Scouting USA: Andrew Peeke, Max Zimmer, William Knierem, Tanner Laczynski

David Burstyn — Sat, 09 Jan 2016 01:49:10 +0000

The World Junior A Challenge proved a valuable showcase for the three youngest players on Team USA.

Andrew Peeke, Max Zimmer, and William Knierem all enhanced their stock with impressive performances.

With just four first-time, draft-eligible players on the roster - Grant Jozefek being the other - Team USA appeared headed for a fourth straight title at the World Junior A Challenge before Russia rallied from behind to take the semi final.

The Americans rebounded and easily disposed of Canada East in the bronze medal game. It was their third bronze medal to go along with six gold medals since this tournament’s inception in 2006. Only once have the U.S. failed to earn a medal - that being in the inaugural year.

WHITBY, - Dec 18, 2015 - Game #12 - Bronze Medal Game, Team Canada East vs. United States at the 2015 World Junior A Challenge at the Iroquois Park Recreation Complex, ON. Andrew Peeke #9 of Team United States shoots the puck during the third period.
(Photo: Shawn Muir / OJHL Images)

Andrew Peeke (2016), D, Green Bay USHL

Becoming a fixture for Team USA international teams having suited up for both the Ivan Hlinka tournament and World Junior A Challenge .. played in a top four rotation and saw plenty of ice time and penalty-killing duties .. known more for his defensive acumen having earned 2014-15 ‘Defensive Player of the Year’ honours for the Selects Hockey Academy (USPHL) U18 Program .. relied upon heavily for his size and ability to suffocate the opposition .. got caught running around at times as he showed a lack of structure in his overall defensive game .. his puck skills and play with the puck were sloppy as he often looked uncomfortable handling the puck .. could execute a first pass with success, however struggled when pressured to make a play .. his skating looked worse than it did at the USHL Top Prospects Game .. overall footwork and skating mechanics showed a lumbering quality and a lack of a separation gear .. his first step seemed laboured which could be related to the fact that he appears to be carrying too much weight - has a thick lower body .. has impressed handling the rigours of the USHL while putting up healthy point totals .. his game should continue to develop at Notre Dame .. ultimately, will need to focus on playing to his strengths as a shutdown player at the pro level.

WELLINGTON, - Dec 11, 2015 - Exhibition Game 2- Team USA vs Team Canada East at the 2015 World Junior A Challenge at the Wellington District Community Centre, ON. Colton Point #1 of Team Canada East battles for control with Max Zimmer #6 of Team United States during the first period.
(Photo: Andy Corneau / OJHL Images)

Max Zimmer (2016), LW, Chicago USHL

Enjoyed an outstanding WJAC with a tournament-leading five goals to earn a berth on the Tournament All-Star Team .. finished second in overall scoring with eight points (5-5-3-8) - recording a point in every game .. situated on the third line, Zimmer often played on the top power play and was able to create with open ice due to his speed .. his first few steps are somewhat awkward in appearance, however, once he gets going, he has very good speed which he is able to maintain .. possesses a fast top gear and handles the puck well with speed .. gained the zone himself by driving defensemen out wide and circling behind the net to make a strong centering feed .. likes to draw guys out of position .. not against shooting with the room he opens up for himself - did not hesitate to get a shot on goal .. really dangerous around the goal especially from the side of the net - likes to get in tight and challenge defenseman in front of the goal .. he competes effectively but isn't much of a physical aggressor - does not run over guys .. a high energy player who constantly stays in motion .. only average in size at 6-0, 185 pounds - and will benefit from getting stronger and thicker .. his play without the puck needs to be more consistent .. he did a good job in close games, though did not exhibit that same type of urgency when Team USA was in command .. committed to play at the University of Wisconsin.

WELLINGTON, - Dec 11, 2015 - Exhibition Game 2- Team USA vs Team Canada East at the 2015 World Junior A Challenge at the Wellington District Community Centre, ON. William Knierem #24 of Team United States skates up the ice during the third period.
(Photo: Andy Corneau / OJHL Images)

William Knierem (2016), RW, Dubuque USHL

Produced more than admirably considering he received only limited ice time and was the team's designated 13th forward .. somewhat surprising considering that he wore a letter for Team USA at the Ivan Hlinka .. certainly made the best of his limited role and rotating centermen .. an extremely smart offensive player with strong game-reading abilities .. makes subtle plays to advance the puck and has a quick wrist shot that he gets off in a hurry .. gets his big frame into high traffic areas and is almost impossible to remove at 6-3 and 210 pounds .. struggles with his boots however, as he has difficulty turning and getting out of the gate .. will have to work on his footspeed and overall quickness as he rarely wins the loose-puck races .. demonstrates the ability to stay involved in the play due to his keen anticipation - which aids in being a point producer - posted 5-1-3-4 totals .. would greatly benefit from learning to use his size advantage more - and in the context of being nastier and more aggressive as he is an honest player and not a dirty one.

COBOURG, - Dec 15, 2015 - Game #5 - Canada West vs the United States at the 2015 World Junior A Challenge at the Cobourg Community Centre, ON. Tanner Laczynski #10 of Team United States passes the puck during the first period.(Photo: Tim Bates / OJHL Images)

Tanner Laczynski (2015), RW, Chicago USHL

Among the USHL scoring leaders in his second season with the Chicago Steel and first as an assistant captain .. in his second year of draft eligibility having been bypassed in the 2015 NHL draft .. managed to put on 30 pounds over the past two seasons and has added another two inches in height .. now stands a solid 6-1 and 200 pounds - and has a towering disposition on the ice and can be intimidating especially when barrelling down the wing .. possesses good hands .. registered 5-0-3-3 totals for the tournament on the second line primarily with Rem Pitlick and Liam Pecararo .. his skating is truncated - not the fleetest of foot yet still managed to get by .. uses his size to battle his way into better scoring positions .. named Best Forward at the 2015 Junior Club World Cup last August .. has a presence and should be able to develop at Ohio State University - a team that needs offence.

SCOUTING CANADA WEST: TYSON JOST, DANTE FABBRO, MATTHEW MURRAY

SCOUTING CANADA WEST: DENNIS CHOLOWSKI, BRINSON PASICHNUK, CALE MAKAR

SCOUTING RUSSIA: MIKHAIL BERDIN, VLADISLAV SUKHACHEV, ILYA KARPUKHIN, ALEXANDER YAKOVENKO, NIKITA MAKEYEV

SCOUTING RUSSIA: GERMAN RUBTSOV, ARTUR KAYUMOV, ARTEM IVANYUZHENKOV, VLACHESLAV SHEVCHENKO

SCOUTING RUSSIA: MIKHAIL MALTSEV, KIRILL SLEPETS, NIKOLAI KOVALENKO, MIKHAIL MESHCHERYAKOV, GEORGY IVANOV

SCOUTING USA: ANDREW PEEKE, MAX ZIMMER, WILLIAM KNIEREM, TANNER LACZYNSKI

SCOUTING CANADA EAST: BRETT MURRAY, OWEN GRANT, COLTON POINT, MATTHEW CAIRNS, ECOUARD MICHAUD, DEREK TOPATIGH

SCOUTING CZECH REPUBLIC: LUKAS DOUDERA, MILAN DAVIDEK, JAKUB SIROTA, KRISTIAN REICHEL, PAVEL KOUSAL

SCOUTING SWITZERLAND: LIVIO STADLER, LEE ROBERTS, MARCO MIRANDA, TOBIAS GEISSER

2015 World Junior A Challenge Scouting Reports

McKeen's Hockey — Fri, 01 Jan 2016 16:59:54 +0000

The American reign is over at the World Junior A Challenge.

Winners the three previous years, Team USA finished with a bronze medal at this year's event held in Cobourg and Whitby, Ontario.

Since the tournament's inception in 2006, only two teams have won a gold medal, that being Team USA and Team Canada West, with the Americans now holding a 6-to-4 edge in titles. The U.S. have medaled every year except at the inaugural event in `06.

Silver-medal winners in 2013 and 2014, Canada West reclaimed the crown led by Spruce Grove (AJHL) goaltender Matthew Murray and a pair of probable first-round NHL draft picks in Tyson Jost and Dante Fabbro.

Jost fired the winning goal and was named Tournament MVP, while Murray turned in a goaltending gem in the final to guide Canada West to a 2-1 victory.

Team Russia took home silver backstopped by the goaltending tandem of Mikhail Berdin and Vladislav Sukhachev.

Berdin earned a spot on the Tournament All-Star Team, as did forward German Rubtsov, another likely first-round pick in the 2016 NHL draft.

There were some other intriguing draft-eligible players on display at the tournie as well including Max Zimmer of Team USA, who boosted his stock with a strong showing.

U.S. Teammate William Knierem also impressed the scouts - making surprising contributions given his rather limited role on the team, starting the tournie as the 13th forward.

Follow the links below as we will be publishing over 35 in-depth player scouting reports from the 2015 World Junior A Challenge - exclusive to subscribers of McKeen's Hockey.

SCOUTING CANADA WEST: TYSON JOST, DANTE FABBRO, MATTHEW MURRAY

SCOUTING CANADA WEST: DENNIS CHOLOWSKI, BRINSON PASICHNUK, CALE MAKAR

NEXT: TEAM RUSSIA

William Knierem – McKeen's Hockey

Scouting USA: Andrew Peeke, Max Zimmer, William Knierem, Tanner Laczynski

2015 World Junior A Challenge Scouting Reports