USHS Prospect Update

USHS Prospect Update (posted 9.28.06)

by Max Giese

TEAM WISCONSIN

Justin Johnson (2007), F, Eau Claire North

Instinctive player who has good vision of the ice. Makes quick decisions when in possession of the puck, is a fine play maker who sees the open lanes instantly. Can make a crisp pass through heavy traffic from time to time, and likes to get creative off the rush with an imaginative pass. Does most of his offensive work on the power play where he can run the play standing still from the half wall. Because of lack of speed he struggles five on five. Lacks quickness to his skating stride as both his top end speed and acceleration are below average. Has average hands but doesn't possess any dangerous moves, wins battles for loose pucks thanks to his strong arms. Could also use work away from the puck, while he's a smart player, he often is caught coasting. Adequate release on his shot but it's rather ineffective as he struggles to make up his mind when he wants to shoot and he struggles to get into scoring areas.

Seth Soley (2008), F, Eau Claire Memorial

The most impressive looking prospect from Team Wisconsin, Soley is only a Junior and will have two more seasons before he is eligible for the draft. Seth is gifted with a soft pair of mitts. He can really dangle at times, has some nifty one on one moves, and can handle the puck with the opposition draped all over him. Possesses superb puck protection, has a long reach despite being only 6-0, and shields the puck with his body. Well balanced, tough to knock off his feet, prepares for a check well and likes to hit back when being checked. Will need to pass the puck more frequently at the next level, while he can handle the puck for a long period of time at this level, he will need to utilize his line mates more if he wants to be successful, and will need to think more fleet on his feet.

Solid at distributing the puck when he decides to do so but is not as crafty as Johnson. An asset on the cycle, good down low, makes plays behind the oppositions net, wins one on one battles with the puck on his stick. Has a nose for the net but doesn't get a lot of power from his release, and his accuracy in tight could be improved. Will definitely need to upgrade his quickness, while he possesses an adequate top end speed, his first step is rather slow, and he lacks explosiveness. The most impressive high school player in Wisconsin at this point now that Craig Smith and Keegan Mauer have left for the USHL.

Travis Erstad (2007) F/D, Stevens Point Area HS

Already drafted by the Indiana Ice of the USHL, Erstad has been switched from forward to playing mostly defense as of late. Has the lanky frame that catches a scouts attention, but he never uses it to his advantage physically. A rather passive player would benefit from a physical edge as I only seen him finish one check per game. Uses his long reach to his advantage while stickhandling, protects the puck well, and uses his body to shield off the opposition. Can be a threat one on one when he decides to skate the puck up which he rarely does however. Possesses very soft hands with some occasional dangle, when you combine that with his reach he is pretty impressive handling the puck. Was used on the point during the power play, shows fine vision, can get creative at times with the puck creating a nice play, however he could put more behind some of his passes, especially when he goes up the middle.

Has an adequate shot from the point, has a high release point on his slap shot but he got it through low to the net, once creating a goal off of a rebound. Has a nice looking stride for a big man, is agile and pivots well. Can get some good speed once he gains some momentum but he lacks explosiveness. Once his team was down by a far margin late he finally took some chances skating with the puck up the ice on his own and he was a force, I would just like to see that more often. Defensively he gives the opposition to large of gaps to work with, he isn't physical and when he was he didn't get any push from his arms despite his size. So if it was up to me I would keep him at forward, only utilizing him as a defenseman on the power play. If he's motivated he's a real talent, but that's a big if.

MINNESOTA SOUTHWEST

Joe Gleason (2008) D, Edina HS

Crafty two-way defenseman, instinctive defenseman who anticipates the flow of the game well. Composed at all times, has a high panic threshold and doesn't get rattled by pressure. Agile on his feet, only has average speed but he can be elusive when in possession of the puck. Has some stick handling maneuvers that work for him, often buying him time to make a pass, though did not create a scoring opportunity for himself. Tries high risk high reward passes while moving the puck in the offensive zone but seemed one step late in delivering them, so while not at this time, down the road he may emerge as a fine play making defenseman. Saw time on the first power play unit, at times would make a nice crisp pass; other times would try to make one last move before making a pass often leading to an errant pass. Smallish, but he is keen at maintaining inside position in his own zone, competes hard but will need to add strength to compete with the bigger opponents at the next level. Can skate with the opposition off the rush and is often the defenseman back on a 2-1, however on one odd man rush against he laid down to early allowing the pass to go across the slot cleanly. .

Michael Fink (2009), F. Hopkins HS

Only a sophomore, Fink looks to have a lot of offensive potential and could develop into a formidable goal scorer. Instinctive around the oppositions net, finds the quiet space on the ice, often will disappear before breaking the play wide open with a 1-1 rush to the net. Lethal in close finisher, really snaps off his wrist shot quickly and it's very accurate. Scored on one breakaway by shooting the puck off the post and in, on the next breakaway he hit the post and wide. Not a bad play maker either as he showcased by delivering nice one touch passes which he creatively started plays with, but he prefers to take the puck on his own and drives it straight to the net. Possesses soft hands, can trick out the defender with a quick move. Didn't showcase his top end speed but his first few steps were very good allowing him to gain quick separation from the defender. Player to keep an eye on for his offensive exploits.

Taylor Matson (2007), F, Academy of Holy Angels

Minnesota Gopher recruit has a nice blend of skill and physical play, despite his modest frame. Plays like a bull in traffic areas and is quite strong on his feet possessing impeccable balance. Will get down right mean at times while finishing his hits and generates good power behind them, although he could be more physically consistent. Matson has a knack for winning battles for loose pucks, and is hard to stop when he decides to drive the net with or without the puck. Possesses a strong first step, his stride has adequate power behind it giving him a good top end gear, however his foot speed could be improved, is agile, and turns well never loosing speed on his crossovers. Possesses above average hands, has a quick stick which he uses to grab the loose puck from traffic areas, also uses his hands for some pretty moves. Once a lone with the goaltender he faked the shot then pulled it to his forehand sending the goalie sprawling before burying it top shelf. Quickly releases his wrist shot, gets a real good snap on his stick, accurate in close shooter, and just lacks that natural sense to be a scorer at this time. Above average play maker, looks off his man to open up the passing lane he desires then distributes a nice crisp pass. After he makes a pass he works to the puck back. Clever in all three zones, instinctive, digests every situation quickly, works hard without the puck to get open in the offensive zone.

Joey Brehm (2007), D, Edina HS

Adequate size at 6-1 185, Brehm is a very solid two-way defenseman. Uses his frame to play the body fairly well, pins his man against the boards, battles hard in front where he ties up his man well, still could add bulk to generate more power behind his checks. Swift skater, who pivots well, skated backwards with some of the faster forwards off the rush maintaining a healthy gap before taking his man out, once even laying out a nice hip check. Could improve his first step quickness but his top end speed is impressive as he can rush the puck up the ice on his own, also has good lateral quickness as he can execute quick lateral cuts to avoid the opposition when handling the puck. Possesses soft hands for a defenseman, has some one on one trickery, and can stickhandle himself out situations in his own zone.

Decisive decision maker, on the penalty kill won a lot of battles down low then wasted no time icing the puck off the boards crisply not allowing the opposition to hold the zone. Uses his frame to really suffocate the opposition in tight, neutralized his man one on one for the most part. Brehm has plenty of skill and quarterbacked the power play. Has a cannon of a slap shot, which he likes to use even at the red line, very good one timer that is accurate. Creative in utilizing his shot, shoots for teammates sticks looking for tips or uses his shot as a pass to an open teammate at the side of the net. Above average passer, delivers the puck right through the middle of the slot past penalty killers on the power play. Looks the opposition off, delivers a crisp outlet pass, can stretch the ice with a long pass to catch the opposition a line change, has a fine saucer pass. Will kill the puck on the boards if he is danger instead of making an errant pass.

Stephen Carew (2007), F, Benilde St. Margaret

Skilled right winger, standing at only 5'9 170 he looks small & weak, but surprisingly doesn't get knocked off his feet when checked, possesses good balance. Has rapid acceleration and has a deceptive change of gears which allows him to beat the defenseman outside. Can go from stand still to top speed in a few quick strides, has the speed to separate himself from the opposition when in possession of the puck. Possesses soft hands, can catch a pass even if it's ways off the mark, has a solid arsenal of one on one moves, weaved through the neutral zone at times. Impressive hand eye coordination, twice tipped the point shot on the net for a prime scoring chance. Crisp passer but lacks top end vision, just elects for the easiest play, has a quick snap shot but it could be more accurate, however he does have some tricky dekes once in a lone with the goalie. Works to get open in the offensive zone but the same cannot be said in his own end where he needs improvement. A rather one-dimensional player who will need to improve his defensive habits. A solid right winger with speed and skill, but ultimately will need to improve both his set up and finishing skills along with a better defensive game.

Chris Student (2008), D, Benilde St. Margaret

Possesses elite wheels, he is an absolutely phenomenal skater. Has very quick feet, which propel a very powerful stride that gets a maximum burst of speed with each step. . Student can fly end to end and take the puck all the way from his goal line to the opposition's zone. Loves to carry the puck up the ice and lead the rush, isn't a dangler but is elusive at full speed because he can simply out skate people at this level. Skates with his head up, sees the open ice and exploits it. Impressive agility, laterally strong while skating backwards. Can skate backwards with the faster players on the opposing team while keeping a tight gap off the oppositions rush. Quarterbacked the second power play unit, instinctive offensively, likes to join the offensive rush, once scoring a goal by supporting the rush as the third man high before wristing the puck top shelf.

Possesses a quick wrister that is accurate, his slap shot could be more powerful but when he jumps in to an open lane and gets the puck, he is a threat to score every time. Creative playmaker who tries to break the game open from the point with a crisp pass through difficult lanes, often executing the play. Some times skates the puck to much and should pass more. Sound defensively as he frustrates the opposition by staying in position at all times because he recovers so well with his skating. Still small at 5'10 160 he will need to add a physical component to his game before his draft year. At this point, he is not to interested in the rough stuff in his own end, and was not very difficult to beat one on one in close. Player to keep an eye on for his skating ability alone, but he does bring more than just that to the table.

SHATTUCK St. MARY'S

Ben Youds (2007), D, Shattuck Prep

Mankato recruit is an above average offensive defenseman who also gets combative in his own zone. Distributes the puck well, can make a crisp pass or put some touch on his saucer passes, has refined vision and reads the play well. Didn't panic when breaking the puck of the zone, and was willing to hold onto the puck in the face of pressure instead of rushing the play. Likes to skate the puck up the ice on his own and at times taking it deep into the opposition's zone. Aggressively pinches in the offensive zone looking to unleash his quickly released wrist shot that is accurate in tight, not a scoring threat from the outside though as his shot ultimately lacks power. Handles the puck well but isn't a threat one on one. Not a dominant offensive defenseman though he supports the play well. Did get caught up the ice on occasion but seemed to pick his spots better as the game progressed. Possesses striking balance, comes out of large scrums with the puck, and held the zone well showing good hand eye coordination. Adequate skater, first step quickness is okay, and his top end speed is above average, doesn't struggle skating with his man defensively and shows fine agility. Maintains inside position one on one and is rather competitive in front of the net. A solid two way defenseman who is dependable in his own end and an asset in the offensive zone but never fully took control of the game.

Ben Blood (2007), D, Shattuck Prep

Has great size, tall and very strong throughout his frame. Uses his size to be an adequate physical presence, took his man out into the boards and pinned him there effectively. Laid out a nice open ice hit on his own blue line catching his man with his head down before laying him out. Uses strong upper body to shield the opposition from the puck while in possession, can make a man bounce off of him when being hit. Still could stand to grow a mean streak and be more dominant in front of his own net. Mobile for a player of his size, his agility is especially good, has a fine stride with a good burst to it after he reaches top speed gaining some momentum. When a man is open he makes a quick crisp pass and shows the potential to be a solid passer, in fact he looks pretty comfortable distributing the puck on the power play.

However he did hold onto the puck to long on occasion, some times allows the puck to be stripped as he can get careless in possession, or will force a pass through traffic allowing it to be intercepted, this should improve with maturity though because for the most part he is an adequate passer. Used as the gunner on the power play, likes to shoot, has a quick release on his slap shot, solid one timer, keeps his shot low every time and his shots have some zip on them. When a scrum pursues in front of the oppositions net he likes to jump in and look for a rebound. Was noticeably more aggressive offensively late in the game when he began to skate the puck into the zone on his own. A legit prospect that could be drafted on the first day in 2007.

Jordan Murray (2008), F, Shattuck Prep

A tough pint sized player who plays with a lot of jam. Recklessly uses his body to be a pest on the forecheck, willing to skate straight into heavy traffic, anticipates the game well and is keen at creating turnovers. Gritty player, battles hard for loose pucks which he usually wins and refuses to give up on a play with or without the puck. Has some guts, once took a huge open ice hit then bounced right back up, created a turn over and drew a penalty by driving the net. Asset to the penalty kill for his tireless work ethic stops and starts. Uses his quickness in tight spaces as an asset at both ends of the ice. Has a very quick first step that allows him to jump on an errant pass to create a turn over, or to be effective with the puck often taking the shortest route to the net. Is a bull dog with the puck, attempts to go right through traffic and is tough to knock off his feet for a small player. Adequate hand skill, at times showing some nifty moves but isn't very elusive. A small pinball like player who plays hard, shows striking anticipation, and has some skill.

David Toews (2008), F, Shattuck Prep

The younger brother of Jonathan Toews lacks the size of his brother but shares many of the same offensive gifts. Plays center, is very good on draws, wins most of them cleanly and ties up the opposing center well. A gifted playmaker that can break the game open with a remarkable pass. Possesses elite vision of the ice, can see open lanes that his peers cannot, delivers crisp passes and can thread the needle through traffic. Ran the power play from the half wall, where he was a dual threat to both score and create. At times he would go to the slot and unleash a quick wrist shot, or he would appear to look like he was about to shoot before dishing off an accurate no look pass to a teammate for a grand scoring opportunity. Is a threat to score, possesses a quickly released wrist shot that he can pick corners with even from the outside much like his brother, still could work on being more accurate in close though. Has amazing hands, for not having the threat of speed he forces the opposition back because of his hand skill, once faked inside before dragging it to the outside fooling the defender one on one.

Overall speed could be improved, has quick feet with a fine stable stride but he lacks explosiveness, although he compensates with sharp anticipation and his general feel for the flow of the game. Strong on his feet in traffic was never knocked over, and much like his brother, he has the ability to stay on his feet in front of the oppositions net and get the puck on his stick. Savvy two-way player, who understands the game in all three zones, played on the penalty kill and was very effective at being aggressive jumping on the point men disrupting the oppositions defenseman on the power play, even saw time while being down 5-3. Looks to be a smaller version of his older brother.

Brock Montpetit (2008), F, Shattuck Prep

Verbally committed to the Wisconsin Badgers, Montpetit possesses the offensive upside that gets scouts excited. Brock is a great skater, he has quick strides that propel a phenomenal burst out of the gates, also possesses an exceptional top end gear that allows him to skate the puck up the ice all on his own. Elusive, agile player who can be quick in tight spaces, once made the opposition fall when he was going full flight before quickly stopping, then turning on the jets again in an instant. Slick hands with some appealing one on one moves that are dangerous, gifted with soft hands but still learning how to fully harness them with his speed to be a deadly threat. Brock is an able playmaker, was impressive at making plays low in the offensive zone, showed good vision, made crisp passes, and once fed a nice pass through a very small lane to an open man right in the slot for a prime scoring chance. Smallish, easily knocked off the puck once a man gets contact on him, and seems to stay on the perimeter rarely ever truly using all of his skill to be a threat to the net. Could stand to improve his shooting arsenal as his wrist shot has an adequate release with some solid velocity but he wasn't able to pick corners with it. Should be a sought after commodity when the 2008 draft roles around.

Brett Kostolansky (2008), D, Shattuck Prep

Reminds me a lot of former skilled two-way defenseman from Shattuck Taylor Chorney. Everything Kostolansky does is at a quick pace. Quarterbacked the power play, crisply distributes the puck, takes little time to find the open man and delivers quick & accurate passes making it difficult for the opposing defenders to stay in position. At times flashes his play making exploits too often, at times ignoring open shooting lanes, although that likely has to do with his partner Ben Blood having a huge shot and him having a very weak shot that when he did use had trouble getting it through. Quick, agile feet, very good first step quickness allows him to win battles to loose pucks and escape pressure when in possession, but rarely elects to skate the puck far before making a pass. Pivots smoothly, can turn on a dime, and his acceleration is superb. Has a quick stick with some nice moves to avoid on coming pressure but could use his hands more to be a threat offensively, is a skilled player who still looks a bit tentative to use his talents to his full for fear of ignoring his defensive assignments. Can skate with anyone off the rush, maintains a healthy gap, crafty at staying in position in his own end. Won't back down from traffic at any zone and is fairly effective competing physically despite his modest size, wasn't knocked off his feet. Hopefully he begins to use his full tool box before his draft year, but with that said, he's still a very good player at this stage, but I think he could be even more.

David Carle (2008), D, Shattuck Prep

It was easy to identify David as the younger brother of Matt Carle as he plays a similar style and shares the wide legged stride with his chest constantly up much like his brother. Mobile, swiftly pivots, agile & effective skater in tight, although I would hesitate to call him explosive as his top end speed is just adequate compared to his fine first step. Can stay with his man one on one, can skate with his man off the rush, however he needs to get stronger and improve his defensive play in traffic areas. Does a fine job of forcing his man to the outside in open ice by maintaining proper positioning, but struggles with physical one on one battles. Keeps his head on a swivel at all times, shows strong vision with or without the puck, anticipates the play well at both ends. Instinctive puck mover, makes quick one touch passes, looks off the man before making a play, passes are crisp, shows upside as a power play quarterback.

Possesses an above average shooting arsenal from the point, quickly releases his wrist shot that he accurately gets to the net quickly. Communicates well with his partner and presents himself well for a pass. Holds the zone well, once dropping to his knees at open ice to keep the puck in the offensive zone. Makes bright decisions on the break out, at times elects to skate the puck up out of the zone on his own. Very composed when in possession of the puck, has a high panic threshold while in possession, gains the offensive zone then makes the first pass without panicking, some times too calm though as he was stripped of the puck at the blue line leading to a rush the other way. A fine two way defenseman whose progress is comparable to that of his brothers at the same age when he played for the USA U-17's, the development from here and out will seal his fate as a prospect.

Stephan Novotny (2009), F, Shattuck Prep

The youngest player at the tournament, he was also the most impressive. Looks like a blue chip prospect for the 2009 draft, Novotny reminds me of a young Milan Michalek. Novotny already has good size; he is tall and has a strong frame. Possesses exceptional skating ability, has a very lively, quick stride that generates fine power, his acceleration is first-rate for a player of his size, and he hits top speed in a few short strides. Possesses a blistering top gear that allows him to get to the outside on defenseman, very difficult to contain with his size and top speed. Not a dangler but does possess some nifty one on one moves, has a quick stick and can maneuver through traffic, rather shifty for a player of his size. Definitely more of a play maker than finisher, shows fine vision, passes were crisp and tape to tape, usually elects the safe route when distributing the puck. Needs to upgrade his finishing ability that said he did score a goal by going to the net for a loose rebound and is not hesitant to shoot as he did put the puck on net four times.

However, his shot lacks velocity and accuracy. Smart, instinctive player, who anticipates the game very well, is savvy about finding the open ice. Responsible two way player, back checked hard, picks his man up well, uses his long reach to disrupt passing lanes and received time on the penalty kill. For his size he could drive the net more when in possession of the puck, at times plays on perimeter, also I didn't see him finish his checks so I would hesitate to call him a power forward. Did go end to end late in the game trying to score the winning goal but missed on the back handed attempt, showing me when he wants to he can take his game to the next level. A name to consider for the 2009 draft most definitely and an early favorite to be a high pick.

Derek Stepan (2008), F, Shattuck Prep

Skilled forward to keep an eye on, was not a consistent threat shift after shift but did break through on the power play to be an opportune offensive threat. Possesses soft hands with some nice toe-drag moves to elude a check. Has a quick, accurate wrist shot that he likes to use, especially in close. Will find a quiet area on the power play, then receive the pass and attack the net looking to shoot.

MINNESOTA NORTHWEST

Nick Carson (2008), D, Blaine

Average size at 6-0 180 but is a big time physical presence, reminiscent of Bryan Marchment. Has a nose for landing the huge open ice hit, laid out the opposition several times at open ice, delivers surprising power from his hits which could often be heard throughout the whole rink. Plays his man one on one very tough, has a mean streak and gets nasty without being dirty. Lacks an offensive element to his game, a no non sense get the puck out of the zone off the glass type puck mover, and when he has the puck in the neutral zone he often looks to dump the puck into the oppositions zone. Skating is a weak point, awkward looking agility, and has a weak stride that looks unstable. Still he anticipates the flow of the game well and puts himself in the right position. If he gets a bit bigger and faster, he could be a player to keep in mind at the 2008 draft.

Brandon Martell (2007), D, Elk River

Possesses the raw tools to catch a scout's attention but has a rap for being inconsistent shift to shift. Has a nice lanky frame at 6-3 180 to build into. Martell has attractive mobility with fine agility and some hand skill for a player with his height. Skates backwards well enough to stay with his man although some times he gives to wide of gaps allowing his man to get a shot from the slot. For a player of his size I would like to see him be more consistently physical. At times he shows a mean streak laying out a few nice hit in a row and some times even getting chippy away from the play, however at times he's also very passive during one on one battles in his own end, which leads to him getting beaten off the boards allowing his man to go to the net freely. Solid offensively, has soft hands with a long reach that allows him to protect the puck. Has a cannon of a slap shot , but his passing game is rather sloppy, throws the puck up the middle, turns it over with errant passes and some times misses an open guy because he doesn't pass it crisp enough.

Chris Slavik (2007), D, Elk River

Skilled defenseman with an edge but looks smaller then his listed size at 6-1 185. Confident in skating the puck up the ice, has some hand skill stick handling the puck around the opposition one on one, however does over handle the puck at times and was stripped of the puck at his own blue line. When running the play from the point, he likes to attack the slot, make one man miss then unloads a hard, accurate wrist shot. A threat to score from the point with his heavy shots, which he likes to use. Above average passer, quarterbacks the power play but often elects to shoot first pass later. Fine skater with good start up speed, pivots well and defensively can skate with his man.

Has a nasty edge in his own zone, very competitive with his man in front of the net. Was ejected from one contest for elbowing his man in the head after his goaltender was knocked off his feet. Uses his stick too much, often caught holding and hooking which won't work with the new obstruction crack down. I would like to see him bulk up as he will hit but it's not very effective if he doesn't come with a full head of steam. Clogs passing lanes and blocks shots well, is willing to sacrifice his body. A skilled defenseman who likes to have the puck in his hands.

Joe Baudette (2007), F, Blaine

Possesses a sizable frame at 6-3 180, even looks taller and should top out around 6-4. Easy to notice for his combination of speed and size. Elegant skater for a big man has a fine long stride that is fairly strong to go along with his above average foot speed. Doesn't have the prettiest stick handling moves but is effective getting by the opposition as he has strong hands and protects the puck well. Difficult to move off of the puck, Joe has fine balance, once stayed on his feet a foot away from the oppositions net when he delivered a nice saucer pass with guys draped all over him that lead to a goal. Reads the play well, shows adequate vision and makes good feeds but isn't a deadly play maker as he lacks that composer with the puck that great play makers have. Has a heavy slap shot that he likes to use once he gains the offensive zone, although it is wild and he will need to improve on his accuracy.

His play away from the puck is inconsistent, was used on the penalty kill, even when down 5-3, and at time he showed good defensive awareness, used his long reach to be disruptive and back checked hard. Late in the game however he looked to be only interested in offense, floating around and leaving the zone before his team gained full possession. Finished the odd check but needs to take advantage of his large frame and become more physical. Teases you with size and skating ability but never put it together to be a consistent threat.

Mike Schaber (2008), F, Blaine

Well built forward with a solid frame. Above average skater, possesses a strong stride with very good top speed. He's a freight train a coming on the forecheck when he gets a full head of steam. Exceptional puck pursuit on the forecheck and wins the majority of foot races for a loose puck. Hard working away from the puck, doesn't coast, stops and starts. Does look awkward on turns and struggles in tight spaces, a much better straight away skater than a lateral one. Works hard defensively, was an asset to the penalty kill. Has okay hands but didn't do anything offensively and never used his tools to create a scoring opportunity. Did not see the open man and struggled passing the puck. A strong skating up and down winger who might find an offensive touch before his draft day.

Brandon Brodhag (2007), F, Champlin Park

A fine skating center that plays a sound two way game. Likes to use his speed to get to the outside before driving hard to the net. Likes to carry the puck through the neutral zone where he can use his speed to separate and gain the zone. Possesses a quick release on his wrist shot that can catch the goalie off guard when he come crashing to the net from the wing. Catches passes well and shows good hand eye coordination but isn't a dangler. Not very elusive one on one, simply just uses his speed to the outside then drives to the middle. Anticipates the flow of the game well when without the puck, used on the penalty kill. Effective on the forecheck, gets in quickly on his man and created a few turnovers jumping on errant passes. Think poor mans Drew Stafford.

Mark Guggenberger (2007), G, Richfield

Has the size at 6-2 185 and plays a classic butterfly style. Was credited with 69 saves in one contest, but his defense did a good job collapsing around the net limiting secondary scoring chances. Stays square to the first shooter, and has good positional sense in the crease. Follows the puck through traffic exceptionally well, made all the saves through screens thanks to his positioning and big frame. Patient does not go down to early but does go down on every shot, is very difficult to beat on the initial shot. Has a flashy glove side that is impenetrable, uses his glove to corral rebounds on his chest. Adequate blocker side although rebound control is shaky. Rebound control overall was average, not a glaring weakness but it could be improved. Possesses long limbs, extends his legs out well when he hits the butterfly, and seems to have fairly flexible legs. Aggressively plays the puck with strong passes, can make a pass to the opposition's zone, once caught the opposition on a line change, and aggressively sent the puck up to exploit it.

Communicates well his teammates, a chirpy player on the ice who can be heard talking some trash to opponents. Competitive kid who noticeably thrives on difficult situations like the penalty kill, and each big save he made seemed to inflate his ego. Needs to improve his ability to recover for the second shot. Often he would make the first save then resort to flopping on the ice which doesn't cut it. All three goals that were scored on him were second shots that he should've had if he would've recovered to his stance. Was also exposed on breakaways where his below average lateral speed showed. Lacks the foot speed as well. Overall some teams really like his style of goaltending and he can be very effective if you put a team in front of him that will keep the shots to the outside and limit secondary scoring chances.

2006 Hockey East Top Incoming Recruits (posted 9.26.06)

by Vincent Montalbano

HE Top 15 Forward Recruits

1. Ted Purcell RW, Maine

2. Luke Popko C, BU

3. Peter Leblanc C, UNH

4. Chris Auger LW, Mass-Lowell

5. Ben Smith C, BC

6. Zach Cohen LW, BU

7. Tony Morrone LW, Maine

8. Zach Sill C, Maine

9. Jason Bergeron C, Mass-Lowell

10. Mike Vaskivou LW, Merrimack

11. Matt Price C, BC

12. Will Ortiz C, Mass-Amherst

13. Jonathan Maniff C, Mass-Lowell

14. Viktor Stahlberg LW, Vermont

15. Matt Lombardi RW, BC

Honorable Mention:

Chris Atkinson C, Vermont

Brayden Irwin RW, Vermont

Chris Eppich RW, Providence

Frank Stegnar LW, Mass-Lowell

HE Top 10 Defenseman Recruits

1. Brian Strait D, BU

2. Carl Sneep D, BC

3. Nick Schaus D, Mass-Lowell

4. Mark Fayne D, Providence

5. Eric Gryba D, BU

6. Barry Goers D, Lowell

7. Dave Strathman D, Northeastern

8. Brandon Sadlowski D, Merrimack

9. Jeremy Dehner D, Mass-Lowell

10. Martin Nolet D, Mass-Amherst

Honorable Mention:

Pat Cullity D, Vermont

Tommy Powers D, Mass-Lowell

HE Top 5 Goalie Recruits

1. Brett Bennett G, BU

2. Ryan Simpson G, Providence

3. Brad Thiessen G, Northeastern

4. Brian Foster G, UNH

5. Carter Hutton G, Mass-Lowell

Honorable Mention:

Andrew Braithwaite G, Merrimack

Nevin Hamilton G, Mass-Lowell

2006 Massachusetts Tier I Labor Day Face-Off Tournament (posted 9.25.06)

by Vincent Montalbano

A 90 team tournament that consisted of division for the 14-Under, 16-Under, 18-Under, and 19-Under/ High School from teams as far as Alaska. Here are notes on some of the notable performers including Kyle Palmieri, David Warsofsky, and Tampa Bay draftee Kevin Quick.

16-U East/ West Division

495 Stars

Brett Riley F, (Needham HS)

Has a quick, short stride .. average offensive abilities, but tremendous worker in the corners .. good defensive awareness.

Las Vegas Outlaws

Michael Chiasson D, Green Valley HS, (Las Vegas Outlaws)

An average to above-average skater with decent speed .. plays solid 1-on-1 and has a strong presence in front .. needs more poise with puck defensively .. offensive needs to work on shot and getting the puck to the net quicker.

Matt Hedderly F, Green Valley HS, (Las Vegas Outlaws)

A slippery player with decent hands .. needs more power in his stride, but seems to have an extra gear when coming down on defender .. created good scoring chances when in the offensive zone.

Jason Zucker F, Bonanza HS, (Las Vegas Outlaws)

The youngest member of the Las Vegas team, a '92 DOB .. has good vision in the offensive zone and uses his teammates well .. scored a nice tip-in goal on a shot from the point .. possesses decent speed, but seems to lack that extra speed.

16-U Atlantic/ Pacific Division

Greater Boston Jr. Bruins

Ian Graves D, (Nobles)

Played a tremendous game against the Phantom Fireworks of Ohio..displayed tremendous poise with the puck, especially on the power play .. a vocal defender with a good, solid stride with average speed .. has good hands and ability to take a hit while protecting the puck .. scored a nice goal when took a pass from his defensive partner and snapped a quick shot low post .. needs to make better decisions when getting involved in the offense and work on his 1-on-1 defending.

Mark Hourihan F, (Nobles)

Good size (listed as 6'2") and a '91 DOB .. has good speed, but is not a pretty skater and definitely not smooth .. has solid hands and nice offensive abilities, but could use his teammates better.

John Edmonston F, (Catholic Memorial)

Has some good offensive capabilities .. displayed good vision on the power play and has a solid shot.

Mid-Fairfield Blues – CT

Jamie Knight D, (Choate)

Tremendous size defender (listed as 6'4") .. needs to work on his skating as he does not have much power in his stride and his hands/ body go everywhere when he gets moving .. possesses a decent shot and is strong defensively in the corners and in front of his net.

New Jersey Jr. Devils

Kyle Palmieri F, St. Peters Prep, (New Jersey Jr. Devils)

A smooth, strong skater with no glaring weakness .. not the fastest player, but slows the play down with his poise .. has good hands with tremendous offensive abilities .. has patience with the puck and good vision .. definite player with high potential.

Alex Velischek D, Delbarton, (New Jersey Jr. Devils)

Very offensive defenseman with good hands .. has short, strong strides and uses his speed to get involved in the offense and rush back on defense .. on the powerplay, he displayed tremendous vision and patience .. needs to work on his 1-on-1 defensive play and could use teammates more.

Redmond Colson D, Birch-Wathen, (New Jersey Jr. Devils)

Strong defender with good speed when backward skating .. his forward skating is only average with not much strength in his stride .. defensively, he plays tough in the corners and has solid positioning.

Michael Garlasco F, Don Bosco Prep, (New Jersey Jr. Devils)

A strong forward (listed as 6') with good speed .. possesses a quick stride that allows him to get in on the forecheck quickly .. displays a solid set of skills, but nothing stands out.

Chris Preziosi F, Seton Hall, (New Jersey Jr. Devils)

Shifty forward (listed as 5'9") .. typical smaller forward with quick moves and a solid skater .. uses speed well to beat defenders and only needs a few quick strides to get going.

Robert Sorrenti F, Ramapo Regional HS, (New Jersey Jr. Devils)

Solid forward with good strength (listed as 6'1") .. showed good work on the face-offs and good vision in the offensive zone .. displayed patience with the puck on the power play and scored a nice goal with a quick release .. needs to work on skating .. weak skater with average speed.

Team Comcast – PA

Matt Milana F, Unionville HS, (Team Comcast)

Display short, quick strides and good speed .. despite his size (listed as 5'6"), always seems to get in on the forecheck and not afraid to play physical .. showed decent offensive awareness and vision.

Ryan Tyson F, LaSalle College Prep, (Team Comcast)

A similar player to Cushing Academy's Broc Little .. very quick and shifty forward with tremendous poise and smart with the puck .. creates numerous scoring chances with his poise and creativity with the puck .. displayed quick strides and hands..unlike Little, Tyson uses his teammates well.

Ryan Mara F, St. Augustine Prep, (Team Comcast)

Physical forward who seems to dish out hits every shift he is on the ice .. his skating does not stand-out and possesses decent speed .. strong in the corners, but seems to have limited offensive abilities.

Matt Hughes F, CB East HS, (Team Comcast)

Lanky forward with a long reach .. needs to fill into his body and strengthen his stride .. has decent hands, but displayed a weak shot .. also needs to work on his hands in close and tight situations.

Victory Honda – MI

Josh Royston F, (Victory Honda)

Displays a good stride with good speed .. very heads-up defensively and works hard to back-check to help defenseman .. a reliable forward with average offensive abilities.

18-U North/ South Division

Long Island Gulls

Michael Blach G, Chaminade HS, (Long Island Gulls)

An unorthodox type style in net that many some goalies have picked up from Dominik Hasek .. he has a tendency to flop around, but is very quick so never lets himself get out of position .. has tremendous reflexes .. covers everything up and does not leave many rebounds .. faced a lot of shots against the NS Wings due to his teams penalty trouble

Portland Jr. Pirates – ME

Bass Chadwick F, Gardiner HS, (Portland Jr. Pirates)

A good, strong stride with good speed, but has tendency to swing stick around when skating .. a definite presence on the power play with his poise and vision .. seemed to have a few quiet shifts and with a full roster, his ice time seemed minimal, but on the power play, Chadwick shows his offensive talents.

Kyle Weiland F, Thornton Academy, (Portland Jr. Pirates)

Like Chadwick, his offensive capabilities came out only during the power plays .. showed good hands and a solid shot.

18-U East/ West Division

Central Mass Outlaws

Jim Crowley D, (Pomfret)

An offensive defenseman with a strong shot from the point .. skates very well with the puck, but tries to do all the work himself .. his defensive coverage is very weak and sometimes looks like he is running around .. on the power play, he displays good poise and ability to get the puck to the net through screens.

Mercer Chiefs – NJ

Mike Slowikowski D, Notre Dame HS, (Mercer Chiefs)

Good size (listed 6 foot 4 and 195 pounds) .. an awkward looking skater, but has good speed with his long stride .. showed good mobility for size .. seems to stay within his ability, as he does not try to do too much .. he gets the puck and makes the safe play up the ice .. displayed a strong shot from the point.

Kyle Richards G, Pennridge HS, (Mercer Chiefs)

A big goaltender (listed 6 foot 3) .. plays the top of his crease well .. uses his large frame well so that he does not have to make quick stops .. has good positioning .. plays the puck well too.

Phantom Fireworks

CJ Burke F, (Central Catholic)

A diminutive forward, generously listed 5 foot 9 .. very shifty and has good hands .. uses his quick strides to turn on the jets and has ability to control the puck at top speed .. scored a beautiful goal after beating two defenders, Burke went in alone and quickly moved from his backhand to forehand and put it 5-hole.

19-U High School

495 Stars – MA

Nicholas Hunnewell F, (Milton Academy)

A physical forward who loves to get in quickly on the forecheck .. has good speed, but seems to just glide around at times .. does not hold onto the puck for long as he makes the simple plays and works to get open .. very effective in front of the net causing screens and giving his linemates more open room to move around.

Shawn McCloud F, (Milton Academy)

A smart forward who is very effective when short-handed .. scored a nice short-handed goal against Boston Eagle .. his skating is above average, but does need to work on getting more power with his strides.

Boston Jr. Eagles

Dan Furlong D, (Catholic Memorial)

A heads-up defenseman .. moves the puck up the ice well and has solid outlet passes .. seems to have limited offensive skills, but defensively showed to be strong in the corners and in front of his net .. a '91 DOB and the youngest member of his team.

Kevin McNamara D, (Belmont Hill)

A strong skating defenseman with a good stride .. has tremendous ability to skate with the puck and create offense for his team .. good poise with the puck and possessed a strong shoot from the point .. needs to work on his outlet passes, at times they were perfect and sometimes made a few off the mark.

Matt McCollem F, (Belmont Hill)

Recent 6th round draft pick of the St. Louis Blues .. has a smooth, long stride with good speed .. backchecks hard and never seems to stop moving .. offensive had a quiet game against the Pittsburgh Hornets and did not play against the 495 Stars.

Joe Tierney F, (Belmont Hill)

Has good speed with the puck and drives to the net when he does not .. his stride is average and needs to have more strength behind it .. has a decent shot .. has tendency to hit with his hands up high .. played on a line with twin brother Sean and McCollem.

Sean Tierney F, (Belmont Hill)

Has a short, quick stride and like his twin brother, has good speed .. seems to be a grinder and defensive-type forward with limited offensive abilities.

Luke Arnold F, (Belmont Hill)

Had a quiet game against the Pittsburgh Hornets, but played solid against the 495 Stars .. displayed a weak stride, but does possess quick feet .. takes him a few stride before he gets a good speed .. strong short-handed as he does a good job keeping his stick in the passing lane and helps out defensively.

Richie Dart D/F, (Lawrence Academy)

Can't miss him, listed as 6 foot 5 and 225 pounds .. decent hands with good mobility for his size .. lacks great speed, but his reach and size allows him to get good body position .. as a defenseman, Dart plays a strong defensive game that lacks much offensive flare .. on forward, he plays a grinder-type game and gets in the offensive zone and uses his body to create screens.

Jack McNamara F, (Belmont Hill)

The younger brother of Kevin .. a '90 DOB with a wide skating stride that gives him good speed .. seem to have limited ice-time with all the penalties called and was difficult to see all of his abilities .. look forward to seeing his game at the prep school level this season.

Boston Little Bruins

Jason Molle F, (Lawrence Academy)

A tremendous player, who despite his size, plays with some grit .. has quick strides and great speed .. displayed good offensive vision and poise .. got hit hard against South Shore when got sent a buddy pass.

Steve Morra F, (LaSalle Academy)

Displayed a powerful, long stride and seemed with each stride, he gains that extra gear .. offensively was very quiet against South Shore .. did managed to get a few shots off during the power play and seemed to have a strong, quick release.

John Henrion F, (Wachusett Regional HS)

One of the youngest members of the Little Bruins, a '91 DOB .. Henrion plays physical game and reliable defensively .. has quick strides with solid speed .. played short-handed when team was down two men .. did an excellent job of getting into shooting lane and maintaining good positioning.

Dom Jancaterino F, (St. Sebastian's)

Another player with limited ice-time due to an abundance of penalties called .. did play a few shifts short-handed .. very quick and seems to have a solid package of offensive abilities, although only seen in spurts .. look forward to seeing his performance at St. Sebastian's.

Andrew Glass F, (Nobles)

A definite leader on the ice .. has quick hands and a solid built .. during one play, he made a move around one defender with his quick hands and when going around the other got bumped, but held onto the puck before quickly sending a pass over to his linemate for a goal .. skates tremendously well with the puck, but does have a tendency to over-handle the puck .. plays very solid when team was down 5-on-3 .. displayed good vision and poise on the power play.

Josh Franklin F, (Nobles)

Has a long, smooth stride .. did not seem too involved in the offense .. willing to fire a long shot on net and go after the puck .. with his team short-handed for long stretches of the game, he did not see much ice-time.

Mike Vasilchuk D, (BC High)

A tremendous offensive defenseman .. possesses a solid outlet pass and a great shot from the point and keeps them low .. made a remarkable pass on the power play for his teams first goal .. on the power play, he is not afraid to unleash a low shot from the point .. can be physical at times and undisciplined .. took a bad penalty when team was already down a man.

Stephen Moses F, (St. Bernard's)

Seemed to have ice-time limited to only powerplays and 5-on-3's .. played the point on the power play .. scored when joined the rush to create a 2-on-1 and beat the goalie up top when he slid across .. scored his second goal of the game when he unleashed a rocket from the point on a 5-on-3 .. displayed creative vision and hard crisp passes .. has quick, smooth, short strides .. does seem to be a little chippy and can get aggravated easily.

Oliver Koo F, (Westminster)

Seemed to be a solid, but unspectacular forward .. nothing stands out, and no glaring weaknesses .. did lack ice-time like some other teammates .. another player that McKeen's looks forward to viewing during the season.

Cape Cod Whalers

John Muse G, (Nobles)

Muse is a solid goaltender who has quick reflexes and a butterfly-style .. was not tested much in the game against the Portland Jr. Pirates .. handles the puck well and even helps his team develop some rushes.

Chris Steele F/D, (Nobles)

Was listed as a defenseman and played defense at Nobles, but was a forward during the game against the Jr. Pirates .. has quick, strong strides and was effective on the forecheck .. did not provide much offense with a team stacked with offensive talent, but played a solid game.

Michael Griffin F, (Nobles)

Has a wide stride and needs time to get going .. seems to lack offensive creativity .. has a good shot, but rarely uses it .. quiet game against the Jr. Pirates.

Sean Whitney D, (Cushing)

Has good size, listed as 6 foot 4 and 210 pounds .. displayed a physical presence in the defensive zone and has good defensive coverage .. lacks speed with and without the puck .. when the puck is in the offensive zone, Whitney does possess a certain poise and makes smart plays with the puck, but is not considered an offensive defenseman.

Brian Gibbons F, (Salisbury)

A tremendous speed with the puck and the vision to make him dangerous every shift .. great in tight and showed he can finish .. has great hands .. displayed a strong, long stride, especially for someone who is listed as 5 foot 7.

Derrick Pallis D, (Nobles)

A solid defenseman with no glaring weaknesses .. plays a similar game to Kevin Quick, but lacks the offense Quick has .. but more built than Quick and uses his strength well .. skates well with the puck and creates some offense with his solid slap shot from the point .. should be relied on for more offense this year at Nobles.

Greater Boston Jr. Bruins

Alex Gallen D, (Cushing)

A good defenseman with a heavy shot from the point .. has a long stride with average strength behind it .. can play a physical style .. displayed good patient on the power play and there were many powerplays.

John Heffernan F, (BC High)

A solid forward who has good hands and uses his 6 foot 2 frame to protect the puck well .. an average skater with decent speed .. vocal on the ice, especially on the power play .. scored a nice goal against Team Comcast when he used the opposing defender as a screen and fired a shot 5-hole .. a solid player with good upside.

Michael Keenan D, (Catholic Memorial)

An average skater with not much power behind his stride .. displayed decent vision on the powerplay and average patience .. has too big of a wind-up on his slap shot .. got shot blocked twice on a 5-on-3 advantage.

Dave Warsofsky D, (Cushing)

A tremendously talented defender .. a definite offensive defenseman with an accurate shot from the point as seen by his hat trick against Neponset Valley .. the game against Neponset Valley saw his team with a 5-on-3 advantage with 7 minutes left in the first and the first 8 minutes in the second, and David played a huge portion of that power play .. showed great patience and poise to work the puck around and wait for the best shot .. his first goal during the 5-on-3 was when he walked in from the blue line and blasted a shot beating the goalie top corner with no screen .. his second goal was a one-timer that he kept low and went right in .. the last goal he scored is when he sneaked down from the point, received a nice pass, and re-directed the puck into the net .. needs to add more strength for his defensive play and in the corners .. very vocal and displays a great talent for carry the puck.

Matt White F, (Cushing)

The California native is a shifty forward with creative hands .. an average skater with decent speed .. displayed a quick release on his goal against Team Comcast .. overall not much ice-time with all the power plays, but looks to be a solid pick-up for Cushing this upcoming season.

Chris Brown F, (St. Sebastian's)

Has an excellent shot, but seems to lack accuracy .. a strong skater with good acceleration .. had a quiet game against both Team Comcast and Neponset Valley .. look forwarding to seeing his progress during the prep school season.

Christian Ebert F, (Middlesex School)

Similar to Chris Brown, Ebert has a quick release and a solid shot .. showed good speed against Team Comcast, but lacks the offensive capabilities like many of his teammates .. was quiet during the game against Neponset Valley and not utilized much during the teams extensive 5-on-3 advantage.

Torin Snydeman F, (Cushing)

A solid skater with no glaring weaknesses .. has good speed and hustles every shift .. a smart player who never seems to play outside himself, but needs to round out his game more and bring his game up to a new level .. scored a nice goal against Neponset Valley while team had 5-on-3 advantage, when he snapped a shot from the top of the circle.

Broc Little F, (Cushing)

An offensive talent with good hands and vision .. has good poise with puck, but does have tendency to try to do everything himself .. also has lack of effort at times when things do not go his way .. has a wide stride with good speed, but needs to add strength to his frame .. against Neponset Valley, had a quiet first period and missed a great scoring chance .. against Team Comcast, made a bad pass while short-handed that led to a Comcast goal.

TJ Massie G, (Cushing)

Not tested much with all the power play time his team received .. early in the first period against Neponset Valley made some solid saves against Joe Whitney and Jack Clayman .. plays at top of crease and has good reflexes.

Neponset Valley River Rats

Kevin Quick D, (Salisbury)

Recently drafted by Tampa Bay .. plays a solid all-around game .. has a quick release from the point .. picks his spots as to when to join the rush .. on the power play, Quick really shines with his tremendous vision and great passes .. has poise with puck and never seems to get rattled when under pressure .. since his team was short-handed (5-on-3) for a total of around 16 minutes, Quick displayed his good defensive instincts and used an active stick in the passing lanes .. overall, a tremendous skater with a strong stride and skates well with the puck .. needs to strengthen his upper body.

Steve Bergin F, (Lawrence Academy)

Displayed a lot of offensive talent with his good hands and solid speed .. scored a nice goal on his team's rare power play chance .. plays good defensively and blocked a few shots while shorthanded .. while short-handed, missed on a breakaway .. could use his linemates better .. had two bad penalties that hurt his team and keep them down 5-on-3 .. received a 5 minute penalty for talking back to the referee.

Micah Williams D, (Lawrence Academy)

An average skater that is a little choppy .. plays a solid defensive game .. did not get much playing time with team short-handed for awhile .. needs to make better decisions with the puck and have more poise.

Steve Whitney F, (Lawrence Academy)

Small (listed as 5 foot 6) and quick forward with good offensive skills .. the youngest member of the team, a '91 DOB .. has short, and quick strides .. did not receive much playing time.

Joe Whitney F, (Lawrence Academy)

Small, skilled forward (listed as 5 foot 7) .. displayed good hands and vision especially on the power play .. has a solid, quick release .. showed good speed with the puck and has a short, quick stride.

Jack Clayman F, (Salisbury)

Has good size (listed as 6 foot 3) .. skating has seemed to improve a bit since last viewing .. using his long legs for a complete stride .. displayed good speed .. left the game with 6 minutes left in the first because of a hit-from-behind penalty.

Justin Gates G, (Lawrence Academy)

'08 Providence recruit .. very aggressive .. moves side-to-side very well and recovers well after first save .. played great while team short-handed and held the score 2-2 after the first period.

Pittsburgh Hornets

Donnie Harris D, (Home Schooled) (Pittsburgh Hornets)

An average skater with a long stride and not much strength .. moves up in the offense well and has a solid shot .. has good size (listed as 6 foot 2) .. solid on the power play and displayed good poise with the puck.

Portland Jr. Pirates

Nick Broadwater G, (Deering HS) (Portland Jr. Pirates)

Not tested much in the first .. showed his quick reflexes with quality saves against Brian Gibbons and Derek Pallis .. plays at the top of his crease .. average at playing the puck.

P.O. Michaud F, (Portland Jr. Pirates)

An offensive talent that can really skate .. a strong, quick stride with great speed .. displayed good hands and vision, especially on the power play.

Andrew Letellier F, (Portland Jr. Pirates)

A smooth skater with good speed .. displayed a good touch around the net and a solid one-timer on the powerplay .. has a quick release and can play physical when need arises.

South Shore Dynamos

Richie Crowley D, (Thayer Academy)

Youngest member of the team, a '91 DOB .. an average skater with a good stride .. did not receive much playing time with team short-handed for awhile.. had a tough time handling the strong group of forwards on the Boston Little Bruins .. needs work on positioning himself and using strength in front.

Team Comcast

David Gaines F, (Abington HS) (Team Comcast)

A small forward (listed as 5 foot 7) .. skates low and hunched over .. not very strong on his skates .. helps out defensively, but seems to have limited offensive ability.

Justin Kinnery F, (Cherokee HS) (Team Comcast)

An offensive forward with short, quick strides .. displayed good hands and a quick shot .. helped create the limited scoring chances his team was able to get .. uses his speed well.

USHL Pre-Season Prospect Impressions (posted 9.21.06)

by Max Giese

Nick Bailen (2008), D, Indiana

Do not let his lack of size fool you, this kid can play. A late 89-birth date whom is already his team's best two-way defenseman. Utilized in all situations, plays on the first power play unit, on the penalty kill, including being out there when his team is shorthanded five on three. Offensively he has a nice feel for distributing the puck. Bailen has fine vision and makes his decisions decisively. Senses danger well and seems to be elusive from the opposition as he delivers his passes before anyone can check him or get a stick on the puck. While he doesn't possess elite creativity, he's very effective at quarterbacking the power play. Impressive on the breakout, makes a crisp outlet pass and doesn't force an errant pass into traffic. Effective on the power play with nice, crisp, one touch passes. Not a big threat to score a goal though, picks his spots well and could be even more aggressive offensively as he has the tools. He seems to have some quick stick moves, has soft hands, while not an end to end threat he can buy himself time and can weave through traffic at times. Mobile in all directions, a pivot especially while not loosing any speed in the process but does not have dynamic top end speed but is a very smooth skater who can handle any situation. Holds the zone well, shows good hand eye coordination and corrals passes well. Nick left a good impression on the defensive side of the game. While he lacks height, Bailen is stocky and surprisingly strong. Has a sturdy base with a strong upper body that allows him to deliver some nice checks. Plays aggressively and looks for the big open ice hit. Maintains nice gaps off the rush, and I like how he isn't afraid to step up on his man and deliver the open ice hit. Chippy, willing to battle with his man and is competitive. Reminds me of a young Mike Green for his spirited physical play, and instinctive offensive game. (Washington's 1st in 04).

Dan Lawson (2007), D, Chicago

Lawson looks vastly improved this year compared to last and is poised for a breakout year. He's finally putting his extraordinary athleticism to use and is becoming a commanding presence on the back end. Is blessed with a fall frame that he has built into very well, he's so strong throughout his body that when people try to check him they just bounce off him. An aggressive player with or without the puck. He assertively jumps in to the offensive rush, likes to skate the puck up the ice all on his own and is very strong while in possession. Has a good first step and his stride has some power behind it, but it's his foot speed that really shines, allowing him to skate it end to end. Isn't a dangler but uses his size to shield the puck well and never fumbles with it, is confident while in possession. Has his limitations as a passer but didn't turned the puck over, mostly used has the gunner on the point. Has a quickly released point shot, can put his one timer on the net accurately one ringing one off the cross bar. Is an uncompromising shooter as he registered four shots in this contest. Elected to shoot on a 3-0. Defensively, his athleticism takes over; he tends to run around a lot in his own end but does it well. He hits like a truck, when he hits someone they just don't get moved off the puck, they get moved off of their feet. Looks for open ice hits and picks his spots well. I would like to see him take a more patient approach, as at times he over pursues the puck carrier taking him out of position. He's always had the ability but now he's fully utilizing it and is a force in the USHL this year.

Robert Martini (2007), D, Indiana

A steady stay at home type defenseman who can also distribute the puck when asked. Maintains good positioning when playing his man one on one, always gets the inside edge which allows him to steer the puck carry out scoring opportunities. Keen at blocking shots, does a good job of getting in the shooting lane and is willing to lie down to block a shot. One shift, he was on the ice for a five on three penalty kill and he blocked two shots before he was able send the puck down the ice. Is not a physical player, although he will use his solid frame to get in the way and push the man in possession of the puck. Uses a long stick, this gives a long reach which he uses to disrupt passing lanes and to poke check the puck away from his man. Martini elects the safe route every time while moving the puck. Is willing to sit behind his own net and wait for an open outlet option to appear. Not a flashy passer, but didn't turn the puck over either, didn't look awkward either when he was given time to operate on the point in the offensive zone. Not a pretty skater, but has deceptive straightaway speed which he only used late in the game when his team was down. Overall he's a steady defenseman who gets the job done in either end, but he isn't by any means a dominant player, just a solid one.

Brent Gwidt (Wsh), C, Indiana

Seems to be making a slow transition from high school hockey to the USHL. He showed flashes of the skill that made him a fifth round draft pick in 2005, but overall was a non factor in the game. Gwidt's best asset is his hands, he has a long reach to go along with some dangle, which allows him to make some pretty stick handling moves. However, he does over handle the puck in the neutral zone causing his teammates to go offsides. Puck protection is strong, he can hold onto the puck for a while and is especially good at keeping the puck out of the oppositions reach one on one. Although he scored 42 goals last year, he will have to add some more velocity behind his shooting arsenal to be an effective scorer at this level. He releases his shot quickly, but it just gets to the net too slow at this point. Has a nose for the net, is crafty about finding open space and should have had a goal but the puck skipped over his stick. Has a quick stick which allows him to hang around the net and pounce on loose rebounds. A solid playmaker, made some nice one touch passes, was effective when given power play time, however he is not very creative and will not break the play open with a pass. Has a lanky frame to build into, but he needs to add bulk. Inconsistent physical game, does not always finish his checks but when he does, they seem ineffective because he lacks the arm strength to land a good hit.. Adequate skater for a player of his height, once he gets some momentum his powerful wide stride shows, however his first step still needs work. Has fine agility and with some added leg muscle skating should be a strength of his game in the future. Once was guilty for being very lazy on the back check, not even skating hard showing noticeable exhaustion from staying on the ice too long, which lead to his man scoring a goal off of a rush. Once he adjusts to the tempo of the higher level of competition and adds some more strength to his lanky frame, he will be much more effective.

Rob Madore (2007), G, Chicago

A small butterfly goalie with splendid lateral movement. Goes down on every shot, hitting the butterfly, has impressive leg extension allowing him to cover the lower half the net very well. Shows fine dexterity and flexibility in his legs. Madore's lateral mobility is exceptional, he has no issue of moving side to side as fast as the puck, and he also gets a powerful push from his legs even from his butterfly, which allows him to cover the lower half of the net while also being mobile to face a second shooter. While he covers the stuff very well, he needs to work on the high shots. Since he's a small goalie as it is, it's troubling to see him go down on every shot because he gives the shooter a lot to look at high. His glove side is just average, while his blocker is also just solid. His inability to stop the high shots was exposed as both goals that were scored on him where at both of his gloves. Could be more patient with the shooter, seems to make the first move when the shooter is in tight, and opens up wholes when the shooter is in close. Tends to stay on the ice too long after the initial shot and resorts to flopping or scrambling to often. In fact you can hear the Steel's coach yelling "Robby get up" often. Hits the lateral butterfly every time the puck is behind the net. Looks unsure of himself when saving a shot through traffic, often his positioning and impressive butterfly make the saves for him but I never really saw him follow the puck into his pads, this lead to shaky rebound control. Plays the puck well, is aggressive and won't hesitate to come make a play on the puck, also was smart about it for the most part, never turned it over and had some good velocity behind his passes. I like his athleticism and he has an outside shot of being drafted in 2007, although he will be the back up this year to already drafted netminder Richard Bachman (Dallas 06).

Dan Durham (2007), F, Chicago

Has a wide, stable skating stride that produces a vivacious first step. Pivots swiftly, his agility is exceptional. His acceleration is a real asset, it allows him to the opposition one on one, and he uses it along with his strong anticipation to jump on loose pucks or create turnovers. One play that he runs that stood out on the power play is when he has the puck on the half wall, then he uses that sensational first step to get to the slot in an instant allowing him to have a prime scoring opportunity. Durham shows great upside as a play maker. A useful player on the powerplay, he can run the play from the half wall, shows fine vision and distributes the puck creatively. On one play he made a nice toe drag move to his back hand in tight before sending a saucer pass over two sticks right on his line mates stick for an easy goal in front. A real clever, intuitive playmaker. Not a dangler, but Durham shows a quick stick, not a fancy stick handler but effectively handles the puck. Would have had a clear break to the net but let the pass bounce off his stick early in the game. An asset to the penalty kill, keeps his head on a swivel and his speed allows him to close in on the puck carrier quickly. A nice blend of two way play, play making ability, and fine speed.

Kyle Greco (2007), RW, Chicago

A gritty left-winger who excels in traffic but lacks the pure skill to be a threat in the open ice. Utilized on the power play as the man who provides the screen in front, scored a power play goal on a nice deflection in front. Also uses his quick stick in front to pounce on loose rebounds. Can take a beating without loosing position in front, has a sturdy base and he shows the guts to stay in front. Finished his checks throughout the entire contest, wins battles for loose pucks even against bigger opponents. Cycles the puck down low well, protecting the puck and staying on his feet. Greco is an average play maker, can make a nice crisp pass but isn't a gifted creator who will set his line mate up for a gimme. Has a hunched over skating stride and his first step quickness is noticeably lacking. So he's only really dangerous once inside the offensive zone where he can find his niche down low. Back checked hard all night making up for his lack of first step quickness with a solid top end speed along with an impressive defensive work ethic. A solid role player in the making.

Sean Dolan (2007), C, Chicago

Continues to tease with his skating and skill level but still lacks the initiative to be a go to guy. A solid, methodical two-way centerman who is also very good in the face off circle. Was called upon for crucial face offs, but on the power play he shifted over to left wing so he could run the power play from the half wall. Dolan has a tall frame but he's still very lanky and would benefit from some added bulk. Not a physical player, only finished one check and that was on accident when he caught a guy with an elbow. Took a big head on collision behind his own net but showed the natural body strength to stay on his feet. Dolan is a finesse player with some very slick one on one moves at times. Flashed his ability by weaving past two defenders in the neutral zone before making setting up the play in the offensive zone. Seems to play on the perimeter and never truly uses his full skill set nor does he drive to the net. Most of his points are assists. A fluent skater with first-rate agility for a big man and a nice first step. You can tell he thinks the game at a high level but he just doesn't take advantage of his abilities which ultimately is still biggest demon.

Dan Otto (N/A), F

A small, gritty, energetic spark plug that does all the little things for a team. Otto is extremely fast, he possesses an explosive first step although he never fully uses it as an offensive weapon, more as an asset to his defensive game. Impressive puck pursuit, can really close space on the puck carrier quickly. Loves to drive right through traffic at full speed without the puck, often attacking the net hoping for a loose rebound. Finds open space to be a viable option for a pass from his teammates. For such a small player, Otto is very effective in the corners and is competitive about battling for loose pucks. Plays on the penalty kill, uses his first step quickness to be difficult to beat, and is willing to come down low in his own end to help defensively. Gutsy player who puts his body on the line, blocks shots, and is willing to give and take hits. Otto has his shortcomings but every time can use an energetic spark plug to keep the team's energy level high. Reminds me of San Jose Shark forward Mark Smith.

Mike Walsh D, Chicago

A steady stay at home defenseman who is at his best when the puck is on the oppositions stick. Isn't an overpowering hitter but likes to finish his checks and plays the body effectively. Picks up his man in front of his own net well and neutralizes him by tying up his stick. Clogs passing lanes and shooting lanes well, will do whatever it takes in his own end, some times even sprawling on his belly to make a play. Sturdy on his feet, Walsh will have to overcome his skating deficiencies. His first step is smooth but slow, and his stride lacks power. Really struggled when he had to make a pass, especially when the opposition pressured him. Panicked in the face of a stiff forecheck and coughed up the puck with errant passes, or he would just brain lock and allow the puck to be cleanly stripped. Was the first defenseman on the ice for every penalty kill and that is his strength, shutting the opposition down, but when he is on the offensive, he is almost useless. Showed some instincts when he supported the puck carrier and jumped in the play although he never did receive a pass. Stay at home, depth defenseman type at a higher level of play.

Brett Peterson (2007), F, Indiana

Tall and well built, Peterson looks and plays like a bull in a china town shop. Tenacious on the ice, plays with a mean streak and gives his team a real physical presence. Peterson is an up and down winger who goes hard every shift looking to make a play using his big frame. Strong puck pursuit, finishes all his checks with authority. Absorbs hits well, never loosing his balance, players just bounce off of him. A fine skater for a player of his size, has quick feet for a big man and has a solid first step burst, which propels a good top end gear. Keeps his feet moving at all times, making him difficult to contain for the smaller opposition. Keeps his head up at all time and keeps it on a swivel. Reads the play well, gets open to receive the pass and anticipates the flow of the game. Scored a breakaway goal in which he broke hard to get behind the oppositions defenseman then used his speed to separate himself from the pack before going high over Madore's glove for the goal. Peterson isn't pretty to look at while in possession of the puck but he's fairly effective, he doesn't have impressive one on one moves but he keeps it simple and drives the outside using his speed and strength to be effective. Has a nice release on his shot which has good velocity. Lacks the instincts of a goal scorer but because of his abrasive style and nice shot, he can score. Was used in front of the net when he was out for the power play.

Brian Keane (2007), F, Chicago

A flashy package of electrifying skill, vision, and hockey sense.. The kind of player who lifts fans out of their seats, as he is very confident in his abilities and loves to flash them with style. Possesses exceptional one on one ability, he's very elusive, catches the opposition flat footed with quick lateral cuts, a very shifty player even at top speeds. Possesses an explosive first step and a deceptive change of gears, which allows him to beat the defenders to the outside, however he does lack a superior top end speed , once was caught by a defenseman from behind stopping his breakaway. Handles the puck like it's on a string, can perform jaw-dropping moves with the puck on his stick. Oozes confidence in his abilities, as he loves to be imaginative and to try high-risk high reward high light real type of moves, often executing them well. Keane is a savvy player with superb vision, who skates with his head up and the puck just seems to follow him. Arguably the most proficient passer on the ice, he sees the open passing lanes that most don't and can also anticipate the play one step ahead of his peers. Delivers crisp tape to tape passes with precision, can thread the needle through thick traffic, his ability to deliver a pass to his teammate without forcing him to loose a step is striking. Makes passes at full speed. I'm also impressed how he can pass the puck to an open space where his teammate isn't yet, but will be, this allows his teammates to get the puck in full stride. Useful defensive asset, plays on the first penalty kill unit and was always the first forward on the ice when they had to defend a five on three-penalty kill, has sound defensive positioning. Creates a lot of turnovers and has the ability to create scoring chances from them. Always keeps his head up, always moves his feet even without the puck, constantly working to get open. New NHL suits him well, drew two penalties against much larger opponents.