USHL: Lee a Force in Net

Goaltender Mike Lee has been a "force" in net in 2008-09, both literally and figuratively. The 18-year-old netminder has helped lead an extremely young Fargo Force team go from a 1-5 start to contention for second place in the USHL's West Division and has put himself amongst the league leaders in all goaltending categories, including minutes played, wins, and save percentage. The Roseau, Minnesota, native also played for Team USA at the World Junior A Challenge, won all four of his starts, and was named the top goaltender of the tournament. Add in playing for the West Division All-Stars at the USHL Prospects/All-Star Game and its evident Lee has put himself in contention with Phoenix Coyotes draft pick Brett Bennett for USHL Goaltender of the Year. Throw Lee's standout high school hockey career in Minnesota in the equation, and he may just go in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft where no USHL goaltender has gone before.

McKeen's correspondent Kevin Wey had the opportunity to catch the Fargo Force in action in both January and February and files notes on several prospects for the 2009 NHL Entry draft such as Mike Lee (pictured), Josh Birkholz and Luke Witkowski, as well as a number of other young Fargo prospects.

Mike Lee (2009), G, Fargo

Saw Manitoba Moose during Cory Schneider's hot streak and Lee's current play is comparable .. butterfly goaltender does a good job of tracking pucks, staying square, and taking them in the chest with no rebound .. does a good job to cover the bottom of the net with butterfly pad slides .. able to cover bottom of the net well during prolonged action around the crease .. stays very poised in his net and does not panic when the play collapses in on him .. has a quick glove hand .. plays a fairly technical game, but can bail his teammates out with big splits save if he has to .. does need to improve his puckhandling after he leaves the crease to get pucks .. listed at 6-foot-0, 190 pounds, and is definitely every bit of 6-foot-0 in height .. one of the frontrunners to earn USHL Goaltender of the Year honors .. has a chance of breaking Dan Ellis' mark as highest-drafted USHL goaltender (60th overall, 2000 NHL Entry Draft) .. third-round selection in 2009 NHL Draft perhaps more likely .. played for Team Reebok (West) at the USHL Prospects/All-Star Game .. committed to St. Cloud State .. through Feb. 22, he had played in 37 games and had a record of 18-13-3, 1 shutout, a goals-against average of 2.60, and a save percentage of .913.

Josh Birkholz (2009), RW, Fargo

In a bit of an offensive funk, scoring only 1 goal and 1 assist in 11 games from Jan. 17 through Feb. 21 .. defensive efforts came through more in these viewings .. finished his checks on the forecheck .. speed is still his biggest asset .. able to build considerable speed and go coast-to-coast .. has good acceleration with the puck and employs powerful strides .. very difficult for USHL competition to stop him through neutral zone .. able to execute hard passes .. also able to execute high saucer passes on the tape .. demonstrates some offensive skills, but does not appear to be an elite offensive player at this time .. does play on the powerplay, though .. possibility as a second-round pick in 2009 NHL Entry Draft is disappearing, third or even early fourth round becoming more probable .. played for Team Reebok (West) at the USHL Prospects/All-Star Game .. committed to University of Minnesota .. through Feb. 22, he had 14 goals and 12 assists in 42 games.

Oleg Lee (2009), LW/RW, Fargo

Skilled Russian proved his willingness to play physical at Fall Classic was no fluke .. finishes his checks and does so with some force .. a threat to come from behind and lay down a check from the side .. stout at 5-foot-11, 209 pounds .. explosive power makes him a threat to emerge with the puck from the boards .. powerful crossovers .. quick to loose pucks, his own rebounds, or to the puck if he misses the net .. has a fairly hard wristshot .. very good top speed and is a threat to strip the puck on the backcheck .. based on pure skating, skill, and ability, he is a selection in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft, but light production may negate .. uncommitted to a college program .. through Feb. 22, he had 5 goals and 7 assists in 34 games.

Matt Leitner (2009), C, Fargo

Underrated center, but also undersized .. plays in all situations .. able to lull opponents to sleep at half-speed or three-fourths speed, but then can shift gears and beat opponents with quickness and positioning .. has good cruising speed .. adept at slowing down play in the high-speed USHL and in creating plays .. excellent presence with the puck and does not panic when pressured .. confident stickhandler able to drag it around opponents and undress them even at sub-maximal speed .. 5-foot-10, 170-pound forward willing to fight through checks .. Fargo's top offensive weapon puts in a good effort defensively and was still snubbed for USHL Prospects/All-Star Game .. lack of size makes Leitner a long shot for the 2009 NHL Entry Draft .. uncommitted to a college program .. through Feb. 22, he had 10 goals and 28 assists in 44 games and was leading Fargo in scoring.

Steven Spinell (2009), D, Fargo

May be the strongest player in the USHL, but it's coming at the cost of speed .. able to throw opponents off the puck and able to lay down heavy hits along the boards .. however, gets beaten in the open ice too often now .. reduces crossovers backwards and lets gaps reduce, but speed backwards is only average .. not making the same number of open-ice hits he did last season .. almost seems to lack intensity, but it may be that his cardiovascular conditioning isn't yet able to support a 6-foot-1, 220-pound frame at a high intensity level .. still has a hard shot from the point .. also has a crisp wristshot from the point ..plays on the penalty kill .. a long shot to be selected in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft .. committed to Miami-Ohio .. through Feb. 22, he had 2 goals and 3 assists in 45 games.

Keegan Flaherty (2009), RW, Fargo

Started season as Fargo's top scorer, cooled a bit, and was injured in early January and missed six weeks .. currently playing more of a third-line/defensive role .. regular on the penalty kill .. has powerful strides that translate to very good speed .. able to use speed to create turnovers on the forecheck and backcheck .. active in manning his assignment at the point .. an alternate captain .. garnered some attention with goal scoring early in the season, but a long shot to be selected in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft .. named to play for Team Reebok (West) at the USHL Prospects/All-Star Game, but missed due to injury .. committed to Minnesota-Duluth .. through Feb. 22, he had 13 goals and 5 assists in 33 games.

Cole Gunner (2009), LW, Fargo

Listed at 5-foot-8, 160 pounds, but never seems or looks that small .. plays an energy role for Force .. has good speed and finishes his checks .. active in battling down low in the offensive zone regardless of the size of the opponent .. forechecks and backchecks hard .. has decent speed with the puck, but needs to refine puck skills .. generally makes crisp and accurate passes, but sometimes passes are to nobody .. shows a little dangle at times, but must reduce frequency he loses the puck trying such .. his pure effort alone creates at least a little offense .. extreme long shot to be taken in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft .. uncommitted to a college program .. through Feb. 22, he had 3 goals and 8 assists in 35 games.

Eamonn McDermott (2010), D, Fargo

Small defenseman now listed at 5-foot-10, 165 pounds .. receives regular icetime in all situations, often with Luke Witkowski .. puck movement is his strong suit .. makes crisp, accurate passes at a reasonable velocity and generally on the tape .. a smooth, confident stickhandler with good all-compass mobility with puck and after receiving the puck .. has a crisp wristshot from the point with decent velocity, but not overwhelming .. fairly skilled puck distributor from the point .. able to fake opponents with feigns and dekes and then make a play .. defensively, doing a good job to use his skating to position himself to get the puck and transition it forward .. adept stick checker, but can line up a big open-ice hit .. willing to block shots .. has adjusted well to the USHL, but size will continue to be an question mark .. committed to Colorado College .. through Feb. 22, he had 2 goals and 8 assists in 46 games.

Colten St.Clair (2011), C, Fargo

Very young, but often plays the third-line center role .. has decent speed with the puck through the neutral zone .. shows good commitment to forechecking and backchecking .. consistently helps his defensemen down low or on the backcheck .. able to lay down some nice moves from time to time and has a quick shot .. slightly small at 5-foot-10, 180 pounds, but is only 16 years old .. time is on St. Clair's side, hopefully he keeps steadily improving and doesn't plateau before 2011 Draft .. committed to Colorado College .. through Feb. 22, he had 6 goals and 6 assists in 41 games.

Luke Witkowski (TB), D, Fargo

Playing major minutes for Fargo and seems to be out every other shift .. Fargo's captain .. skating is very smooth and almost appears effortless .. able to build considerable speed with the puck and go coast to coast .. paints himself into a corner too often after he skates the puck deep into the offensive zone .. generates significant power in his crossovers and can get way out on his edges with the puck to elude checkers .. not uncommon to see him circle back, regroup, and then pour on speed with the puck .. very smooth backwards, keeps his gaps short, maintains a very wide base, and has excellent mobility .. 6-foot-2, 200-pounder plays with some physicality, but sheer icetime makes it impossible to play with the same physical intensity he showed last season in Ohio .. offensive numbers would jump if he were able to utilize teammates better in his offensive zone after he skates it in .. played for Team Reebok (West) at the USHL Prospects/All-Star Game .. committed to Western Michigan .. through Feb. 22, he had 5 goals and 13 assists in 41 games and a team-leading, plus-23 rating.

Nate Condon (Col), C, Fargo

Looked decent in these viewings, but offensive numbers still not quite there .. sees icetime on both the powerplay and the penalty kill .. displays slick stickhandling on occasion and can use it to emerge from board battles to drive the net .. has a hard wristshot .. can execute powerful stops with the puck with his legs well out from his body .. makes crisp passes in the offensive zone and on the breakout .. conscientious backchecker intercepts passes and can out-position opponents to strip them of the puck .. can go invisible for stretches .. committed to Minnesota .. .. through Feb. 22, he had 9 goals and 13 assists in 44 games.