USNTDP U-18: Future Wolverines

The United States National Team Development Program (USNTDP) U-18 team hosted an exhibition game against the University of Waterloo this past weekend, marking the first time that a Canadian team has visited the Ann Arbor Ice Cube in Michigan. McKeen's correspondent Kevin Hopson has notes on Jon Merrill and Luke Moffatt, who have committed to the University of Michigan and are potential first-round picks in next year's NHL Entry Draft. Derek Forbort, Stephen Johns, Chase Balisy and Jason Zucker are also profiled.

Derek Forbort (2010), D, USNTDP U-18

Forbort is a rangy defenseman with quality puck-moving skills and powerplay capabilities .. he can make an exceptional first pass, helping jump start the rush and quickly putting his team on the offensive .. Forbort can run into problems, however, when he does not have a clear passing lane, as he will sometimes try to force the puck through traffic .. his skating is shaky as well .. though adequate in his movement, Forbort exhibits lazy footwork at times, which is particularly troublesome when defending .. furthermore, his positional play and decision-making both leave room for improvement .. for example, when defending a player out wide, he chose to take away the shooting lane .. in this instance, he should have given up the bad angle (low percentage) shot and taken away the inside passing lane instead. College Commitment: University of North Dakota

Stephen Johns (2010), D, USNTDP U-18

Johns is a defenseman who likes the rough stuff and is capable of going on a physical rampage when the mood strikes him .. he is extremely aggressive in his defensive positioning, as he will sometimes journey to center ice to try and take an opponent's head off .. fortunately, he tends to do this when he has support behind him, thus making the play less risky .. Johns is quite mobile for his size and also owns flexible hands, both of which allow him to operate the point on the man advantage .. his heavy slapper and equally-effective snapshot, which he gets good lift on, do not hurt either .. Johns is reliable when it comes to supporting his linemate, as he will regularly provide an outlet for him, but still needs to strengthen his overall defensive play. College Commitment: University of Notre Dame

Chase Balisy (2010), C, USNTDP U-18

Balisy is an effective two-way center who logs a significant amount of icetime given his all-around play and nose for the puck .. he is often seen working in the corners and along the boards, where he is not afraid to take a hit and fight his way through obstacles .. however, despite his pit bull mentality, Balisy can be pushed around frequently and taken out of the game because of his small stature .. Balisy is a solid skater who has a tenacity to hustle around the ice .. defensively, he is successful at closing down passing lanes and can intercept cross-ice deliveries with his keen anticipation .. he also makes a habit of constantly circling and crossing over into the high slot during defensive zone regroups, thus providing continuous support in his own end .. Balisy's supple hands and pass-first approach make him an unselfish mover of the puck, which is looked upon positively by his teammates .. he is a potential special teams guy who can become a more integral part of the equation by improving his production in the faceoff circle.

Luke Moffatt (2010), W, USNTDP U-18

Moffatt is a strong skater with extraordinary offensive abilities .. his elastic hands and brilliant stickhandling skills allow him to attack the middle of the ice with relative ease .. Moffatt is capable of taking on three defenders at once and successfully carving his way to the net despite the nearly impossible odds .. he enjoys astute vision and will do whatever it takes to get the puck to teammates, whether it is a lunging pass in traffic or a miraculous delivery while laying flat on the ice .. he also has a knack for finding open space, which allows him to get clean looks at the net .. however, Moffatt is less effective when operating in constricted spaces (corners and areas below the hash marks) and could enhance this part of his game .. Moffatt's play away from the puck continues to progress, though, as he is willing to offer support in the defensive end and make himself an available passing outlet for teammates. College Commitment: University of Michigan

Jason Zucker (2010), W, USNTDP U-18

Zucker is a player who seems to flourish the most when he is surrounded by playmakers, though he is just as adept at generating offense on his own .. he possesses solid vision, can sidestep defenders with his outstanding skating skills and is proficient at finishing around the net when given the opportunity .. the most apparent strength of Zucker's game is his speed and footwork .. he is an efficient skater who can set the ice on fire once he hits full stride .. Zucker's fluid lateral movement, quick pivots and precise cutting ability round out his special skating talents .. he can play a physical game, when required, and will even mix it up after the whistle if he feels inclined .. Zucker's strong work ethic and eagerness to perform in both ends make him a dependable teammate in just about any situation. College Commitment: University of Denver

Jonathan Merrill (2010), D, USNTDP U-18

Merrill is a well-rounded defenseman who can do it all .. Merrill's combination of physical play, strong defensive positioning and sound passing skills make him a reliable player in his own end .. even when he loses an edge, Merrill is still able to get the puck out of danger and in the hands of a supporting teammate .. he is a talented skater who pivots extremely well, possesses superior agility and is just as comfortable moving in reverse as he is straight ahead .. Merrill's exceptional feet, coupled with his spongy hands, also make him a constant offensive threat, whether he is operating at even strength or working the man advantage .. he can literally carry the puck from one end to the other, maneuvering his way around defenders and capping it off with a quality shot on net. College Commitment: University of Michigan