USHL Fall Classic: Omaha Lancers

In a 12-part series, McKeen's will be featuring top prospects from each USHL team based on their performances at the USHL Fall Classic held in Sioux City, Iowa, on September 27-29. In our fifth installment, correspondent Kevin Wey, reviews Montreal Canadiens prospect Andrew Conboy and several other Omaha Lancers hoping to make an impact this season.

Nico Sacchetti (Dal), C, Omaha

Uses power over quickness in his skating stride and has deceptive speed, but not high-end speed .. even accounting for his power, he still needs more acceleration .. controlled in his stickhandling, does not rush the play and can hold onto the puck for long periods .. has good offensive awareness and usually knows what he is going to do with the puck before he gets it.. often circles away from the puck in the offensive zone but will go to the net and battle in front when the play dictates .. (Fall Classic stats: 3-1-2-3, 9 shots).

Andrew Conboy (Mtl), LW, Omaha

Power forward who is dangerous around the net .. skating needs a little work, as he skates upright, has a wide turning radius, and needs more acceleration and top-end speed, although he can build some momentum crashing the net .. his hands are a strong asset in cycling the puck down low and creating chances around the net, which he does often .. makes crisp, accurate passes especially from behind, around the net, or off the boards ..has a very hard wristshot and snapshot.. uses his size well along the boards in battling for the puck and shielding the puck .. can lay out some big hits, but can also be knocked over by big hits, due to high center of gravity .. (Fall Classic stats: 3- 2-2-4, 6 PIM's, 13 shots).

Will O'Neill (Atl), D, Omaha

A full-time defenseman once again .. good skater with mobility in all directions .. has good backward skating form, decent power and proper mechanics, which he uses with his defensive awareness to angle his opponents into the boards .. not an offensive defenseman, but does distribute the puck well from the point and makes crisp, accurate passes .. always seems to be in motion when receiving the puck at the point .. looks awkward when he walks the blueline while handling the puck on his backhand .. (Fall Classic stats: 3-1-0-1, 2 PIM's, 7 shots).

Patrick Wiercioch (2008), D, Omaha

Lanky player who happens to lineup at defense .. upright skater who needs more leg strength ..makes a good first pass, but is also comfortable skating the puck through the neutral zone and into the offensive zone himself, although he does not have high-end speed .. has a tendency to follow his passes and take himself out of position on the rush should the puck be turned over .. pinches in from the point often and is seen around the net more than some forwards, but does have the ability to finish and can score from in close .. defensive awareness needs work, as he is often not facing the play in open ice and not keeping sight of the puck .. has not committed to a college .. (Fall Classic stats: 3-1-1-2, 3 shots).

Matt Thurber (2008), C, Omaha

Speedy skater who is very pesky down low .. uses his speed, positioning, and feistiness very well along the boards and in the corners to come out with the puck or to successfully cycle the puck .. has good offensive awareness for maintaining possession of the puck, such as knowing when to do a tight switchback, pulling up high in the offensive zone to buy time for teammates and making a crisp pass .. also knows how to position himself to shield the puck, or when to pour on the speed .. advanced defensive awareness after two years of USHL hockey and is always a threat to intercept a pass or create a turnover .. a regular on the penalty kill and the powerplay .. committed to Wisconsin .. (Fall Classic stats: 3-2-2-4, 4 PIM's, 9 shots).

Donnie Harris (2009), D, Omaha

Big defenseman who is a mature skater for such a young blueliner .. maintains a wide stance and good knee bend to maintain a low center of gravity and create power in his backward skating .. maintains poise at defense, even on odd-man breaks .. has the defensive awareness to know when to drop to block a pass or eliminate the passing option .. makes crisp passes, although his timing was off at times .. has decent speed, mobility, and power, all of which should only get better as his game matures in the USHL .. has not committed to a college .. (Fall Classic stats: 2- 0-0-0, 2 PIM's, 1 shot).

Dakota Eveland (2009), LW, Omaha

Small forward (5-7, 146 pounds) with good speed, quickness, and agility .. has good puck control and is able to do such at high speed .. not afraid to venture into traffic despite his size, although he occasionally is leveled .. hopefully the 16-year-old is not done growing .. committed to Colorado College .. (Fall Classic stats: 2- 0-0-0, 2 PIM's, 1 shot)

Aaron Lewadniuk (Undrafted), RW, Omaha

Plays much bigger than his listed size (5-foot-11, 172 pounds) .. has good speed and a powerful stride .. has very good two-way awareness .. does not pass up a chance to finish a check and does so authority .. plays the point on the powerplay and looks as if he were a defenseman in how he keeps the puck in the zone with both his stick and his hands .. has a good, low pointshot on the PP .. named the 2006-07 Manitoba Junior Hockey League Rookie of the Year after scoring 43 goals and 44 assists in 61 games .. drafted by the Portland Winterhawks of the WHL in the sixth round of the 2004 Bantam Draft, but his rights were traded to the Brandon Wheat Kings for a conditional draft pick .. committed to Bemidji State (Fall Classic stats: 3- 0-2-2, 2 PIM's, 7 shots).