a bit undersized, but he uses leverage and sturdy balance well to hold his own in physical battles .. guilty of taking wide turns away from the puck at times, but he also gives a great secondary effort defensively and doesn't quit on a play.

Kevin Cole (2009), C, Undecided

Average skater but plays with heart and passion .. he simply lacks any burst to his skating stride and his skill-level is sub-par overall .. he is however a smart and detailed defensive centerman that is strong in the face-off circle and savvy in defensive coverage .. one of those glue players that does all the little things in a support role to allow his more talented teammates do their thing without worry about defensive responsibility.

Blake Coleman (2010), LW, Dallas Stars AAA

A skillful offensive player that suffers from immaturity .. possesses fast lateral agility and some electric stick moves thanks to quick hands, however he lacks that separation gear and must improve on his defensive play .. he sees the ice well and is poised in possession, however he does commit some puzzling decisions with the puck as at times he'll over handle it and then at others he will be too selfless and overly distribute the puck .. will be a player to watch for the 2010 draft if he gets physically stronger.

Isaac Kohls (2009), LW, Hill Murray HS

A productive offensive player in high school, Kohls needs further work on his mobility and wasn't effective at this higher level of play .. possesses strong balance which aides in his ability to be sturdy on the puck .. his feet aren't as disturbingly heavy any more and his skating looks more fluid overall than in previous viewings, however he still lacks explosiveness and lacks the speed to separate from defenders .. possesses soft hands and adequate intelligence with the puck .. his defensive work habits have improved, but his awareness in his own zone still isn't up to par .. unfortunately he lacks height, but does have some strength and owns adequate physicality .. a decent collegiate prospect, but he doesn't display any exceptional qualities making him worth garnering NHL attention.

Matthew Stewart (2009), D, Fargo Force

Has some skill and toughness, but these qualities aren't dynamic enough to look past his lack of size .. a nimble skater with decent quickness in all-directions .. his skill-set is solid and he displays an above-average finesse passing game .. has a knack for catching an opponent coming through the neutral zone with his head down and doesn't hesitate to attempt to land the open ice hit, although he can get caught up-ice and behind the play in the process .. not for lack of trying, but he isn't an effective one-on-one defender because of his lack of strength and improper positioning .. needs to enjoy a rapid growth spurt to increase his stock as a prospect.

Nicholas Lovejoy (2010), D, Deerfield Academy

A rangy and instinctive big-man that is seemingly all over the ice making something happen every shift .. very raw, as some times he's a force and others he's a train-wreck .. has some length to his skating, however his short-ice mobility is negatively effected by his slow feet .. his pivoting, lateral mobility, and backwards skating all need work .. sees the ice fairly well and does a decent job maneuvering and distributing the puck up ice .. needs to improve on his in-tight puck control, but there is some ability here waiting to be polished .. plays an abrasive and fearless style of defense, as he can be reckless and will go chasing after the big open ice hit .. can get caught out of position and is deficient of proper defensive reads .. still a solid defensive presence on the back-end because of his strength, toughness, and physicality .. very unrefined, but has some upside and endearing character.

Tyler Osborne (2009), D, Undecided

A solid defensive defenseman that has enough skill not to hurt his team with the puck .. his above-average foot speed and acceleration enable his adequate mobile in all-directions .. difficult to beat one-on-one in the open ice thanks to his harmonized foot-work and lateral quickness .. controls gaps well and effectively angles his man to the wall before neutralizing him with a stiff check .. not a naturally gifted offensive player with the inability to create offense from the point, Osborne does however hit his man in stride with the first pass out of his own zone .. his decent size, strength, and toughness which makes him a prospect worth monitoring further.