USHL Fall Classic: Sioux City Musketeers

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 fourth installment, correspondent Kevin Wey, reviews highly touted 2009 draft prospect Seth Helgeson, Josh Robinson, Mitch Bruijsten and Stephane Da Costa from the Sioux City Musketeers.

Josh Robinson (2008), G, Sioux City

Quick lateral movement .. able to take away five hole with the butterfly very quickly .. vertical movement is impressive, as he goes down and up quickly because he brings his pads back up into position first before raising the rest of his body .. sharp glove hand .. tracks the puck through traffic well .. needs to work on his puckhandling, as he can make a nice pass to a teammate, but appears hesitant and unsure when handling the puck behind the net .. has not committed to a college .. (Fall Classic stats: 2 gp, .938 Svp).

Seth Helgeson (2009), D, Sioux City

Would probably be the odds-on favorite to be the highest drafted USHL defenseman in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft, if he was eligible for it .. has very good mobility, especially for such a big player, and has quick stops and starts, even when handling the puck .. walks the blueline while handling the puck very well .. has a very hard shot from the point and keeps it low to the ice .. is not merely a "grip it and rip it" shooter, as he will slow his shot down a bit for deflection purposes and accuracy .. has the stickhandling to make slick dekes and fake-out opponents .. makes a crisp, accurate outlet pass and distributes the puck well from the point .. comfortable at skating the puck through the neutral zone and into the offensive zone .. has the backward acceleration, power, speed, and angling ability to handle most of the USHL's speediest forward .. effectively eliminates opponents from the play when he ties them up along the boards .. high-end, two-way awareness .. committed to Minnesota .. (Fall Classic stats: 3-0-0-0, 2 shots).

Mitch Bruijsten (Undrafted), LW, Sioux City

Big Dutchman that looks set to be one of the most physical forwards in the USHL this season .. has a powerful stride and good speed .. cycles the puck well down low and is an accurate passer .. has a hard slapshot .. hustles on the forecheck, on the backcheck, and even tries hard to beat-out icing under the modified icing rules .. finishes his checks with authority and was perhaps the hardest hitter at the Fall Classic, and certainly was the most frequent .. does not take himself out of the play looking for big hits, just finishes ones that he should, but very hard .. physical power forward who warrants a look by NHL scouts .. (Fall Classic stats: 2-0-0-0, 2 PIM's, 3 shots).

Stephane DaCosta (Undrafted), C, Sioux City

French forward has good speed and a powerful skating stride .. has some offensive upside and can make crisp, accurate passes through traffic .. has the stickhandling ability to make sleek dekes, but also loses the puck from time to time .. responsible defensive player, as he finishes his checks and works to steer opponents into checks by teammates when forechecking .. (Fall Classic stats: 1-0-0-0, 1 shot).