William Bitten – McKeen's Hockey

CHL Top Prospects Game report: Dubois, Laberge lead standouts

Andy Levangie — Wed, 10 Feb 2016 13:02:02 +0000

The best draft-eligible players from the Canadian Hockey League descended on Vancouver last month to take part in the annual CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game - as well as specialized on and off-ice testing.

Based out west, this was my first opportunity in some cases to view players from the OHL and QMJHL in a live setting.

Here are a few observations on some of my standouts in the game:

TEAM ORR

Jake Bean (Calgary-WHL) - Excellent skater - tested well in the on-ice aspect. Makes intelligent plays out of his own zone, uses shifty movements to start rushes and keep his lanes open for accurate outlet passes. Strong offensive instincts, he reads the defenders position and reacts accordingly to create breakouts. Carries the puck with confidence. Works the offensive point with quick edge work and a heads-up approach, gets his shot off quickly and consistently hits the net. Stock has been rising; steps up when in the spotlight.

William Bitten (Flint-OHL) - A very good skater who tested well in the on-ice workouts, compact with good multi-directional movements and explosion out of turns. Small but scrappy, drives to the difficult areas with the ability to create and score. Seems to have a nose for the net and enjoys attacking the crease to create havoc - has that 'buzz-saw' mentality.

Pierre-Luc Dubois (Cape Breton-QMJHL) - Showed speed and powerful skating in on-ice workouts but also had to re-do a drill multiple times because he kept losing the puck. Excellent work off the wall to create space and make impressive plays, creates from below the goal line. Shoots and bullies his way to scoring chances with power, but can make skilled plays with soft hands; a real power forward. My MVP from this game and one of few players to bring a real wow factor. Going top 5 in the draft may be a possibility.

Luke Green (Saint John-QMJHL) - A high-end skater with a tight compact stride, especially in reverse. Displays solid gap control and looked like a competent defender in a rather erratic game. Holds a good defensive position, doesn’t chase or play out of his position. Uses stops and starts effectively, reads an attacking offence with good instincts, constantly moves his feet and remains active both in offense and on defense. Effective puckcarrier in transition works it out of zone with his skating and on-ice awareness. The only right-shooting rearguard in this game, a position coveted by NHL teams.

Brett Howden (Moose Jaw-WHL) - The top pivot on Team Orr was the glue that kept a powerful line with Nylander and Tkachuk together. Lacks the same elite level skill of his linemates, but does many things well - showed some good intelligence and the ability to click with skilled players. Plays a powerful game and seems to thrive in traffic. Smooth-skating mechanics are there, but improvements in his footwork and explosiveness would go a long way to transitioning to the NHL. An underrated prospect.

Pascal Laberge (Victoriaville-QMJHL) - Snagged MVP honors and showed some great chemistry reuniting with Pierre-Luc Dubois, as they were linemates at the U17's. Produced arguably the finest individual move of the night that graced the highlight reels as he walked around Sean Day for a goal. Shows good puck control and the ability to make quick clean plays at high speed and feed off of other highly-skilled players.

Mikail Sergachev (Windsor-OHL) - Difficult to notice in this game unless you keyed in on him, which was a good thing in this case. Plays a cool and calm game, consistently unfazed by pressure in his own end. Intelligent breakouts are a strong suit and help push this play. Big body with a very useful stick and long reach. His hockey sense and pro body should aid translation to NHL. Paired with fellow Windsor teammate Logan Stanley and their chemistry was evident being one of the less-erratic pairings. Not exciting, but very useful play.

Matthew Tkachuk (London-OHL) - Big and powerful with an impressive physical stature, plays with a 'bull-in-a-china-shop' mentality. Controls the puck well in traffic and along the boards. Possesses some good moves to take pucks to the net and assert his physical dominance on smaller defenders. A big asset to the cycle game and to hold offensive zone-time.

TEAM CHERRY

Logan Brown (Windsor-OHL) - The massive pivot plays a big game and has a tendency to skate through opposing players as opposed to around them; showed a steady physical aspect in this game. Exhibits more skill in offense than expected. Nothing overly fancy when handling the puck, makes intelligent plays to use his open space and create with less dazzle and more smarts. Despite his long stick, looks comfortable in close quarters while stickhandling. Fends off checkers with good footwork and power moves to create scoring chances or set up teammates. An intriguing combination of size and skill.

Sean Day (Mississauga-OHL) - The tools are evident and were on display in both game and on-ice testing. His stride has a smooth flow that comes along very rarely, especially in a 6-2, 225-pound prospect. Overall had a solid game in spite of being by Laberge on that goal. Uses skating effectively to hold his position when forwards are bearing down, made a couple impressive stick plays to take pucks off attackers. Works the offensive line to create space, his skating and reach help him move around high forwards and get a shot off. A polarizing prospect - loaded with potential which could one day blossom.

Samuel Girard (Shawinigan-QMJHL) - Pint-size defenseman is an absolute blazer on his skates with very compact footwork, tested in the top group among defenders. Offense flows naturally - the top scorer in the CHL among draft-eligible defenders for a powerhouse Shawinigan team. Shows keen instincts for his on-ice positioning and awareness of surroundings, especially when moving in reverse. Avoids contact with a consistent heads-up skating stride. Rushes the puck in an elusive manner with quick lateral cuts and outlet passes. Size will deter some clubs, but there is too much to like to pass up entirely.

Jordan Kyrou (Sarnia-OHL) - One of the lesser-known prospects in this game as he was another late replacement add-on. Kyrou helped himself out by going tops overall in the on ice testing. His agility and quick reaction time were on display throughout the game. Carries the puck with the same quick authority as he darts around and can exploit holes in defenses. An asset in transit as he slips by checks along the wall and makes opponents miss. Plays smart and exhibits some flashes of skill in his top gear.

Ty Ronning (Vancouver-WHL) - The son of former NHLer Cliff Ronning was a late addition to the game when Tyler Benson withdrew due to injury. With nothing to lose, he looked relaxed on the ice. Showed off his hard, accurate shot when he opened the scoring by crashing the net and twisting the defenseman out of position. Another player who is small is stature but big on effort. Skates with a noticeably wide stride which doesn’t appear to slow him down, creates stability but could hinder edgework. Motor is always running and he’s always attacking the puck.

McKeen’s 2016 Top 30 NHL Draft Rankings (Jan-2016)

McKeen's Hockey — Sat, 16 Jan 2016 23:56:18 +0000

McKeen's top ranked prospect isn't the "consensus" number one for the 2016 NHL draft, a distinction that has been bestowed upon Auston Matthews for the past year or more, yet Finland's Patrik Laine has served notice to the scouting world that the decision on who goes first overall will not be an easy one, and that he is in the discussion.

"He's the first prospect that reminds me of Mario (Lemieux) since Mario," noted one senior NHL scout who was blown away by Laine's performance at the WJC over the holidays, where the 6-4 left winger compiled seven goals and six assists in seven games while leading Finland to a Gold Medal victory at home.

"It's ballsy to have him rated number one, but can't say I disagree... he could be a home run."

Laine is six months younger, three inches taller, and has outscored Matthews 29 goals to 19 in international play over the past three years. Up until now, Matthews had been considered the better prospect, but that wasn't the case at the WJC, where Laine quite simply was the dominant offensive force from tournament start to finish along with linemate and fellow draft prospect Jesse Puljujarvi (ranked third overall).

His size, strength, puck skills, shot and smarts were evident in every game, and as the world juniors went on Laine became more willing to throw his body around as well.

"He competed hard in the big games," noted one scout. "His point totals slowed down, but his willingness to compete defensively grew as they got closer to winning."

Matthews, much like fellow American Jack Eichel last season, would be a sterling consolation prize if he went second overall thanks to his first-line center potential.

"He's a can't-miss prospect...he does everything well," said one scout. "Size, puck skills, vision, skating..if he doesn't go number one, he'll be the next guy chosen. He'll play in the NHL next season."

Puljujarvi didn't hurt his draft status at the WJC either after leading the WJC in scoring and being named the tournament MVP. The two Finnish forwards moved ahead of Michael McLeod in the rankings in large part because of their eye opening offensive performance at the WJC.

"Puljujarvi may be the more complete of the two Finns at this time," said one scout. "He's certainly not afraid to go in the corners and muck it up."

The player whose stock rose the most at the tournament was Finnish defenceman Olli Juolevi due mainly to his steady, all-around game, natural skating ability and tremendous hockey smarts. He chipped in nine assists and made the all tournament team for the Gold Medal champions while playing in all situations.

"He was wonderful in that tournament...he may have been the best defenceman" said one scout. "His hockey sense and poise are tremendous."

RANK	PLAYER	POS	TEAM	HT/WT	DOB	GP-G-A-PTS
1	Patrik Laine	RW	Tappara (Fin)	6-4/210	19-Apr-98	26-8-9-17
2	Auston Matthews	C	ZSC Zurich (Sui)	6-1/195	17-Sep-97	25-18-12-30
3	Jesse Puljujarvi	RW	Karpat Oulu (Fin)	6-4/205	7-May-98	34-6-8-14
4	Michael McLeod	C	Mississauga (OHL)	6-2/190	3-Feb-98	40-17-29-46
5	Olli Juolevi	D	London (OHL)	6-2/185	5-May-98	30-4-20-24
6	Alexander Nylander	C	Mississauga (OHL)	6-0/180	2-Mar-98	35-23-28-51
7	Jakob Chychrun	D	Sarnia (OHL)	6-2/215	31-Mar-98	37-6-19-25
8	Matthew Tkachuk	LW	London (OHL)	6-1/195	11-Dec-97	32-15-47-62
9	Mikhail Sergachev	D	Windsor (OHL)	6-2/205	25-Jun-98	42-11-18-29
10	Charles McAvoy	D	Boston University (HE)	6-0/205	21-Dec-97	20-1-11-12
11	Tyson Jost	C	Penticton (BCHL)	5-11/190	14-Mar-98	34-26-41-67
12	Jake Bean	D	Calgary (WHL)	6-0/175	6-Sep-98	43-15-25-40
13	Pierre-Luc Dubois	LW	Cape Breton (QMJHL)	6-2/200	24-Jun-98	41-26-35-61
14	Logan Brown	C	Windsor (OHL)	6-6/225	5-Mar-98	34-6-30-36
15	Julien Gauthier	RW	Val d'Or (QMJHL)	6-3/225	15-Oct-97	31-30-8-38
16	German Rubtsov	C	Team Russia U18 (Rus)	6-2/180	27-Jun-98	20-9-11-20
17	Kieffer Bellows	LW	NTDP (USA)	6-0/195	10-Jun-98	34-26-18-44
18	Max Jones	LW	London (OHL)	6-3/205	17-Feb-98	36-19-17-36
19	Libor Hajek	D	Saskatoon (WHL)	6-2/185	4-Feb-98	44-3-15-18
20	Tage Thompson	C	Connecticut (HE)	6-5/185	30-Oct-97	22-9-9-18
21	Clayton Keller	C	NTDP (USA)	5-9/170	29-Jul-98	33-21-43-64
22	Dante Fabbro	D	Penticton (BCHL)	6-0/190	20-Jun-98	30-10-36-46
23	Riley Tufte	LW	Blaine (USHS-MN)	6-5/205	10-Apr-98	12-22-15-37
24	Sam Steel	C	Regina (WHL)	5-11/180	3-Feb-98	45-15-27-42
25	Rasmus Asplund	C	Farjestads (Swe)	5-11/175	3-Dec-97	29-4-2-6
26	William Bitten	C	Flint (OHL)	5-10/170	10-Jul-98	41-20-23-43
27	Luke Kunin	C	Wisconsin (B1G)	6-0/195	4-Dec-97	19-8-9-17
28	Tyler Benson	LW	Vancouver (WHL)	6-0/200	15-Mar-98	28-8-18-26
29	Markus Niemelainen	D	Saginaw (OHL)	6-5/190	8-Jun-98	41-1-21-22
30	Carl Grundstrom	RW	MoDo (Swe)	6-0/195	1-Dec-97	30-3-5-8

McKeen’s 2016 Top 30 NHL Draft Rankings (Dec-2015)

McKeen's Hockey — Tue, 01 Dec 2015 21:39:45 +0000

Ontario-based amateur scouts are getting typer's cramp writing reports on the abundance of high-end prospects toiling in the OHL this fall.

"The OHL is loaded," said one crossover scout who has scouted all three CHL leagues. "Not much in the QMJHL after the top four or five guys, and it's pretty weak out west."

Six of the top ten prospects in McKeen's December rankings hail from the OHL, as well as nine of the top 20, including the second- and third-ranked prospects in Mississauga center Michael McLeod and Sarnia defenceman Jakob Chychrun.

McLeod has wowed scouts with his non-stop engine and all-around play since the first game of the season.

"He just keeps coming at you" noted one scout. "Defencemen have to really back off because of his speed. He brings it every shift... sees the ice well plays well defensively... he's strong, big, physical, smart, has good skill... there are no weaknesses in his game."

McLeod's powerful skating stride has drawn comparison to Nathan MacKinnon and Taylor Hall, while his all-around game elicits thoughts of Jonathan Toews.

"I don't see how you go wrong drafting this guy" said one scout who likes him first overall. "He checks off all of the boxes. He is going to help you win playoff games."

Chychrun is one of the more heralded draft eligible defencemen in recent years, being the first non-exceptional status player ever named to Team Ontario’s U17 program as an underage skater in 2013.

Last year the former first overall pick burst onto the OHL scene with 16 goals in just 42 games on the Sting blueline, and has long been considered one of the top two prospects for the 2016 draft along with Auston Matthews.

"He isn't off to the same start offensively this season," said one scout. "There are some game where you don't see elite offensive upside...but he's still just 17. There's a lot to like."

Matthews heads up a strong American presence in the top 30 (eight of the top 20) despite being seen by few North American scouts so far this season."

"That's one prospect who could rest on his laurels until the world juniors," said one scout who saw plenty of his dominant performance at the U-18 and U-20 level as an underager.

Matthews missed close to a month with a back injury before making his return last week for the Zurich Lions, yet remained top 6 in goals, and first overall in goals per game with ten through 14 games.

"Some say that he would have been in the running for first overall last season if he was two days older" said one scout. "That gives you an idea of his talent level."

RANK	PLAYER	POS	TEAM	HT/WT	DOB	GP-G-A-PTS
1	Auston Matthews	C	ZSC Zurich (Sui)	6-1/195	17-Sep-97	16-10-6-16
2	Michael McLeod	C	Mississauga (OHL)	6-2/190	3-Feb-98	28-10-22-32
3	Jakob Chychrun	D	Sarnia (OHL)	6-2/215	31-Mar-98	25-4-12-16
4	Patrik Laine	RW	Tappara (Fin)	6-4/210	19-Apr-98	20-8-5-13
5	Jesse Puljujarvi	RW	Karpat Oulu (Fin)	6-3/205	7-May-98	27-5-6-11
6	Charles McAvoy	D	Boston University (HE)	6-0/205	21-Dec-97	13-1-5-6
7	Alexander Nylander	C	Mississauga (OHL)	6-0/180	2-Mar-98	28-17-22-39
8	Mikhail Sergachev	D	Windsor (OHL)	6-2/205	25-Jun-98	27-7-9-16
9	Matthew Tkachuk	LW	London (OHL)	6-1/195	11-Dec-97	24-12-36-48
10	Olli Juolevi	D	London (OHL)	6-2/185	5-May-98	24-3-17-20
11	Julien Gauthier	RW	Val d'Or (QMJHL)	6-3/225	15-Oct-97	27-23-8-31
12	Pierre-Luc Dubois	LW	Cape Breton (QMJHL)	6-2/200	9-Apr-98	30-19-24-43
13	Logan Brown	C	Windsor (OHL)	6-6/225	5-Mar-98	19-5-19-24
14	Kieffer Bellows	LW	NTDP (USA)	6-0/195	10-Jun-98	23-18-12-30
15	Tyson Jost	C	Penticton (BCHL)	5-11/190	14-Mar-98	28-23-34-57
16	Jake Bean	D	Calgary (WHL)	6-0/175	6-Sep-98	26-11-12-23
17	Max Jones	LW	London (OHL)	6-3/205	17-Feb-98	20-10-7-17
18	German Rubtsov	C	Team Russia U18 (MHL)	6-2/180	27-Jun-98	17-9-11-20
19	Alex DeBrincat	RW	Erie (OHL)	5-7/165	18-Dec-97	25-31-21-52
20	Libor Hajek	D	Saskatoon (WHL)	6-2/185	4-Feb-98	25-3-11-14
21	Sam Steel	C	Regina (WHL)	5-11/180	2-Feb-98	25-7-17-24
22	William Bitten	C	Flint (OHL)	5-10/170	10-Jul-98	25-14-21-35
23	Tyler Benson	LW	Vancouver (WHL)	6-0/200	15-Mar-98	16-5-6-11
24	Dante Fabbro	D	Penticton (BCHL)	6-0/190	20-Jun-98	22-7-30-37
25	Tage Thompson	C	Connecticut (HE)	6-5/185	30-Oct-97	13-4-5-9
26	Dillon Dube	C	Kelowna (WHL)	5-10/180	20-Jul-98	19-10-14-24
27	Kale Clague	D	Brandon (WHL)	6-0/180	5-Jun-98	25-1-7-8
28	Luke Kunin	C	Wisconsin (B1G)	6-0/195	4-Dec-97	12-4-5-9
29	Rasmus Asplund	C	Farjestads (Swe)	5-11/175	3-Dec-97	23-3-1-4
30	Taylor Raddysh	RW	Erie (OHL)	6-2/205	18-Feb-98	26-12-28-40

Ivan Hlinka Report: McLeod, Nylander shine

Grant McCagg — Thu, 01 Oct 2015 18:08:34 +0000

The Ivan Hlinka Memorial tournament is renowned for being the quintessential opportunity for amateur scouts to get their first good look at the elite draft eligible prospects. Unfortunately many of the elite ones were not participating at this summer's event, including the preseason consensus top five in Auston Matthews, Jeff Chychrun, Jesse Puljujarvi, Patrick Laine and Matt Tkachuk.

Mind you there were some eye-opening performances, including the play of Canada's fourth-line center Michael McLeod, and William Nylander's younger brother Alex, who are now OHL teammates with the Mississauga Steelheads.

McLeod's all-around abilities left many wondering why he was buried on Canada's bottom line. As one NHL scout succinctly stated..."He was Canada's best draft eligible prospect," and he's continued his upward momentum on draft boards with a strong start to his OHL season. McLeod doesn't take shifts off, and is a powerful skater who is noticeable from his first shift to his last. It's hard to find a discernible negative in his game - smarts, size, defensively responsible, good puck skills, physical...it's not inconceivable that McLeod pushes for a top five spot in the 2016 NHL draft if he puts up good numbers.

Nylander has put himself into the top seven mix as well, and that was not necessarily the case for either of them going into the competition. Early in the tournament an NHL scout, when asked about Nylander's impressive power play goal in his first game opined that he was "not as good as his brother." A couple of weeks later that same scout was conceding that "I like him more than his brother..he competes harder," and that sentiment has been echoed by other scouts in the past month.

The 6-0 left winger was a shining light among a lacklustre Swedish forward group that may not have had another top 60 draft prospect. Despite Sweden's poor results Nylander showed up to play every game, displaying above-average puck skills, quickness and shot, and giving the Steelheads a pair of must-see prospects.

CANADIANS STRONG DOWN THE MIDDLE

The centers playing ahead of McLeod on the gold medal champions were by no means slouches either - Nolan Patrick was arguably the best player at the tournament, but of course isn't eligible to be drafted until 2017. Tyson Jost showed why he's a potential top 20 selection with a solid offensive performance. He got stronger as the tournament went on, and impressed scout from the blueline in. "He can really shoot the puck," noted one NHL scout. "I like him."

Sam Steel had the puck more than any other Canadian forward, but failed to translate his puck possession skills into high production despite many offensive opportunities as a top-two center. Scouts were varied on his performance, but he remains a top 20 candidate, thanks to his poise, creativity and vision.

On the wing, Pierre-Luc Dubois showed why he's a top 15 possibility with size, skill, strength and two-way abilities. Scouts always like a player with few flaws in his game....and Dubois fits the bill - especially now that he's playing center in the QMJHL and only further illustrating his versatility.

Tyler Benson has been a highly regarded prospect since he was a 15-year-old and expected to become the first WHL player to receive exceptional player status (later denied), but the size/skill/creativity combo is not overwhelming...and that lack of upside may keep him from being a top 15 pick despite his high profile.

Brett Howden kept involved in the play and exhibited good skating ability for his size and decent defensive play, but he failed to capitalize on chances, and had some scouts concerned about his willingness to get his nose dirty. There are no such concerns with William Bitten, who plays a much bigger game than his 5-10 160-pound frame implies. Dillon Dube and Bitten exhibited strong defensive skills, excelling on the penalty kill and working hard at both ends of the rink. The other notable Canadian forward was Jordan Kyrou, who only got better as the games got bigger playing on a line with Patrick.

Brandon defenceman Kale Clague stood out on a Canadian blueline that featured four players with first-round potential ...in large part due to his terrific mobility. While he failed to rack up points (one goal), his two-way game was evident from Game One until the final whistle in the championship game. Smart, poised and skilled, he may be a top ten pick if he shows a little more jam.

Jost's Penticton defensive teammate Dante Fabbro also turned heads with his two-way play, mobility and bodychecks, and has put himself into the discussion for a top 20 draft ranking. Samuel Girard may have been the best defenceman in the tournament - and if he was 6-1 would be touted as a top ten prospect. He's a dynamic skater with superior puck skills and smarts - and much like Anthony DeAngelo he could be one of those rare defencemen under 5-10 who gets picked in the first round because of his special dimensions.

Jake Bean struggled somewhat during the tryout camp scrimmages, but he gained confidence and poise during the Ivan Hlinka, and remains a highly regarded blueline prospect as long as he cuts down on his turnovers.

Canadian netminders Dylan Wells and Carter Hart both saw multiple-game action, and both impressed the scouting community as potential second-round selections. One thing going against Hart is being under 6-1, but he compensates by confidently challenging shooters. Some scouts like Hart more, others are a bit higher on Wells...the main consensus seems to be that they are close in the rankings.

HOW SWEDE IT AIN'T

Scouts are usually anxious to see Swedish prospects at the U-18 summer showdown, but after a couple of games it was apparent that this was one of the weaker rosters in recent memory. Nylander may be the only Swedish forward selected in the top 60, and none of the blueliners look to be top 40 candidates with the possible exception of Jacob Cederholm, a 6-4 stay-at-home blueliner who must keep working on his quickness and puck skills. Jacob Moverare is the only other defenceman that looks like a top 90 possibility.

Goaltender Filip Gustavsson kept the Swedes in most games, and was the consensus top goalie prospect at the tournament...the lone bright spot besides Nylander on a Swedish team missing many of its top draft eligible prospects.

The Americans were also without most of their highly regarded 1998-born prospects, and it resulted in a fifth-place finish that surprised no one considering their lack of talent apart from 2017 draft prospect Casey Mittelstadt. The club's two behemoth forwards, Timmy Gettinger and Riley Tufte, stood out as their top prospects and potential top 40 picks, while defencemen Andrew Peekee showed enough tools (size, mobility) to be on teams' radars as a possible second-round selection.

The Finns may have been without their three draft eligible prodigies in Laine, Olli Juolevi and Puljujarvi, but the club still boasted some interesting talent that included a 227-pound right winger who plays a pro-style game in Eetu Tuulola. "He's a horse," noted one pro scout who thinks he'll be considered in the first round. "He's got a good shot."

Defenceman Markus Niemelainen was the other Finnish prospect who caught the scouts' attention in August predominantly due to his 6-5 frame and steady play. Teams are always intrigued by rangy defenceman who are capable skaters and puck movers, and he may be a top 50 selection. Halifax Mooseheads forward Otto Somppi was quiet offensively, but nevertheless impressed scouts with his pro upside...decent size, skating and skill.

Linemates Otto Makinen and Janne Kuokkanen finished top ten in tournament scoring, but the ever-important size/skating combination is a concern with both...neither are big nor particularly fast. At this point Somppi is the more highly regarded prospect.

Libor Hajek stood out on the blueline, and was the Czech Republic's top prospect at the tournament, and only potential top 40 pick. The smart, mobile 6-2 defenceman will be closely watched in Saskatoon this season as he makes the adjustment to North American hockey. Adam Brizgala is a quick, skilled netminder who would be a top 60 cinch if he wasn't under 6-0. Ondrej Vala is another Czech blueliner making the jump to North American hockey in Kamloops, and it will be interesting to see how the 6-5 rearguard adapts to the quickness on the smaller rinks.

The Slovaks were one again lacking in draft eligible prospects, and the Swiss weren't much better, boasting only defenceman Livio Stadler as a legitimate top 90 prospect, but scouts heading to Switzerland this season won't be congregating to watch the 6-0 blueliner... a fellow named Matthews is going to be their focus.

Youngblood: 2014 World U17 Hockey Challenge – Top 50 Performers

Brendan Ross — Tue, 11 Nov 2014 15:47:59 +0000

Photo by Kelsey Vermeersch/ CKSN.ca

For the past week, Sarnia and the surrounding community of Lambton Shores played host to the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge, an international tournament featuring the world’s top hockey talents from the 1998 age group. With an eye on the 2016 NHL Draft, USA sent a roster full of potential first round talent looking to defend its gold medal from the year prior. Through round robin play, USA dominated the competition sweeping their way to the gold medal game scoring a tournament high 29 goals and allowing just 11 goals, also a tournament best.

Entering the gold medal game versus Russia, USA had won twelve consecutive games at the Under-17 tournament but on Saturday, November 8^th, Russia’s stingy defensive efforts and impressive shot-blocking game stifled the American attack lifting them to gold.

The following is a fluid ranking of the best performances from the 2014 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge, many of whom are top prospects for the 2016 and 2017 NHL Entry Drafts.

Disclaimer – This is NOT a ranking for the upcoming NHL draft classes but rather a ranking of performances from the 2014 World U17 Hockey Challenge.

50. Mikhail Sergachev (Russia) – The Russian defense core was good by committee but if there was one standout it would have to be Mikhail Sergachykov. He is a big defender who played tough minutes en route to Russia’s gold medal. With advanced mobility and effective puck moving skills, Sergachev was instrumental to getting the puck into the hands of their talented forwards. 2016 NHL Draft Eligible

49. Michael McLeod (Canada Red/Mississauga Steelheads) – An elite level skater with blazing outside speed, McLeod uses his feet and lengthy wing span to operate well in the possession game. He can be a little hesitant in his decision making and passes up prime scoring opportunities for a pass but this kid has the total package to become a special talent – he just has to put it all together. He only posted one assist despite receiving prime offensive minutes but he was a big part of their quick offensive attack. 2016 NHL Draft Eligible

48. Urho Vaakanainen (Finland) – One of two standout underage 1999-born players on Finland, Vaakanainen’s number 28 was easy to spot because this smooth skating defender has the total package – size, strength, hockey IQ and an ability to make impact in all three zones. He’s been deemed a comparable prospect as Sabres pick Rasmus Ristolainen was at the same age and teams certainly have him circled as a potential top pick for the 2017 draft.

47. Maxim Bain (Russia) – Talk about a player elevating his play as the games became more important and Russia’s Maxim Bain should be the focus of that conversation. The small quick-footed forward was a thorn in opposing defensemen’s side as he tenaciously hounded pucks on the forecheck. With great hand-eye coordination and a will to win any loose-puck battle, Bain forced turnover after turnover. Fortunately, he also plays the game with some noteworthy skill, showing the poise and puck handling ability to create his own offensive chances. Four of Bain’s six points came in the final three games and included the opening goal in the gold medal game. 2016 NHL Draft Eligible

46. Brett Howden (Canada White/Moose Jaw Warriors) – Pro scouts have to be excited about Howden’s 6-foot-2 power game after showing a real knack for playing around the net. This big bodied winger flashed good physicality and strong skating skills, and despite battling some quiet moments, appears to own some serious pro upside. Howden potted two goals and three points while acting as an alternate captain for Canada White. 2016 NHL Draft Eligible

45. Adam Mascherin (Canada Red/Kitchener Rangers) – Packed with one of the best shots in the tournament, Mascherin impressed out of the gate but as the tournament unfolded, he couldn’t maintain his offensive presence as often. Mascherin should be applauded for his two-way commitment, especially in the first two games, as he pushed the offensive attack with linemate Michael McLeod and demonstrated good backpressure on the defensive end. This budding sniper snapped home two goals and three points. 2016 NHL Draft Eligible

44. Nicolas Hague (Canada White/Kitchener Dutchmen/Mississauga Steelheads prospect) – Hague was just one of four Canadians playing outside of the Canadian Hockey League (Dante Fabbro, Tyson Jost, Michael O’Leary). The 6-foot-5 defender has experienced one of the sharpest development curves over the past calendar year and he showed many people why he has a bright future in hockey with an overall strong showing. Earning more minutes after 1^st overall OHL pick Jakob Chychrun was ruled out of action, Hague stepped up and took advantage of his new opportunity. Not the fleetest of foot or prettiest of skater, Hague stifled opposing offenses and even showed a simple, yet effective, ability to kick start the breakout. 2016 NHL Draft Eligible

43. Janne Kuokkanen (Finland) – Kuokkanen was one of the engines that drove the Finns offensive attack and his two goals and five points speaks to his efficient motor. Playing at a quick pace, Kuokkanen is an intelligent forward who recognizes soft spots and exploits them. Under pressure or on the attack, Keokkanen excels in one-on-one situations often relying on his quick puck skills to evade trouble or create offense. 2016 NHL Draft Eligible

42. Sam Steel (Canada Black/Regina Pats) – There were certainly highs and lows to Sam Steel’s play throughout the week, the good outweighed the bad for me. Blessed with high-end skating ability, Steel pushed the pace for Canada Black, keeping defenders on their heels. Unfortunately, Steel, who played on a line with Tyler Benson, didn’t receive a lot of support and didn’t develop much chemistry and as a result, his threatening speed wasn’t utilized very well. 2016 NHL Draft Eligible

41. Mikhail Mesheryakov (Russia) – There wasn’t a more puck-hungry player on Team Russia than Mikhail Mesheryakov, as this buzzsaw forward was on a constant hunt for loose pucks. Mesheryakov impressed with his ability to slip into scoring areas uncontested and In possession, he was difficult to contain as he eluded with sharp cuts to change direction. Mesheryakov put up one goal and three points in U17 play and appears to be a good option for teams searching for possession players. 2016 NHL Draft Eligible

40. Jesper Bratt (Sweden) – Jesper Bratt was the sparkplug that ignited the Swedes’ offensive attack. Skating at an underwhelming 5-foot-8 , Bratt lacks ideal size but he makes up for it in his enthusiastic offensive attacks. Blessed with good foot speed and elusive agility, Bratt slashes in and out of traffic seeking out scoring opportunities. He displayed good one-on-one puck skills and times his entries into scoring areas extremely well. Bratt’s one goal and four points trailed only Nylander in team scoring. 2016 NHL Draft Eligible

39. Tyson Jost (Canada White/Penticton Vees, BCHL/Everett Silvertips prospect) – His game is based around speed and Tyson Jost wreaks havoc on opposing defenders when he’s trying (and usually succeeding) to bust out-wide on them. He is an all-around player who can be utilized in every situation and he was especially efficient in his own zone. 2016 NHL Draft Eligible

38. Otto Somppi (Finland) – Somppi was a consistent attacker from the start of the tournament to the end of it, earning quality offensive minutes along the way. Intuitive in his attacks, Somppi uses his teammates well in quick give-and-gos to open up space. He was a standout in cycles and the Finns possession game, using a long reach and nifty in-tight fakes to find open linemates. As effective as he was offensively, Somppi appeared to play a committed defensive game as well. With three goals and six points, Somppi was Finland’s scoring leader. 2016 NHL Draft Eligible

37. Luke Green (Canada White/Saint John SeaDogs) – He wasn’t the most consistent defender but it was clear that Luke Green possesses some intriguing upside. Green was among the most mobile defenseman and his willingness to jump into the play and act as a fourth forward was threatening. He also shakes the offensive defenseman stereotype since he showed that he can be a reliable defender inside his own blueline as well. Green joined Black’s Jake Bean and Red’s Sean Day as Canada’s highest scoring defensemen with four points. 2016 NHL Draft Eligible

36. Jake Kryski (Canada Red/Kamloops Blazers) – The near point-per-game WHL forward, Jake Kryski, was among Canada Red’s most active forwards scoring one goal and five points (in five games). A buzz-saw of a forward, Kryski always seemed to be in the heat of the action showing that he was very effective playing in traffic. With great hand-eye coordination, Kryski stripped opponents of possession on several instances and then quickly turned it into a prime scoring chance. With a good work ethic and some opportunistic positioning, Kryski was among Red’s most dangerous forwards. 2016 NHL Draft Eligible

35. Jacob Cederholm (Sweden) – Brother to Vancouver Canucks prospect Anton Cederholm, Jacob followed in his brothers footsteps by failing to record a point. However, offensive production aside, Jacob was an instrumental part of Sweden’s transition game and was used as a pillar of defense in their shutdown game. Cederholm owns admirable size and his strength, physicality and long reach are all advantageous skills in his defensive game. With a powerful long stride, Cederholm is an impressive skater and was exceptional at lugging the puck up the ice to gain the offensive zone. 2016 NHL Draft Eligible

34. Markus Niemeläinen (Finland) – Niemalainen boasts great size and strength but with his mobility and booming shot, the future looks bright for this budding 2016 NHL Draft prospect. He doesn’t make many errors and his ability to make opposing attackers work for ice is a testament to his defensive capacity. 2016 NHL Draft Eligible

33. Logan Brown (Canada Red/Windsor Spitfires) – Logan Brown had a strong showing playing to his strengths and abilities. He set up on the top powerplay unit as the primary shooter, adding one goal and two powerplay assists. Brown made good use of his size in board play and was impossible to stop as he drove the net for rebounds. The Spitfires forward recorded two goals and four points. 2016 NHL Draft Eligible

32. Jordan Kyrou (Canada White/Sarnia Sting) – After being the only player not to be invited or participate in the Summer Orientation camp, Jordan Kyrou was selected to play for Team White and made Hockey Canada look smart for his inclusion after being the team’s most dangerous offensive forward. Blessed with silky hands, creativity and the confidence to create scoring opportunities, Jordan Kyrou had his hometown Sarnia Sting supporters on the edge of their seats. Occasionally, Kyrou tried to do too much individually but with his self-assurance, he was truly an asset. Kyrou registered four assists in five games. 2016 NHL Draft Eligible

31. Linus Weissbach (Sweden) – Game after game, Linus Weissbach continued to ramp up his play with each passing shift. Weissbach is a good skater with nifty jukes and jives and his outside speed is troublesome for even the top defenders to contain. Bratt was one of four Swedish skaters who recorded four points in the tournament. 2016 NHL Draft Eligible

30. Vladislav Sukhachyov (Russia) – Sukhachyov received action in four of Russia’s six games including the 6-1 semifinal win over Finland to book their ticket to the gold medal but, for whatever reason, he didn’t receive the nod in the Gold Medal game versus USA. Sukhachyov isn’t a big but he was very good in every showing posting the tournament’s third best GAA (1.70) and save percentage (.931). Quick with his reflexes and natural athleticism allows Sukhachyov to cover the net from post-to-post, teasing opponents with shot openings before quickly closing them off. 2016 NHL Draft Eligible

29. Vitali Abramov (Russia) – Russia’s Mr. Steady-Eddy, Vitali Abramov came to play in all six games posting points in all but one game (vs. FIN) totalling three goals and nine points. Sharing the team scoring lead with Dmitri Sokolov, Abramov was among Russia’s most lethal offensive options. He showed good patience in possession, outwaiting checkers for open lanes, and used his agility and top-end speed to keep defenders guessing. 2016 NHL Draft Eligible

28. Kristian Vesalainen (Finland) – Born in ’99 makes the 6-foot-2 Kristian Vesalainen a 2017 draft prospect but this underager showed no lag in development finishing the tournament with a team-high three goals and five points (T-2^nd in team scoring). Vesalainen is a patient and quick puck handler who thrived in the dirty areas. His ability to stick handle in tight and execute difficult feeds was very impressive. He appears to be an opportunistic scorer with a knack for slipping away from coverage into scoring areas. 2017 NHL Draft Eligible

27. Sean Day (Canada Red/Mississauga Steelheads) – Day had a decent showing but failed to get his Red squad into the medal round despite being considered one of Canada’s top teams. Day’s exceptional mobility has been well documented over the past few years and it continued; however, it was surrounded by some poorly executed passing and several instances of bad decision making. There’s another level to Day’s game but we did not see it this past week. Despite his sporadic performance, Day logged a ton of minutes for Red and finished the week with a strong four points, including one powerplay goal. 2016 NHL Draft Eligible

26. William Bitten (Canada Red/Ottawa 67’s) – One area that William Bitten will never fall short on is his work ethic and tenacity. The hard working 67s forward steps on the ice each shift with a balls-to-the-walls approach and when his skill level is factored in, few can match his ability to impact the game. Not overly big or strong (yet), Bitten plays every shift as if it were the last shift of a championship game. He possesses good speed and isn’t afraid to attack one-on-one or slash right into traffic. He was a sparkplug for Canada Red and he was rewarded with two goals and five points to lead his team in scoring – and rightfully so. 2016 NHL Draft Eligible

25. Kailer Yamamoto (USA/Spokane Chiefs) – As one of the two late additions Kailer Yamamoto took some time to adjust to his new teammates (all of whom play together in the USNTDP). Once his feet were wet, Yamamoto formed great chemistry with sniper Max Jones and racked up three goals and seven points in as many games. A creative passer and quick in transition, Yamamoto pushed the pace for USA’s second line and showed why he’s excelling with his hometown Spokane Chiefs (12-2-6-8) as a rookie. 2017 NHL Draft prospect.

24. Jake Bean (Canada Black/Calgary Hitmen) – The only undrafted major junior player of the 66 Canadian players who competed in the U17s, Calgary Hitmen defenseman Jake Bean was among the feel-good stories of the tournament. Bean is an enthusiastic defender who has the raw potential to develop into a very good player. The Calgary Hitmen blueliner led the entire Canada Black team in scoring with one goal and four points (five games) and was named Player of the Game versus USA when he scored the lone goal (shorthanded) on a beautiful individual effort. 2016 NHL Draft Eligible

23. Samuel Girard (Canada Black/Shawinigan Cataractes) – Here’s a fun defender to watch – Samuel Girard possesses the elusiveness, skating skills and puck handling abilities to excel in an offensive role rolling off checks at the offensive blueline to keep plays alive. He plays a high-risk game at times and could certainly round out his defensive game but his rare skillset will be coveted. Girard finished with on goal and three points in tournament play. 2016 NHL Draft Eligible

22. Adam Fox (USA/Harvard University commit/Kitchener Rangers) – Coming off a year with the Long Island Gulls where he scored 51 points in only 22 games, Adam Fox adopted an offensive role on the USA blueline often earning top powerplay minutes alongside Luke Martin or Chad Krys. Surprisingly, Fox only earned a pair of assists in the tournament but his offensive abilities certainly created countless other prime scoring chances that went unfinished. Undersized at 5-foot-10, Fox uses elite edgework and sharp attacking skills to push the pace up ice. He operates as a crafty quarterback and flashes some high-end puck handling abilities. Fox was often the defenseman who kick-started the transition game and remains an intriguing offensive defenseman option for the 2016 draft. 2016 NHL Draft Eligible

21. Joey Anderson (USA/University of Minnesota-Duluth commit/Brandon Wheat Kings prospect) – The third member of the Pastujov-Keller-Anderson line, Joey Anderson was a player who continued to elevate his play with each passing game. He was a major factor in USA’s win over Canada Red with two assists to clinch top spot in Group B and then added three goals in the quarter and semi-final games. Anderson is a hard-working two-way forward with keen hockey sense, making him an asset in all three zones. He was the perfect complement to his highly skilled linemates. 2016 NHL Draft Eligible

20. William Fällström (Sweden) – A leader on and off the ice, Captain William Fällström led all Swedes in goal scoring with four tallies. Fällström combines his smart hockey sense with his all-around offensive skill set well and the outcome is a very dangerous attacker. He is a shifty pivot with a goal scorers’ touch but his two-way game is well developed also. Fällström is the type of player coaches can lean on in big-game situations. 2016 NHL Draft Eligible

19. Kale Clague (Canada Black/Brandon Wheat Kings) – Canada Black’s captain, Kale Clague, is among the top defensive prospects for the 2016 draft and his play at the U17s confirmed that this smart two-way threat is among Canada’s best 98-born defenseman. Smooth and effortless in stride, Clague makes calculated risks offensively but honours his defensive commitments first and foremost. He was a fixture on Black’s powerplay displaying good reads, passing ability and occasionally used his high-end one-timer. 2016 NHL Draft Eligible

18. Michael Campoli (USA/Blainville-Boisbriand Armada prospect) – Born in Quebec, Canada, defenseman Michael Campoli was one of two Americans with Canadian citizenship (Griffin Luce being the other). The American coaching staff used Campoli in a defensive shutdown role but this extremely mobile defender intrigued with his outstanding patience under pressure, bull-like defensive commitments and overall demeanour on the blueline. There’s some massive upside with Campoli as he owns the size, mobility and puck handling ability to develop on his offensive game. Consider him a top defensive prospect in my books for the 2016 draft. 2016 NHL Draft Eligible

17. Adam Thilander (Sweden) – Excellent in stride, Thilander thrives in possession and his ability to use his imagination in setting up teammates proved to be high-end in this tournament. Thilander uses clever feints and fakes to evade checkers and then showed a tendency to strike quickly with an absolutely booming point shot. Smart in transition and a pitbull in defensive battles, Thilander should be considered a top prospect for the 2017 NHL Draft (another late birthday). 2017 NHL Draft Eligible

16. Patrick Khodorenko (USA/Everett Silvertips prospect) – Khodorenko has always been one of the most skilled forwards in his peer group and while he may have took a back-seat to the Keller-Jones show at the U17s, he was definitely among the Americans’ best forwards. The Silvertips 2^nd round draftee hasn’t made a decision on his future (WHL or collegiate) but wherever he chooses to play, he will be fine. Khodorenko is a creative pivot with strong playmaking abilities and had he earned more top powerplay minutes, he could’ve pushed for the team scoring lead. The Californian finished with one goal and six points finishing tied for 8^thin U17 scoring. 2017 NHL Draft Eligible

15. Tarmo Reunanen (Finland) – From the past week of action, Tarmo Reumanen was Finland’s best defenseman. He’s not the most technical skater but he is elusive, surprisingly quick (specifically in acceleration) and can quarterback a powerplay with ease. Booming with confidence, Reunanen is capable of unleashing a howitzer or executing a difficult pass under pressure but it’s his vision that is his best asset and allows him to be the team's prime distributor. 2016 NHL Draft Eligible

14. Ryan Lindgren (USA/University of Minnesota commit/Brandon Wheat Kings prospect) – Coming out of the illustrious Shattuck St. Mary’s program where he racked up 24 goals and 88 points in 55 games during his Bantam year, Ryan Lindgren has always owned the offensive pedigree and he flashed it during competition at the U17s. Wearing the ‘C’ for the Americans, Lindgren showed to be an exceptional skater and puck possession defender. Under pressure, Lindgren would casually cut away from pressure then send a precise seam-pass to a streaking teammate. He didn't risk his defensive responsibilities for offensive rushes but occasionally, Lindgren displayed his upside as a puck-rushing defender when he made end-to-end rushes, virtually going untouched. 2016 NHL Draft Eligible

13. Nikita Popugaev (Russia) – Skating at over 6-foot-4 and 205-pounds, Nikita Popugaev could have been Russia’s best pro prospect. Despite his size and youthfulness, Popugaev’s fluid and powerful skater is all that more remarkable. The 15-year-old is a late birthday which makes him a 2017 draft prospect and he has to be considered a top prospect for his age group. With slick hands and slippery outside-inside cuts at top speed, Popugaev is a beast to contain. Unlike most physically mature big men, he knows how to utilize his size and power game to his advantage. This high potential forward had three goals in tournament play. 2017 NHL Draft Eligible

12. Nick Pastujov (USA/University of Michigan commit/Saginaw Spirit prospect) – A dynamic forward with make-you-miss puck skills, Pastujov clicked on a line with Keller and Joey Anderson eventually finishing with three goals and eight points (5^th). Pastujov is especially creative and dangerous around the scoring areas as he uses quick strikes or unexpected passes to hit teammates for easy tap-in goals. Patient under pressure and effective playing in high traffic areas, Pastujov’s puck handling and quick shot are on display as he releases from pressure along the boards and steps into the slot to strike. 2016 NHL Draft Eligible

11. Jake Oettinger (USA/Portland Winterhawks) – Based on this tournament alone, 2017 NHL Draft goaltender Jake Oettinger has to be among the top goaltenders ranked in his draft class. Playing with a pro-sized frame (6-3, 196), Oettinger is an exceptional blocking style goaltender to owns his crease with an intimidating presence. His opponents’ attacks were sporadic but he remained poised between the pipes flashing a high-level of concentration, rebound control and an fathomable demeanour. It’s been a while since I’ve seen a goaltender play such a fundamentally solid game from the tournament’s start to finish. Oettinger finished with a sparkling 1.34 GAA to lead all goaltenders and his .934 save percentage trailed only Sweden’s Filip Gustavsson. 2017 NHL Draft Eligible

10. David Quenneville (Canada White/Medicine Hat Tigers) – Joining Chad Krys, Victor Mete and Samuel Girard as one of the tournament’s most exciting offensive defensemen, David Quenneville was a treat to watch in possession. In a similar mold as former junior superstar Ryan Ellis, Quenneville possesses outstanding hockey instincts and a natural puck handling ability. Like Ellis, Quenneville can unleash a powerful point shot and is a regular on the powerplay, operating as the team’s powerplay. At 5-foot-8, Quenneville lacks ideal height but this enthusiastic defender can lay out bone-crushing body checks with the biggest of players. His statline for the U17s reads one goal and three points. 2016 NHL Draft Eligible

9. Victor Mete (Canada Red/London Knights) – London Knights defenseman Victor Mete turned in one of the best showings from any player. Well aware of Mete’s offensive abilities that are featured around elite skating, intelligent playmaking and a veteran-like ability to run the powerplay, Mete was most impressive in his defensive zone. The young defender was a shot-blocking machine and he was very good holding down his blueline, making sure he wasn’t conceding easy entries. Of course, he was a fixture on Canada Red’s powerplay and played a vital role to their transition game too. 2016 NHL Draft Eligible

8. Dante Fabbro (Canada Red/Penticton Vees, BCHL/Seattle Thunderbirds prospect) – After watching the undersized Dante Fabbro in action, I can only imagine the damage this intelligent defenseman does in the BCHL. He’s at the top of his peer group in the way that he sees and thinks the game, allowing him the extra time to plan his next decision. He’s a precise passer and is unfazed under pressure. Strong in every direction, in possession and without the puck, Fabbro moves about the ice at will and his advanced hockey mind allows him to change his plan of attack at the last second. In terms of offensive upside, few possess his potential. Fabbro had a pair of goals and three points at the U17s. 2016 NHL Draft Eligible

7. Nolan Patrick (Canada Red/Brandon Wheat Kings) – His late 1998 birthday means Nolan Patrick won’t be eligible for the NHL draft until 2017 and that’ll be a long wait for some scouts who are very excited about adding this responsible two-way forward. As Captain of Canada Red, Patrick was used in every situation including top penalty kill and powerplay units. There may not have been a smarter and more trust-worthy forward competing in the U17 as Nolan Patrick. He already owns a projectable frame, good mitts (although not overly flashy), two-way awareness and a long powerful skating stride. He is a beast in board battles and is suited as a future possession guy. Patrick plays a similar style as Winnipeg Jets Mark Scheifele and finished with five assists through five games. 2017 NHL Draft Eligible

6. Dmitri Sokolov (Russia) – Dmitri Sokolov had a coming out party at the U17s introducing himself to the North American hockey world. The big power forward has a wicked shot but also showed us some silky playmaking abilities as well, finding teammates with creative no-look passes. Not the greatest skater and he appeared a bit heavy but Sokolov uses high-end puck skills to escape pressure and his physical strength was dominant against his peers. Sokolov is a dynamic power winger who showed this past week that he owns first round pedigree. 2016 NHL Draft Eligible

5. Chad Krys (USA/Moncton Wildcats prospect) – The smooth skating elusive Chad Krys finished the tournament with a defense leading seven points (all assists) and showed why he’s considered a top prospect for 2016. Elite mobility and a knack for spinning off of pressure, Krys defines a puck-rushing defenseman. With an ability to turn up ice quickly in transition, Krys is able to weave through traffic using clever puck skills, shrewd on-ice vision and high-end skating techniques. To add, Krys’ intelligence makes him an astute defensive presence as well. 2016 NHL Draft Eligible

Sweden's Filip Gustavsson was the U17's top goaltender (Photo: Brendan Ross)

4. Filip Gustavsson (Sweden) – The U17’s top goaltender by a fair margin, 6-foot-2 Swede Filip Gustavsson was impenetrable from start to finish stopping 131 of the 139 shots thrown at him, more than 41 saves than the next best goaltender. With great size, Gustavsson provided few holes for the opposition to shoot at. He flashed quick reflexes and displayed fluid lateral coverage as a butterfly goaltender. He was the sole reason that Sweden advanced to the semi-finals after a 35-save shutout performance against Canada White. Filip Gustavsson held a shutout streak of over 179 minutes until he finally surrendered a goal in the USA game. Outstanding performance. 2016 NHL Draft Eligible

3. Alexander Nylander (Sweden) – Famous family name aside, it’s hard not to be impressed immediately by the skill set of Alexander Nylander, son of NHLer Michael Nylander and brother to Maple Leafs’ top prospect William Nylander. To some degree, I was more impressed with the younger Nylander son than the NHL draftee based on his overall compete level and attention to defense. Alexander was Sweden’s most dynamic offensive player showcasing all-world creativity and confident one-on-one dangles. Like his brother, Alexander is a slippery playmaker who masks his intentions extremely well and his knack for slipping a pass to an unchecked linemate at unexpected times is a rare and treasured skill set. He packs a great shot and can operate at top speed. Nylander paced all Swedes in scoring with two goals and seven points. 2016 NHL Draft Eligible

2. Clayton Keller (USA/Windsor Spitfires prospect) – The tournament’s leading scorer with six goals and 13 points in a half-dozen games is very big (5-9, 165) but Clayton Keller certainly showed that he plays a big-time game. The Boston University commit is an exciting player to watch with his elite puck skills, veteran-like patience and off-the-charts creativity. Each time he hit the ice, Keller was an offensive catalyst with his ability to make defenders miss. He was on his own level in this tournament with his ability to create something out of nothing. 2016 NHL Draft Eligible

1. Max Jones (USA/London Knights prospect) – The London Knights had many of their brass in attendance to check out the progress of their 2014 1^st round pick Max Jones. The Knights current offensive leader, Max Domi, will definitely be playing his last year of junior hockey this season but London is hoping to exchange one dangerous player named Max for another in 2015-16. Playing a throwback style of hockey in the mold of a power forward that is featured around impressive size, strength and aggressiveness, Max Jones is the whole package and he will have NHL scouts drooling when the 2016 draft comes due. His ability to play a high-paced north-south game and his elite shooting arsenal are unmatched among his competitors. Jones led the 2014 U17’s in goal scoring with seven tallies, including a tournament leading four powerplay markers, and placed second in overall points (11). Consider Max Jones one of the leading candidates to be selected first overall come 2016. 2016 NHL Draft Eligible

Honourable Mentions

The following players performed well in tournament action and should be considered prospects to watch for future NHL drafts…

Reagan O’Grady (Canada Black), Nolan Volcan (Canada Black), Beck Malenstyn (Canada Black), Zach Poirier (Canada Black), Mason Shaw (Canada Red), Evan Fitzpatrick (Canada Red), Tanner Kaspick (Canada White), Travis Barron (Canada White), Josh Anderson (Canada White), Samuel Harvey (Canada White), Markus Nurmi (Finland), Pete Niemi (Finland), Emil Oksanen (Finland), Leevi Laakso (Finland), German Rubtkov (Russia), Nikita O. Popugayev (Russia), Mikhail Shabanov (Russia), Jakub Lacka (Slovakia), Adam Ruzicka (Slovakia), Lias Andersson (Sweden), Linus Lindstrom (Sweden), Tim Wahlgren (Sweden), Luke Martin (USA), Joseph Woll (USA)

Feel free to comment below or spark up conversation on Twitter (@RossyYoungblood)

Youngblood: World Under-17 Hockey Challenge Preview

Brendan Ross — Thu, 30 Oct 2014 18:36:02 +0000

Currently known as the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge, the international tournament has underwent a name change from the Quebec Esso Cup (in 2011) and most recently, Hockey Canada has decided to change the format of its own team entries into the tournament. For the first time in 2014, rather than sending five provincial teams (Ontario, Quebec, Pacific, Atlantic and Western) to compete, Hockey Canada has opted to combine players from across the nation into three competitive teams - Red, White and Black. Canadian players will now have the opportunity to play alongside talented competitors from other provinces. For example, Ontarian Jakob Chychrun will be taping Nova Scotian Mitchell Balmas with passes rather than laying him out in the corner. The Under-17 Hockey Challenge is the first step in Hockey Canada’s Program of Excellence that is used to help identify talent for the Under-18 and National Junior Team and it has seen over 1400 National Hockey League draft picks come through the tournament.

Tournament organizers have moved up the Challenge on the calendar to November to avoid conflict with the World Junior Championships that runs over the holiday season. For the first time since Windsor hosted in 2012, the tournament returns to Ontario and the world’s top hockey talents have arrived in Sarnia, Canada as the border-town city, in collaboration with nearby Lambton Shores, is ready to host the 2014 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge.

Group A consists of two Canadian teams (Canada White and Canada Black), Finland and last year’s bronze medalists Russia while Group B will feature Canada Red, Slovakia, Sweden and the defending champions, Team USA. For more information on World Under-17 Hockey Challenge schedules and rosters, visit the tournament website.

The majority of participants are born in the 1998 age group and these players have spent months going through evaluations to reach their goal of donning their nation’s sweater. The following breakdown of teams will help to familiarize the general public with some of the names to watch. Here are just a few of the top talents skating in the #WU172014.

Team USA (Roster)

Knocking the four-time gold medalists off of the podium will prove to be a difficult feat as Team USA enters this tournament with a very talented roster, including 20 of 22 players who compete with the US National Under-17 Team. Non-National Under-17 skaters Spokane's Kailer Yamamoto and 6-foot-3 Riley Tufte (Blaine High School) will replace injured forwards Zach Walker and Graham McPhee. The Americans won’t have to fight through chemistry issues with such familiarity and with them icing five University of Michigan commits in Nick Pastujov, James Sanchez, William Lockwood, Griffin Luce and Luke Martin. In addition, Everett Silvertips draftee Patrick Khodorenko, London Knights first round selection Max Jones and Boston University commit and USNTDP leading scorer Clayton Keller are expected to help Pastujov and Sanchez with the offensive production. Towering netminders Joseph Woll and Minnesotan Jake Oettinger won’t surrender much net for the opposition and with Griffin Luce, Luke Martin, Plymouth Whalers’ hopeful James Greenway, Chad Krys (Moncton Wildcats prospect) and Harvard commit Adam Fox patrolling the blueline teams will be in tough against the champs.

Team SWEDEN (Roster)

Just like his older brother William Nylander (Maple Leafs draft pick), Alexander Nylander is an immensely skilled forward and has the ability to create space for him to showcase his elite puck skills, vision and shot. Playing alongside Nylander on the AIK U20 team, Jesper Bratt is a two-way forward with speed to burn and a blue-collar work ethic. Undersized and physically raw defenseman Alexander Andersson owns some slick hands, shrewd hockey sense and a poised approach that helps spark the offense and quarterback the powerplay. Committed to the University of Minnesota, William Fällström is a complete two-way competitor who offers a good level of physicality and the awareness to be trusted in critical game moments.

Sweden is a team that lacks a true individual standout but the squad is comprised of some solid depth full of smart and competitive players. Look for Oskar Steen, a shifty winger with a quick release and some untapped offensive upside, and Linus Weissbach to act as forwards who have an ability to create offense on their own. Jacob Cederholm, younger brother to Vancouver Canucks draftee Anton, has already suited up in the SHL and will help the Swedes defend their zone. Niklas Andersson, the son of current Los Angeles scout and former NHLer Niklas Andersson, is already off to a hot start with the HV71 U18 team picking up six goals and 14 points through 10 games. It could be a coming out party for 5-foot-6 defenseman Oliver Horrsell as this offensive blueliner certainly knows how to fill the score sheet. Lastly, pivot Tim Wahlgren should earn plenty of minutes as his great hockey intelligence and sense for the game is evident in all three zones. Both of Sweden’s goaltenders, Filip Gustavsson and Gusten Lundh have the size and big-game pedigree to provide Sweden with great stability between the pipes.

Team FINLAND (Roster)

Without forwards Jesse Puljujärvi, Patrik Laine, defensemen Olli Juolevi and Jusso Välimäki, the Finns will unfortunately be missing some of their top talents from the `98 age group. However, Finland is a nation that has been pumping out some great prospects and their entry isn’t without talent. Kristian Vesalainen and Urho Vaakanainen are two of Finland`s top underagers. Vesalainen is already skating at 6-foot-2 and offers up confident puck skills, suffocating physicality and an impact shooting arsenal. Emil Oksanen is a skilled right-shooting forward playing for Blues Espoo and his game features a deceptive shot that seems to find the net with regularity. The 6-foot-1 left shooting Tappara forward Otto Mäkinen is the former teammate of Patrik Laine and he`s got an advanced playmaking skill set, featuring soft hands and creative vision. Look for Finland to rely upon their depth and play some defensive hockey, much like they`re known for, to compete in Group A.

Team RUSSIA (Roster)

The Under-17 tournament provides an opportunity for the North American hockey world to be introduced to the up-and-coming talent from overseas. As a result, there isn’t much familiarity with these players coming into the World U17 Hockey Challenge. Headlining the Russian team are forwards Dmitri Sokolov and Vitali Abramov. Undersized but extremely skilled, Vitali Abramov is considered a potential first round talent for the 2016 NHL Draft and he`s off to a great start with Belye Medvedi Chelyabinsk (MHL) scoring six goals and eight points (12 games). As good as Abramov is, it`s Dmitri Sokolov who projects as a potential Top 10 selection for the 2016 draft. The 6-foot-2 forward has racked up nine goals and 10 points through 13 games with Omskiye Yastreby Omsk (MHL). Russia will lean heavily on Sokolov and Abramov to provide the bulk of scoring but 6-foot-4 forward Nikita Popugaev (not to be confused with 5-foot-8 teammate Nikita O. Popugaev), Vladimir Kuznetsov and Vyacheslav Shevchenko should offer good secondary support.

Team SLOVAKIA (Roster)

Much like the Russian squad, Slovakia`s entry is a bit of a mystery. Forward Samuel Solensky is a pint-sized offensive making noise with HC Liberec`s U20 team with six goals and 16 points through the club's first 20 games. Viliam Cacho is a 5-foot-9 forward who has noteworthy playmaking skills and the offensive prowess to be considered a prospect for the 2017 NHL Entry Draft. Cacho racked up eight goals and 44 points in 37 games playing up with Dukla Trencin's U20 club. Keep an eye on underagers Milos Roman, Patrik Hrehorcak and Adam Ruzicka to see how they handle the competition against older opponents.

Team CANADA WHITE (Roster)

The first of Canada’s three tournament entries may just be the most popular, at least among local fans. With Sarnia hosting the event, local fans can come out to cheer on their 2014 1st-overall selection in Jakob Chychrun and 2nd-round forward Jordan Kyrou as key members of Canada White. Chychrun and Kyrou have already stepped up in their rookie seasons and are playing top minutes. In addition to the familiar Sting faces, fans can expect to get excited about Ottawa 67`s two-way threat Travis Barron, Erie`s Taylor Raddysh, Moose Jaw's Brett Howden and high scoring BCHLer Tyson Jost.

Charlottetown winger Mitchell Balmas (who replaces the injured Hunter Moreau), Saginaw Spirit defender Keaton Middleton (who replaces Josh Mahura) and Soo Greyhounds top 2014 pick Anthony Salinitri (who replaces Dillon Dube) are excited about their renewed opportunity.

The strength of Canada White comes from their outstanding defensive core which starts with Jakob Chychrun, Medicine Hat's David Quenneville (brother of New Jersey Devils 2014 1st rounder John), Luke Green of Saint John, Gabriel Bilodeau of Val d'Or and ends with the outstanding Samuel Harvey in net.

Team CANADA BLACK (Roster)

Donning the black threads for Canada is potential Top 10 2016 NHL Draft prospect and 2013 1st-overall WHL pick Tyler Benson (Vancouver Giants), 2013 2nd-overall WHL selection Sam Steel (Regina Pats) and a slew of OHL 1st-rounders in Brandon Saigeon (Belleville Bulls), Matthew Hotchkiss (Guelph Storm), Chris Paquette (Niagara IceDogs), Zach Poirier (North Bay Battalion), Cliff Pu (Oshawa Generals) and Reagan O'Grady (Kingston Frontenacs). Canada Black features some underrated scoring depth with the likes of Nolan Volcan (Seattle Thunderbirds), Pascal Laberge (Gatineau Olympiques) and Pierre-Luc Dubois (Cape Breton Screaming Eagles) who are all off to strong starts in their respective junior leagues.

On the blueline, look for Brandon Wheat Kings Kale Clague, Shawinigan's Samuel Girard, London Knights' Tyler Nother to help solidify the defensive zone in front of 6-foot-4 goaltender Stuart Skinner (Lethbridge Hurricanes) and Reilly Pickard (Baie-Comeau Drakker) who will share crease duties.

Team CANADA RED (Roster)

A quick glance down the roster for Canada Red will certainly appear as if Hockey Canada formed an All-Ontarian team as 11 players are from the Ontario Hockey League including exceptional defender Sean Day (Mississauga Steelheads), a potential 2016 Top 3 draft prospect. Joining Day on the blueline from the OHL is the intelligent Matthew Timms (Peterborough Petes), big tough Windsor Spitfire Logan Stanley and slick skating Knight Victor Mete. On the front lines, dazzling puck rusher Michael McLeod (Mississauga Steelheads), dangler Tye Felhaber (Saginaw Spirit), sniper Adam Mascherin (Kitchener Rangers), clutch forward William Bitten (Plymouth Whalers), power forward Givani Smith (Barrie Colts) and top 2016 prospect Logan Brown (Windsor Spitfires) will all represent the OHL. In total, eight of the OHL's Top 20 selections from the 2014 draft are competing for Canada Red.

Beyond the tremendous "potential" firepower from the Ontario top picks (McLeod, Mascherin, Felhaber and Brown), Canada Red may have three of the most productive 98s in the nation in Wheat Kings forward Nolan Patrick (15-4-8-12), William Bitten (13-3-6-9) and Kamloops Blazer Jake Kryski (16-5-6-11).

Blueline soldiers outside of Ontario will consist of BCHL stud Dante Fabbro, Sherbrooke's Thomas Gregoire and Victoriaville's Guillaume Beck - all fantastic defensive prospects. With goaltenders Dylan Wells (Peterborough Petes) and 6-foot-4 Phoenix puckstopper Evan Fitzpatrick in net, goals against should be held to a minimum.

On paper, Canada Red may have the best opportunity to end the red and white's three year drought of a World Under-17 Hockey Challenge gold medal. If I were a betting man (and I am), I would look towards Canada Red as the best chance to unseat the Americans.

With exhibition play slated to kick off Halloween night and the tournament commencing on Sunday, the shores of Lake Huron will be home to some outstanding world-class talent looking to make their country proud in hopes of taking home the 2014 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge gold medal.

Follow @RossyYoungblood on Twitter as he covers the entirety of the 2014 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge.