USA Select 17: Team White

In part three of a multi-part series, McKeen's correspondent Max Giese reviews Team White from the USA Select-17 Festival including: Austin Handley, John Moore, Andrew Panzarella, Justin Bruckel, Garrett Beckwith, Matt Leer and defenseman Aaron Ness, who was recently announced to the 2007 USA Under-18 Team.

Austin Handley (2008), D, Des Moines Buccaneers

Big and physical stay-at-home defenseman .. possesses superb lower and upper body strength .. mobility is average at best .. not a smooth skater but his strong leg strength gives him decent range and quickness in all directions .. tough one-on-one defender, as he separates his man from the puck with authority .. does a good job keeping his man to the outside and then closes in on him to deliver a stiff check .. physical, stands his ground and can even knock bigger opponents off their feet with a jarring hit .. protects his crease effectively and wins one-on-one battles along the wall .. not a natural with the puck but this side of his game shows signs of improvement .. can make a good first pass under duress .. will not turn it over and will use the boards if need be .. not a creative puckmover and is limited on the point .. does own a heavy but wild slapshot .. wristshot is quick and accurate .. good one-timer .. committed to Michigan State. ..

Aaron Ness (2008), D, Roseau

Proactive offensive defenseman with swift mobility .. fluid skater with a strong stride .. amazing agility and lateral mobility .. accelerates rapidly and owns very good feet .. uses edges well, as he can accelerate out of crossovers .. anticipates the game well .. loves to join the rush and pinch in down low .. sees the ice well and moves the puck up ice quickly .. shows good creativity quarterbacking the play from the point .. displays excellent offensive instincts and is dangerous in the offensive zone .. high skill level .. will need to improve his strength as he attempts to take out his man with a check but he cannot, as he bounces right off .. competes hard at both ends.

John Moore (2009), D, Chicago Mission

Big and strong .. above average feet for a big man .. fluid but not an explosive skater however, his choppy stride gets it done .. displays some offensive upside as he joins the rush and pinches in down low appropriately .. owns a long reach with adequately skilled hands .. makes a good first pass but is not a natural on the point, as he is not a creative puckmover .. good defender with fine gap control and he uses his reach well to disrupt the opposition .. plays the body well but is not mean .. did a great job one-on-one off the rush against Philip McRae .. plays odd-man rushes well.

Andrew Panzarella (2008), D, Washington Junior Nationals

Big athletic defenseman who hits hard and teases with some offensive upside .. displays good feet and speed, as he can accelerate to his top gear instantly .. mobile in all directions .. skates with his head on a swivel .. not a creative offensive d-man but he sees the ice adequately and moves the puck efficiently .. good first pass but not a powerplay quarterback .. poised with the puck and can make plays under pressure .. adequate hand skill .. owns an accurate pointshot and does a good job of getting it through to the net .. is vocal and utilizes as well as helps his partner well .. tough kid with good upper-body strength .. can land a heavy bodycheck that knocks his man right off his feet .. anticipates the game well .. strong in front of his own net and along the wall .. good one-on-one defender with sound defensive positioning and gap control .. hockey sense is the question mark however, he is beginning to understand how to play within himself.

Justin Bruckel (2008), F, Syracuse Stars

Nimble skater with good quickness .. sees the ice well and is a creative playmaker .. owns a good shot with a quick release .. hands are soft but he is not a dynamic one-on-one threat .. strong offensive IQ .. needs to upgrade his defensive play .. will not pay the price to make a play.

Garrett Beckwith (2008), G, NJ Devils

Throw back goaltender with good size and plays a hybrid style .. big in the net .. plays on the top of his crease .. does a great job keeping his shoulders upright to cover the upper corners of the net .. has a lively glove .. does a good job getting set and square to the puck .. athletic goaltender with quick reflexes .. not smooth but is quick laterally .. strong blocker .. uses his stick well to get the puck out of danger .. uses his paddle creatively as he is tough to beat along the ice during scrums in front .. healthy rebound control .. when it is all said and done, he is tough to score on.

Matt Leer (2008), C, Edina

Thick kid who competes and hits hard .. stocky and strong on his feet .. possesses deceptive speed thanks to his non-stop motor .. drives the net hard .. displays decent hands .. good peripheral vision and sees the ice well .. above average playmaker .. good two-way player .. asset to the penalty kill and pressures the point man well.