USA Select 17: Year of the Ratchuk

Following up on our review of the top-five performers at the US Hockey Select 17 Festival, we provide five more intriguing players who caught our radar at the event. Mike Ratchuk (Team Gold), Ryan Flynn (Team Navy), Michael Carman (Team Red), Chris Atkinson and Tyler Ruegsegger (both Team White) project to be important names for the 2006 draft, but you can get the early inside scoop only here on McKeen's.

Mike Ratchuk (2006), D, Gold

It was a fairly successful event for the New Yorker .. kept the puck out of the danger areas with his stick .. splendid skater, although he sometimes overdid it trying to beat too many checkers .. partnered with Mike Cornell .. couldn't get away a one-timer when he was open, but didn't bail out and was still able to pop it home .. will need to add some muscle to his 5'11", 165 pound frame .. wore #3 .. USA Select 17 totals (6, 1-4-5-0)

Ryan Flynn (2006), F, Navy

The Lino Lakes product and member of the NTDP was an imposing figure on the Okposo line .. used his size and skating prowess to cause defenses problems covering him one-on-one .. also used his strength to fend off a checker with one hand while maintaining puck possession through center .. slipped a cheeky shot through traffic and somehow found the back of the net .. dished out a sweet saucer pass that went rink wide to the absolute perfect place at the exact right time .. wore #19 .. USA Select 17 totals (6, 5-4-9-6)

Michael Carman (2006), F, Red

Rosemount, Minnesota native was one of the main reasons that Team Red went undefeated at the Festival .. has a nice touch, however he can also overpower a goalie by drilling a heavy wrist shot over the goalies shoulder and in to the top corner .. showed he has a bit of a temper when he took a penalty after the whistle after he slashed a player .. wore #10 .. USA Select 17 totals (6, 5-2-7-16)

Chris Atkinson (2006), F, White

If only the forward from Kinderhook, New York was six foot, because he would have a great chance to be selected in the first round of the 2006 NHL Entry Draft .. blew a slap shot by a startled goaltender from the right faceoff circle on the first shift of the game .. not surprisingly given his lack of size, but has some trouble with physical play .. drew a penalty while trying to kill a penalty due to his hard work .. got to the front of the net and warded off a checker and then slip a puck by the netminder .. wore #18 .. USA Select 17 totals (6, 2-4-6-2)

Tyler Ruegsegger (2006), F, White

Faribault, Minnesota native had great chemistry with linemate and fellow speedster, Chris Atkinson .. held on to the puck in traffic, got the puck to the point and was then able to get open in front and knock home the pass .. tried to get overly cute by sliding a short pass on his backhand to a teammate on the other side of the crease, but wasn't able to get it through traffic .. wore #20 .. USA Select 17 totals (6, 2-2-4-2)