USHL: A Stop at Waterloo Station

Perhaps no team has a more balanced scoring attack in the USHL in 2008-09 as the Waterloo Black Hawks. After 14 games, the Black Hawks have 10 forwards averaging over a point every other game and an eleventh close behind, making it difficult for opponents to key in on any one line. Three of the key parts of the balance are second-year draft eligible forwards Tyler Barnes, Jordan Samuels-Thomas, and Brock Montpetit, each trying to prove their exclusion at the 2008 NHL Entry Draft was a mistake. The Hawks also feature one of the top first-year eligible defensive defenseman for the 2009 Draft in Patrick Wey, who routinely stops opponents in their tracks at the blueline.

McKeen's correspondent Kevin Wey recently had the opportunity to catch the Waterloo Black Hawks in action and enter notes on several prospects making an impact this season.

Nick Larson (Cgy), RW, Waterloo

2008-09 looks like a glimpse into Larson's likely future - life as a defensive forward .. playing more of a defense-forward role and is using his speed on an active forechecking game and finishing his checks hard .. plays a physical game and able to use his size to position himself to get the puck in races .. not entirely bereft of an offensive game, and has decent speed and quickness with the puck .. offensive awareness is probably only average .. still plays some on the powerplay .. missed first few games of the season due to injury .. at Waterloo's 14-game mark, he had 1 goal and 1 assist in 9 games .. played for Team USA at the World Junior A Challenge and had 2 assists in 5 games.

Tyler Barnes (2009), LW, Waterloo

Looked significantly better than at the Fall Classic, as his lower body already looks stronger .. had decent speed bursts for loose pucks and a little speed with the puck to drive wide and to split defensemen .. generates some power in his crossovers, but could afford a little more knee bend .. could also afford to bring his legs in a tiny bit more in recovery phase .. able to swivel at speed to evade checks and drive the net .. fairly impressive stickhandling and can use that dangle to undress opponents and also come off the boards .. has some offensive creativity, although some of his highlight-reel moves will probably have to be retired at higher levels .. has good agility with spins and circles to ditch checker .. doesn't panic if he temporarily loses the puck and often gets it back .. starting to show the ability that generated some hype early last year and will be unlikely to go undrafted again if he keeps this up .. at Waterloo's 14-game mark, he had 4 goals and 6 assists in 13 games.

Patrick Wey (2009), D, Waterloo

Plays a great defensive game .. not afraid to step up early on opponents and is regularly seen standing opponents up around blueline .. not an overwhelming physical force, but separates opponents from the puck when angling them to rub them out along the boards or stepping up on forwards .. consistently keeps short gaps .. has decent speed backwards, keeps a wide track, and stays low .. has quick feet when necessary .. plays his 2-on-1's well to take away passing lane .. not afraid to block shots .. able to tie up opponents along the boards and eliminate them from the play .. fairly reliable in his puckmoving with crisp, accurate passes and sees powerplay time because of it .. a stalwart on the PK .. has continued to make steady progress and is doing his chances at the 2009 NHL Entry Draft no harm .. at Waterloo's 14-game mark, he had 1 goal and 5 assists in 14 games and a team-leading plus-11 rating.

Lee Moffie (2009), D, Waterloo

Not quite as impressive as at Fall Classic .. smooth skater with good speed backwards, but taking too many crossovers .. previous point driven home at one point when he stumbled making crossovers backwards and was beaten .. played on both the powerplay and penalty kill .. makes crisp, accurate breakout passes or d-to-d passes to transition the puck .. not a bad showing, but only one of a possible pick at the 2009 NHL Entry Draft .. at Waterloo's 14-game mark, he had 2 goals and 5 assists in 10 games .. played for Team USA at the World Junior A Challenge and scored 1 goal and 2 assists in 5 games.

Jordan Samuels-Thomas (2009), LW, Waterloo

Far more involved in the offense this season and is working on playmaking .. has the puck on his stick often down low and tried making plays from around the net, but passes were often off target or intercepted .. speed is adequate, but lacks separation .. still leans over a lot when skating .. a scoring threat that can finish his chances .. sheer level of involvement in offensive game is generating points and helping him develop a lot and forcing him to process information faster .. keeping himself in contention for consideration at the 2009 NHL Entry Draft if he keeps improving .. at Waterloo's 14-game mark, he had 4 goals and 8 assists in 13 games.

Brock Montpetit (2009), C, Waterloo

An oddity that CSS left him of their "Players to Watch" list entirely .. a dynamic forward with good speed and quickness for separation with the puck or to the puck .. has some dangle to his game and makes nice passes to create prime chances for teammates.. able to unleash a hard wristshot .. plays with some physicality and will proactively engage physically for the puck .. finishes his checks and can make some big hits .. has some flash to his game but is not one dimensional .. may be a long shot to be drafted due to stature, but still worth monitoring .. at Waterloo's 14-game mark, he had 3 goals and 6 assists in 14 games.

Matt Johnson (2009), RW, Waterloo

Rookie forward playing a defensive game .. active on the forecheck with his quick feet .. could use a little more power in his quick strides for better speed .. played on the PK and was active manning the point and created problems intercepting pucks .. didn't play with the sheer (unsustainable?) energy he played with at the Fall Classic, but still played with some physicality .. unlikely to be selected in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft, but still makes himself noticeable with his defensive effort ..at Waterloo's 14-game mark, he had 3 assists in 10 games.