USHL: Omaha Lancers

Poor goaltending and lack of scoring hindered the talented Omaha Lancers early in the season as they struggled to live up to expectations early. Thanks to the maturation of their young talent and a few savvy trades the Lancers are right back in the thick of things in the Western Division.

Nick Petrecki (2007), D, Omaha Lancers

If a team can accept that he won't quarterback the power play they will absolutely love him as a prospect .. his physical defensive game is dominant .. blessed with a massive frame and hulk like strength .. plays with a mean streak every night and is a fiery competitor .. his body checks deliver devastating power as he knocks guys right off of their feet .. averages 8-10 hits a game and had 16 checks in one game this season .. an intimidating physical presence .. an exceptional skater for a big man .. has a quick, strong first step with a fairly powerful stride which propels very decent acceleration and an exceptional top gear .. lately has been given the green light his speed to rush the puck up the ice and is now pinching in down low more frequently .. has a separation gear .. relatively agile as he pivots smoothly and his lateral movement is something for a player of his size .. backwards mobility is superb and he handles speed to the outside easily .. maintains a healthy gap .. the angles he takes to his man have improved .. is a shut down one on one defender who engulfs the opposition and than physically man handles him .. plays two on ones perfectly taking away the pass .. clears the crease area with a passion, once knocking down two players in one hit in front of his net .. has a quickly released, powerful point shot but it lacks accuracy as he often misses high over the net .. has a long reach with soft hands and add that to his speed he can skate the puck up the ice on his own .. lacks the vision and touch to make the first pass out of the zone .. decision making has improved as he often gets the puck out off the boards instead of forcing it up the middle .. generates tremendous velocity on his passes and will attempt to hit a long home run pass .. a defenseman you can build around.

Barry Almeida (2007), F, Omaha Lancers

Hasn't played since last February because of a freak camp fire accident that injured his eye .. left the EJHL for more games in the USHL .. immediately injected on the top line on the wing with Bruneteau .. a dynamic skater .. possesses a quick and powerful stride that generates a rapid burst of speed .. has quickness in tight and speed in the open ice .. agile, shifty, and can turn on a dime .. his top gear is impressive .. deceptively accelerates to get around the opposition to the outside .. has soft hands and likes to take the puck to the net .. rust and adjustment to a higher level of hockey has limited his play making and finishing touch so far as neither stands out currently in the USHL .. his puck pursuit is impressive as he gets in on the forecheck in a heart beat as he uses his speed well and his motor doesn't stop .. despite his diminutive size he goes into traffic frequently and doesn't get pushed around as he has good core strength and balance .. competes for loose pucks .. has some jam and finishes his checks .. committed to Boston College .. already playing on the power play and has some untapped offensive upside that should come out as he becomes more comfortable with the pace of the USHL.

Brett Bruneteau (2007), F, Omaha Lancers

Anticipates the play well and has fine hockey sense .. has good timing in the offensive zone and a nose for the net … has a quickly released wrist shot that has good accuracy and velocity .. plays the point on the first power play unit and along the half wall on the second .. centers the first line .. sees the ice well and is an adequate passer but isn't very creative .. strong on his feet and excels in traffic .. does a good job in the corners and a long the wall .. does all the grunt work for his team and shows heart every shift .. has adequate hands and protects the puck well .. is slippery along the boards .. shows good puck pursuit and back checks hard .. has decent quickness and balance but lacks explosiveness and a separation gear .. does the dirty work for the team but also has the finishing touch and hockey sense to be a capable offensive player .. third line and third round candidate for the NHL.

Adam Comrie (2008), D, Omaha Lancers

The towering sixteen year old was acquired a month ago in a trade from Columbus and should develop well alongside Nick Petrecki under the tutelage of coach Hastings .. has the potential that scouts drool over .. his mobility for a player of his size is superb as he's agile and has a powerful, fluid stride .. pivots are effortless .. even glides fast .. has a cannon shot that is quickly released and precisely accurate .. gets his shot to the net .. is a huge threat to score from the point .. has decent vision and his creativity distributing the puck makes him effective on the power play or breaking out of his zone .. will rush a pass up the middle time to time and isn't a consistent puck distributor at this point .. proactive physically but he needs to bulk up his lanky upper body as it would make him a more legit physical presence .. decision making is questionable .. pinches in needlessly and will get caught up the ice .. will get caught chasing the puck and can loose positioning in his own zone .. hockey sense and instincts are suspect but he's still young in a top league .. his upside is tremendous and it's good to see that he's almost too proactive with his physical gifts .. mental and physical maturity will come with age and he could be special.

Jack Downing (2007), F, Omaha Lancers

Can be a physical presence for his team .. finishes all of his checks and has a tall, well built frame .. willing to fight and excels at it as he took it to Bradley Malone .. has very quick feet for a big man and his acceleration is swift .. will go to the net and can finish his chances .. lacks the vision and imagination to be an offensive player or play maker .. decent away from the puck as he's willing to work hard without .. was hindered early in the season as he played through sports asthma without even knowing about it until recently .. now is properly medicated and you almost can only judge his season from this point on to get a good read on him as his ice time as increased.

Will O'Neill (Atl), F/D, Omaha Lancers

Naturally a defenseman but recently has been used on the left wing to be a defensive specialist up front .. smooth all compass skater but the lack of power behind his stride hinders his quickness and top gear .. sees the ice well and distributes the puck adequately .. shows decent puck pursuit as a winger .. has a strong upper body and he plays with some grit .. best as a defenseman as he is nothing more than a role player at this level as a forward .. committed to New Hampshire.

Matt Thurber (2008), F, Omaha Lancers

Plays like a wrecking ball as he fearlessly throws his pint sized frame around .. short but very stocky with great core strength and balance .. protects the puck well and is slippery to contain in tight spaces .. has a quick release with a decent shot but he lacks the vision and touch to be a play maker .. impressive two way player who is smart and works hard away from the puck .. a penalty kill asset .. anticipates the play well and has a knack for disrupting the oppositions passing game .. plays the pest role well as he finishes all of his checks as he has some sand paper to his game .. good puck pursuit and back check .. lacks the offensive upside right now but next year will be his draft year and his third season in the USHL.

Drew Palmisano (2007), G, Omaha Lancers

Has won seven of his first eight games since being acquired from Columbus .. mechanically strong .. plays his angles well and anticipates the game astutely allowing him to be square to the first shot .. patient with the shooter and has a calm demeanor .. adequate glove and leg quickness .. his rebound control up high is strong as he'll suck everything up with his glove but his rebound control down low is suspect s he'll leave a few juicy ones up the middle .. lateral movement is quick and composed .. struggles on the second shot as his dexterity is below average as is his recovery .. resorts to flopping too much .. plays the puck smartly but can't move the puck far .. he's a good collegiate prospect but it's questionable if he's an NHL prospect.