USHL: Sioux-perb Prospects

The Sioux City Musketeers have helped develop significant talents in recent seasons, such as Max Pacioretty and Jeff Zatkoff, and while only time will tell if any of the Musketeers' current prospects will match the accomplishments of those two, Sioux City does have some notable talent. Goaltender Josh Robinson, with his combination of technical skill and athleticism, may well be the most talented goalie in the USHL in 2007-08, and 2009-eligible defenseman Seth Helgeson is mature beyond his years. Sioux City Team MVP and USHL All-Rookie Team member Steve Quailer is also gaining the attention of NHL scouts with his size and raw tools. McKeen's correspondent Kevin Wey provides notes on these three players as well as several other Musketeers that have made an impact this season.

Josh Robinson (2008), G, Sioux City Musketeers

Has exceptional three-dimensional quickness .. very quick down and can get back up very quick as well .. has great lateral movement in his crease and can move fast laterally after going down, after going down and up, or loading up with one leg and pushing off for a pad slide across .. makes smooth butterfly pad slides across the crease .. also quick to the top of his crease and back toward the net .. able to get up quickly out of the splits .. possesses a fast glove hand and makes crisp glove saves .. conscientious in adjusting his position while reading the play, even while his own defense has the puck .. combination of technicality and contained athleticism is very impressive .. committed to Michigan Tech .. finished the regular season with a 22-17-2 record, 3 shutouts, a 2.94 goals-against average, and a .906 save percentage.

Steve Quailer (2008), LW, Sioux City Musketeers

Skates upright and with a choppy stride, although he does show some extension from time to time ..does get low on his turns on the forecheck, allowing him to make tight circles .. shows some speed from time to time, but generally skates with average speed .. gets caught not moving his feet on occasion before he receives the puck, which can leave him flatfooted .. 6-foot-3, 185-pound winger is able to use his size to shield the puck and uses the occasional stiff-arm .. has decent shot power and makes crisp, accurate passes .. a regular on the special teams, both the powerplay and the penalty kill .. shows some activity on the PK and will drop and slide to block shots .. also shows some commitment to the backcheck, where he can create turnovers .. needs more consistency throughout a shift and throughout the game .. scored 19 goals and 30 assists in 60 games for Sioux City during the regular season .. named Sioux City's Most Valuable Player and Rookie of the Year and named to USHL All-Rookie Team .. committed to Northeastern.

Mitch Bruijsten (2008), LW, Sioux City Musketeers

Has not impressed as much as he did at the Fall Classic, where he was a hard-hitting board crasher with some skill .. shows some speed from time to time, but seems unwilling to put it into fourth gear with the power he appears to have, unless he just lacks it somehow .. effort seems lackadaisical at times .. can beat opponents wide with his speed and size (6-foot-2, 190 pounds) and stickhandling .. stickhandling is suspect at times, though, protecting the puck, as he seems to lose control too easily .. does try to skate through the defense at times, but success doing this is mixed .. passing is not as accurate as one might like, as he is off the mark too often .. able to use his size in front of the net to create trouble and can redirect and deflect shots .. not playing with the physicality that made him an intimidating presence as at the Fall Classic .. finished the regular season with 14 goals and 16 assists in 56 games for Sioux City.

Stephane DaCosta (2008), C, Sioux City Musketeers

Strong all-around offensive skills .. has a hard slapshot that he can get off in stride and a quick wristshot .. adept passer who can also connect on crisp saucer passes and backhand passes .. has patience with the puck and the agility to evade checks and skate out of the corners with the puck .. has good speed and nice speed bursts when necessary .. offensive vision allowed him to play the point on Sioux City's powerplay on occasion ..

played for France at the Division I, Group B World Junior Championships and led the tournament in scoring with 5 goals and 5 assists in 5 games .. scored 12 goals and 24 assists in 51 games for Sioux City during the regular season .. has not committed to a college program.

Jake Johnson (2008), RW, Sioux City Musketeers

Small, 5-foot-8, 160-pound forward with very quick feed, good speed, and agility .. could use more power in his skating stride, although his speed does not currently lack .. can play with some shiftiness, as he has quick speed bursts .. joined Sioux City in late February and scored 2 goals and 4 assists in 14 games .. played entire Minnesota high school season for Duluth Denfield and finished seventh in state scoring with 27 goals and 50 assists in 28 games .. has not committed to a college program .. second-year draft-eligible player is a long shot to be taken in the NHL Entry Draft, but is a solid Division I college prospect.

Seth Helgeson (2009), D, Sioux City Musketeers

Advanced 17-year-old defenseman .. backwards skating form is solid .. requires few crossovers accelerating backwards because of his power, does not require crossovers after establishing backwards speed, and stays in a low, power position .. demonstrates some speed and power skating forwards and has powerful forward crossovers .. has some agility with the puck to circle away from checks .. occasionally gets upright in his pivots or takes too many steps, but shows very good mechanics at other times .. able to angle opponents well to force them into the boards and rub them out .. 6-foot-3, 210-pound blueliner is able to make big hits and push opponents over .. makes crisp, accurate passes and can connect on long-distance passes .. adept at clearing the puck high and/or off the glass on the penalty kill, or if he has no breakout options .. has all the makings of a very good defensive defenseman that moves the puck well and reliably.