USA Under-18 Fall Classic Part II

The U.S. National Team Development Program only has seven forwards on its 2009-10 roster eligible for the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, and only five of them played at the 2009 USHL Fall Classic, but one of them was among the hottest topics in Sioux City those three days. Left-winger Jason Zucker impressed all with his speed, skill, and competitiveness and proved why he was the Under-17 forward the Under-18 called upon the most in 2008-09. Teammates Chase Balisy and Bryan Rust also impressed with their two-way efforts, but Zucker was the cream of the 2010-eligible crop at forward for the USNTDP at the Fall Classic.

In Part II of his USA Under-18 Fall Classic Report, McKeen's correspondent Kevin Wey enters notes on Jason Zucker, Chase Balisy, and Bryan Rust, as well as notes on a highly-touted Team USA winger who didn't impress as much as hoped.

Jason Zucker (2010), LW, Team USA U-18

One of the top topics of the 2009 USHL Fall Classic with his impressive two-way game .. very fast and can execute tight turns at speed and get well out over his edges .. smooth skater whose agility at top speed makes him a dangerous forechecker and backchecker .. finishes his checks on the forecheck and is a distinct threat to lay the body from the side on the backcheck .. also a threat to strip the puck on the backcheck and quickly transition to offense with his quickness and agility .. smooth stickhandler who is comfortable handling it away from his body and at any coordinates in his reach .. executes nice toe drags .. has a quick wristshot .. makes some nice plays off the boards and out of the corners .. undeniably skilled player who is also selfless and will block shots .. small on paper at 5-foot-10, 175 pounds, but certainly not small on the ice ..easily projects as a third-liner in the NHL, and could slot in as an energy-line player, but second line can't be ruled out .. not impossible that an NHL team takes a shine to him and selects him late in the first round if he keeps this up .. committed to Denver .. played for Team USA's Under-17 team in 2008-09 and scored 19 goals and 11 assists in 48 games .. also played for Team USA's Under-18 team in 2008-09 and scored 2 goals and 6 assists in 16 games, more games with the Under-18 team than any other Under-17 team member .. scored 1 goal in 3 games at the 2009 USHL Fall Classic.

Luke Moffatt (2010), RW, Team USA U-18

Highly touted right-winger was a bit underwhelming at 2009 USHL Fall Classic .. didn't force me to take notes on him (took over twice as many notes on Zucker) and often a non-factor .. showed some playmaking prowess from the boards .. possesses strong offensive vision off the walls and remembers to utilize his pointmen often .. makes crisp passes and can execute nice one-touch passes .. has a decent wristshot .. shows a little physicality from time to time .. projected by many as a first-rounder - and I hope to see such consistently displayed in future viewings later in the season .. committed to Michigan .. played for Team USA's Under-17 team in 2008-09 and scored 21 goals and 20 assists in 67 games .. had 1 assist in 3 games at the 2009 USHL Fall Classic.

Chase Balisy (2010), C, Team USA U-18

Fairly impressive Fall Classic showing .. heads-up stickhandler displays good vision off the half boards .. likes to hold up past the blueline and buy time for teammates and make centering passes .. also utilizes Gretzky circles coming past the blueline to make plays with centering passes .. able to use his quick lateral steps to get loose pucks down low in both zones .. has good defensive awareness .. puts himself in place to intercept passes on the forecheck .. puts in a good effort on the forecheck and next thing you know he's back in the neutral zone on the forecheck .. makes good defensive reads off of his defenseman in his own zone and staying back for pinching defensemen .. nice blend of hockey sense, skill, and competitiveness .. a tad undersized at 5-foot-10, 175 pounds, but would still expect Balisy to go in the mid-rounds of the 2010 NHL Entry Draft .. no college commitment of yet .. played for Team USA's Under-17 team in 2008-09 and scored 12 goals and 27 assists in 67 games .. scored 1 goal and 1 assist in 3 games at the 2009 USHL Fall Classic.

Bryan Rust (2010), RW, Team USA U-18

Good defensive forward who isn't short on skill .. creates significant problems for opponents' breakouts .. pressures opposing defensemen into mistakes or strips them of the puck .. also a threat to intercept passes on the forecheck .. also quick to make the read to stay back for defensemen who join the attack .. has good cruising speed .. makes crisp, accurate passes .. has a crisp, quick snapshot .. confident stickhandler who uses his agility well to position his body to protect the puck .. has a little dangle to his game .. able to make tight turns with the puck .. short at 5-foot-10, but has some mass at 194 pounds .. based on Fall Classic viewing, it would be disappointing if Rust didn't go somewhere in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft .. has a real chance to make his mark with Jacob Fallon and Shane Sooth out of the lineup .. committed to Notre Dame .. played for Team USA's Under-17 team in 2008-09 and scored 9 goals and 13 assists in 67 games .. scored 1 goal in 3 games at the 2009 USHL Fall Classic.

Also on the Radar

If you're on the U.S. National Team Development Program, you're automatically on the radar of this McKeen's correspondent. Center Bill Arnold received limited icetime as a fourth-liner and McKeen's took insufficient notes to add a meaningful report on him, but he has not been forgotten. Arnold, a Boston College recruit, played prep hockey for Nobles and Greenough in 2008-09 and scored 28 goals and 27 assists in 33 games and also played midget majors for the Boston Little Bruins, scoring 26 goals and 21 assists in 33 games. McKeen's also anticipates taking notes on forwards Jacob Fallon and Shane Sooth in USHL action in 2009-10, but both were out of the lineup at the Fall Classic, apparently due to team suspensions. Fallon played for the Under-17 team in 2008-09 and scored 17 goals and 27 assists in 64 games, fifth in U-17 team scoring. Sooth also played for the Under-17 team in 2008-09 and scored 12 goals and 19 assists in 67 games. Sooth has yet to commit to a college program. Fallon has committed to the University of Michigan.