Wyatt Schingoethe – McKeen's Hockey

USHL: 2020-21 Playoff Preview – Expect Entertaining Hockey with Chicago a Clear Favourite

Ryan Wagman — Fri, 30 Apr 2021 15:27:15 +0000

If there is an exception to the across-the-board negative impact of COVID-19 on the world of hockey, it may rest in the USHL. As north of the border, the three leagues of the CHL were in disarray – at best – the USHL, played a fairly “normal” year.

Sure, the league proceeded without the participation of the Madison Capitals (regional COVID restrictions) or the Cedar Rapids Rough Riders (a Derecho huffed and puffed and blew the arena down), but the rest of the league played (an approximately) 54 game schedule with rather few disruptions.

Not only that, but in terms of quality, the league was better than ever, as a number of players who had expected to suit up for Canadian teams – both CHL and Jr. A – were given an opportunity to play for various USHL teams as their regular leagues were delayed indefinitely, or outright cancelled. Those bonus players included some that were drafted already, including Cross Hanas, Bear Hughes, and Danil Gushchin*. Other drafted players came in from the Ivy League schools, who did not play a hockey schedule this year. In addition to the likes of Henry Thrun, Jack Malone, and Austin Wong coming to the USHL after some time in college, others like Sean Farrell and Alex Laferriere, who had intended to start collegiate life this year, were forced to stay back for one more year in the Midwest.

*Gushchin, who had played the previous two seasons with Muskegon, was expected to play in Ontario with Niagara for the 2020-21 season, but with the OHL in permanent statis, he was loaned back to the Lumberjacks, where he put up his best season yet.

And then there were the draft-eligible ringers who unexpectedly joined the league and played so well that they have legitimate first round consideration at the end of it. I am thinking, of course, of Cole Sillinger, who joined Sioux Falls, before it was known when, or if, the WHL would get going, and Ayrton Martino and Jack Bar, who had played in Ontario last year and had been planning on playing in the BCHL this year before Canadian restrictions pushed them to the USHL, with Omaha and Chicago, respectively.

Of course, there were many other unexpected players in the league this year, with those mentioned only scratching the surface of the most famous names.

So, before we preview the postseason, which begins this Friday (Apr. 30), let’s pour one out for the six teams that didn’t make, and give a word to the top 1-3 draft eligible players from those squads.

Team USA

One point behind Dubuque for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference – although far further back via points percentage (.510-.481), the USNTDP team that would have played in the USHL playoffs had they made it would have been the U17 team. The best of that group – Rutger McGroarty, Isaac Howard, Ryan Chesley, Lane Hutson, Charlie Stramel and others – are playing with the U18 team in Texas at the WU18 tournament. No draft eligibles but remember those names for next season.

Youngstown Phantoms

By points percentage, easily the weakest team in the league. The aforementioned Jack Malone, a Vancouver draft pick, was far and away the top performer on the team, which is to be expected from a player with a year at Cornell under his belt. Among first year draft eligibles, Japanese import Yusako Ando was the most notable, although his second year in the league was worse than his first. He can create for others, but he doesn’t skate well enough to make up for his slight 5-7” frame. The only other draft eligible who ever made a positive impression on me from this roster was blueliner Austen May. The Providence commit is on the small side, but he is really fleet of foot and shows decent attention to detail off the puck.

Des Moines Buccaneers

Despite the presence of three drafted players – Alex Laferriere (LA), Noah Ellis (Vgk), and Lucas Mercuri (Car), the Buccaneers struggled this year, particularly in terms of putting the puck in the net. The drafted guys were all solid, but too few of the rest of the roster could match their output. Perhaps things would have been different if Paul Davey hadn’t of left mid-season for a stint back home in Connecticut. Davey and Scout Truman were the two most notable first time draft eligible on the roster, but neither really put their stamp on the season. If there are to be any Buccaneers drafted this year, they will be among the redraft candidates. To that end, file away the names of Matt Choupani and Remington Koepple. Choupani is a forward who lacks much in the way of physical tools but can play the puck well. Koepple is a goalie who had decent numbers in his first year in the league, although he has only average size and athleticism and he chocked in the BioSteel game, hurting his standing for some.

Lincoln Stars

The Stars went heavy on the ringers partway through the season. Cross Hanas was already mentioned, but he was just one of four players brought in from the WHL Portland Winterhawks, joining Clay Hanas (no relation), Jack O’Brien, and James Stefan, as well as Charles-Alexis Legault from West Kelowna in the BCHL and Michael Mastrodomenico from AAA hockey in Quebec. Simply put, the shuffled team never gelled, and the newcomers couldn’t get into the swing of the USHL.

O’Brien was the biggest disappointment. There was some expectation that he could be a high round pick this year, but one goal and six assists in 23 games ended that sentiment. Blueliner Legault didn’t hurt his stock too much, as he still has great size and skates well and shoots from his right side. Stefan, son of former first overall pick Patrik Stefan, had enough moments to maybe convince some team to call his name in the late rounds. A kind word also to big bruising winger Gleb Veremeyev. Veremeyev isn’t an offensive threat, but one of the top PIM players in the league is a threat, nonetheless. The USHL is not a very physical league, and when a player has that size and plays with that snarl, he sometimes gets drafted, such as we saw with Nick Capone last year and Martin Pospisil in 2018.

Waterloo Black Hawks

Generally contenders, the Black Hawks find themselves out of the playoffs for the first time since 2014-15, and only the second time in 14 seasons for which there were playoffs. Fielding one of the smaller and least experienced lineups in the league, this just wasn’t their year. Their one drafted player, Toronto’s Wyatt Schingoethe, regressed heavily from his strong draft year. The team cycled through goalies, with three seeing significant minutes. Remember the name of Emmett Croteau, the best performing of their netminders, as he won’t be draft eligible until 2022.

Among players eligible this year, the most impressive were second time eligible defenseman Cooper Wylie, a USHL rookie, who can play the puck and skate well enough to make his ornery game effective, if not spectacular. He could be drafted. On the other hand, David Gucciardi, acquired in an early season trade from Youngstown, will be drafted. His game is raw, and his mistakes are often critical, but he has tools, and his instincts are good enough to think he can be a good one if he relies on his instincts all the time.

Sioux Falls Stampede

The Western Conference bottom feeders are a mystery. In the last USHL playoffs, the Stampede took home the title. In addition to their usual solid team, this year they brought in the highest profile ringer in Cole Sillinger, who didn’t disappoint, with a team leading 46 points despite only playing in 31 games. He is a sniper with an NHL style game who will be back in the WHL next year. The USHL rarely sees a player of his caliber, whether talking about skill or about reading the game, yet he couldn’t drag the Stampede upwards on his own. I would be surprised if he isn’t the first player from this year’s USH: crop to play in the NHL.

Defender Brent Johnson was one of the better draft eligible defenders in the league as well. A power play specialist with good wheels and an ornery side, his season ended right before the BioSteel All American Game due to a shoulder injury, but could hear his name called in the 50-80 range of the draft if his medicals hold up.

Although not as high profile, I also have time for second time eligible, defenseman Nate Schweitzer, who can do a lot well, but nothing spectacularly, and winger Mike Citara, who can skate and shoot. I don’t expect either to be drafted, but I wouldn’t be surprised if either was.

The Playoffs

The format this year is simple. The top four teams from each conference made it in. All series are best-of-threes. Top seed plays the fourth seed, and second seed plays the third seed. All games are hosted by the higher seed. One series per weekend until one team lifts the Clark Cup. Let’s go!

Western Conference

Jack Peart. Photo Dan Hickling, Hickling Images

#1 Tri-City Storm vs #4 Fargo Force

The Western Conference was incredibly tight at the top with the playoff picture not being settled until the final weekend of the regular season. The points percentage difference between Tri-City and Fargo (32 percentage points) was less than between Fargo and fifth place Des Moines (34 percentage points).

Fargo was the third best defensive team in the league, although Tri-City was the best at keeping the puck out of its net. Neither team is known for filling their opponents’ nets either, but both had generally done enough to walk away with points more often than not. In fact, they are quite evenly matched. The difference in these three games (outside of home ice advantage) is likely to rest in special teams. Fargo was mediocre on both the power play and the penalty kill, while the Storm were strong with the man advantage and almost impregnable on the penalty kill, leading the league with a breathtaking 88.3% kill rate. To Fargo’s credit, they have played far more of their season at 5-on-5 than Tri-City. And they will have to do that again this weekend to keep their season alive.

Beyond the expected close games, another reason to watch this series is the head-to-head matchup between two very interesting and talented draft eligibles. On Fargo, that would be Tristan Broz, a two-way center with a good motor and the vision to be a power play weapon. The Minnesota commit ran away with the scoring lead on his team. His numbers would be even more impressive if he had more talented teammates to play with. On Tri-City, the man of the hour is Matthew Knies. Knies started his season painfully slow, but ended it on fire, with 20 points in his final 11 games. Knies has heavier feet, but a very mature build and at his best, can take over the game. He will join Broz with the Golden Gophers next year.

Knies and Broz are not the only intriguing draft eligible players in this series. In fact, Fargo blueliner Jack Peart has a very good chance to be the highest drafted player in this series. The St. Cloud State commit split his season between Fargo and Grand Rapids High School (Mn). He is a good skater with a very strong first few steps, who plays with preternatural poise. He controls the puck like a much older player and plays a strong 200-foot game. Had Peart spent the entire season in Fargo, the final standings may have looked very different. For Fargo, also keep an eye on Aaron Huglen, a Buffalo draft pick who returned from over a full year on the sidelines after around a third of this season was done and has played a skilled game ever since.

On Tri-City, Knies is joined by a pair of intriguing draft eligible players in Hunter Strand and Carter Mazur, the latter of whom is a second time eligible player. Strand is a USNTDP alum, whose late birthday prevented him from being drafted last year. The Alaska native is a great skater and plays a patient game with the puck. Mazur has more of an East-West style game, helped along by plus edges. He can play the pest role as well and retains utility off the puck. Strand and Mazur both outscored Knies this year, but Knies already had a big reputation through his big pre-draft year and his run to end the year keeps him top of mind.

Prediction: Fargo in three. A mild upset to be sure. The return of Peart helps Fargo just as much as the loss of top blueliner Guillaume Richard hurts Tri-City. Richard is currently representing Team Canada at the WU18s in Texas. Neither team has stellar goaltending, but Fargo’s Brennan Boynton should be able to roughly match Tri-City’s Todd Scott.

#2 Omaha Lancers vs #3 Sioux City Musketeers

Both Omaha and Sioux City put up 63 points in 53 games, but their paths to getting there could scarcely have been more different. Consider that Omaha’s goal differential was a mediocre +13, while Sioux City outscored their opponents on aggregate by 35 goals, with the league’s best – by far – defense.

The two teams are both led by high end goaltending, each starting one of the three drafted netminders in the league. For Sioux City, that man is the Swiss Akira Schmid, a New Jersey prospect, while Montreal draftee Jakob Dobes, from Czechia, mans the pipes for Omaha. Dobes was a true workhorse for the Lancers, playing in 47 of the team’s 53 games, while Schmid played roughly two-third of the time for Sioux City, as his back up was more reliable.

Schmid will need to be at his best in this series, however, as Omaha has one of the biggest offensive weapons in the league at their disposal in Ayrton Martino. Martino joined the club shortly after the calendar flipped into 2021 and took the league by storm, with the fifth best points-per-game ratio in the USHL (1.47). A great skater with a fantastic shot, Martino did not let his slight frame prevent him from dominating, and his playmaking game is just as strong as his finishing ability. If Sioux City can shut Martino down, the Lancers don’t have too many other weapons at their disposal as their secondary scoring is largely in the hands of USHL veterans like Ryan Lautenbach, Nolan Renwick and Zach Dubinsky. The Omaha roster is one of the oldest in the league.

Sioux City, on the other hand, has a few more weapons at its disposal. Detroit draft pick Chase Bradley and New Jersey pick Ethan Edwards were both in the team’s top four in scoring, while Buffalo pick Matteo Costantini showed well after joining the league mid-season. Although the Musketeers don’t have a draft eligible player the likes of Martino, don’t sleep on defenseman Shai Buium. A USHL rookie out of the Shattuck-St. Mary’s program, he combines quick hands with smooth, if not quick, feet. He plays a strong two-way game and if he were a better skater (he isn’t bad, but he isn’t great), we would be hearing more people call for him as a first round type of talent. As is, he has enough raw skill to dream on a big, late-blooming future. I am also keeping an eye on redraft candidates defenseman Daniel Laatsch and center Justin Hryckowian. Laatsch is a USNTDP alum who has great size and some burgeoning skill, but is still raw, while Hryckowian has a fun skill game, but an injury-filled history and a sub-optimal build.

Prediction: Sioux City’s depth overcomes Martino’s solo skill in three games.

Western Conference Final Prediction: Sioux City over Fargo in three games. Sioux City is just too difficult to score against and has enough offensive weapons to get the job done.

Eastern Conference

Matthew Coronato. Photo by Dan Hickling, Hickling Images

#1 Chicago Steel vs #4 Dubuque Fighting Saints

By all accounts, this should be a washout. Chicago is, by great lengths, the top team in the USHL. They enter the postseason on an eight-game undefeated streak, and won 38 of 54 games this year, often by wide margins. Their goaltending has been shoddy at times, but far more often than not, they were able to outscore their troubles and their total of 265 goals scored was 24 more than the runners-up. Dubuque, on the other hand, won only 24 of 51 games, securing the final playoff spot in the east thanks to a win in their final game coupled with a loss from the U17 USNTDP squad.

If Dubuque is to have a hope in this series, look to their defensive players. Goalie Lukas Parik, a Los Angeles draft pick, struggled since joining the team, in late-January from the Czech second division, but shut out Green Bay in his final game, reminding us of what he is capable. On the blueline, fellow LA pick Braden Doyle teams up with Anaheim draft pick Henry Thrun to give the Fighting Saints a pair of weapons. Up front, Dubuque has a balanced attack, but the man to watch is Robert Cronin. While too old to be drafted this year Cronin is a late bloomer with speed and skill who will be a good follow next year once he joins the University of New Hampshire. The boy to watch, on the other hand, is Matthew Savoie. The 17-year-old is a 2022 draft eligible, who should have been playing in the WHL, but the uncertainty in that league led him to Dubuque, where he immediately played a central, and at time dominating, role. He’s going to be really fun to watch next year.

Looking at draft eligibles for this summer, keep your eyes on Connor Kurth and Andrei Buyalsky. Buylasky is actually the same age (born three days later) as Cronin, but as he is considered a foreign player (this is his first season in North America), the Kazakhstani forward is draft eligible while the American Cronin is not. Buyalsky is an impressive skater with impressive finishing ability. Kurth, on the other hand, has no particular big attributes to his game, but he finds a way to put up good numbers. He has a very stocky build but moves well enough regardless.

Moving on to Chicago, almost every skater on the roster is worthy of mention. Start with Montreal draft pick Sean Farrell, a USNTDP alum who would have been with Harvard this season had the Crimson actually played. Instead, he put up a breathtaking 101-point season for the Steel. His playmaking ability is simply unfair to most opponents on most nights. Then there is Matthew Coronato, a likely first round pick, who scored 48 goals in 51 games. Sure, it helps to have Farrell playing on your team, but the two actually rarely played together at even strength. Coronato is an offensive dynamo, who is content to cycle on his own for multiple full loops of the offensive end before he sees a seam to exploit.

Then there is Jack Bar, a late add to the roster from the BCHL. After a brief period acclimating to the league, he began to dominate. The defenseman likes to get deep into the offensive zone but is also a physical and committed defender. He has some first round upside. Of course, I also have to mention Mackie Samoskevich, who at one time was seen as a better draft prospect than Coronato. Samoskevich struggled somewhat after a midseason injury but is another gifted playmaker and a fantastic skater to boot.

I don’t want to get into the weeds too much, but I also expect Josh Doan (son of Shane), Ryan Ufko, and Jackson Blake to be drafted this summer, and Jack Harvey being drafted wouldn’t surprise me either. Anaheim draft pick Ian Moore has been impressive in his first season in the USHL, and 2023(!!) eligible forward Adam Fantilli is a burgeoning superstar. As good as everyone else already mentioned on this roster is, Fantilli’s upside is the highest. I am talking top three in the draft upside.

Prediction: Chicago in two, barring a complete breakdown in net. Chicago in three if the goalies stumble.

#2 Muskegon Lumberjacks vs #3 Green Bay Gamblers

A testament to how tight the West is, the Muskegon-Green Bay series is the second most lopsided duel after Chicago-Dubuque, with .040 percentage points separating the Lumberjacks and the Gamblers. Muskegon plays an up-tempo, high-event game with red lights going off at both ends. Green Bay is best when they keep goals to a minimum, and actually ended the season with the fewest goals allowed in the conference.

Green Bay’s chances are led by a pair of Boston Bruins’ draft picks in defender Mason Lohrei and center Jake Schmaltz. The latter is a two-way forward, who after three seasons in the USHL, has figured out how to be a factor offensively. He does a lot of little things well but lacks any dynamic elements. Lohrei was a surprise second rounder last season but has grown his game even more this year. He is big, skates very well, has a big point shot and plays a tough game at all ends. The Gamblers will go as far as he can take them. Vancouver draft pick Jackson Kunz and Vegas pick Jackson Hallum are also on the roster, and while both have shown the ability to provide secondary offense, neither can make things happen on their own. 2022 eligible Ryan Greene is an interesting player, but if there is a wild card in Green Bay, it is Camden Thiesing. The Tennessee native combines skill with grit, finishing third in the league in PIMs. He will work to make things happen on his own, and when he stays out of the penalty box, he is dangerous.

Led by San Jose draft pick Danil Gushchin, Muskegon is incredibly entertaining. Gushchin is a dynamo, who is not the most consistent player, but when he is involved and engaged, is one of the top handful of forwards in the league. He is joined by a deep roster of talented players, a few of whom should be drafted this summer, many of those in their second year of eligibility. The best of that secondary bunch is center Cameron Berg. Berg finished last year hot after a slow start and didn’t miss a beat coming into this year. He has a high-end wrist shot and knows how to create space for himself to rip one off. Winger Quinn Hutson is another second-year eligible forward who made waves this year. The type of player to get to the right spot at the right time, he knows how to finish what his linemates create. On the blueline, there are a trio to watch. The offensive blueline is Jacob Guevin, a power play specialist, whose production overshadows his average tools. Alex Gagne and Hank Kempf are bigger, more physical blueliners who make life difficult for attacking forwards. I could see all three drafted this summer.

Prediction: Muskegon in three games.

Eastern Conference Final prediction: Chicago in three games over Muskegon. This would be an immensely entertaining series.

Clark Cup Final Prediction: Chicago over Sioux City in three games. It’s really hard to bet against the Steel this year.

USHL 2019-20 Season Preview – Fall Classic 2019

Ryan Wagman — Wed, 09 Oct 2019 14:13:08 +0000

As is now customary in the USHL, the league season opened in the outskirts of Pittsburgh, at the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex. Over a four day period, when one of the main ice sheets was not being used by the pre-season Pittsburgh Penguins, or one of many elite youth tournaments featuring teams from around the country, all 16 teams* in the league gathered in Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania, around 50 miles away from the nearest USHL franchise (Youngstown, Ohio), to play their first two games of the regular season.

*The USNTDP U-17 and U-18 squads play different schedules, but their combined records are used in the league standings. Also, only the U-18 team featured here.

The USHL is a funny league. Like the OHL, WHL, or QMJHL, it is a great league for high end under 20 hockey players. The USHL has close to a 100% graduation rate for its players either going to play for Division I NCAA programs, or turning pro in Europe. There is, however, a critical difference between the USHL and the CHL leagues.

Whereas the CHL will only lose two or three players directly to the pros after their age 17 year, and maybe 6-10 more after their age 18 seasons, the vast majority of players stick around until their eligibility is exhausted. On the other hand, around 35-60% of the best 17 year old’s in the league move on to play college hockey as true freshman. Half or more of the rest go to school after their age 18 season. For the most part, the only players who use up their eligibility are the depth player of whom their commitment schools do not have as high hopes and push for a delay in enrollment so as to get a player who is at least physically mature, even if he will not be a top end collegiate player.

What that leaves us with is a league that sees a tremendous amount of year-over-year turnover, particularly among the high end of the league. It is very difficult to not only know the various rosters before the puck drops, but to know who to look out for in any given year as development is rapid.

While I was not able to get to the arenas in time to see the opening game, missing a chance to see the Dubuque Fighting Saints take out the Muskegon Lumberjacks by a 4-1 margin. I also had to leave before the games of the final day commenced, but over three days of attendance, I got to see each team play at least once, seeing all or parts of 12 games in under 72 hours. I say “parts of” games, as there was some overlap around midday each day, forcing me, and scouts from every NHL and seemingly every NCAA Division I school, to jump back and forth between arenas. As much as the event is great for NHL scouts to familiarize themselves with the new batch of talent from one of the better prospect leagues in the world, it is also a great chance for college recruiters and coaches to look for late blooming talent that have not yet committed themselves to one program or another.

With the caveat that the teams will change markedly as the season progresses, due to injuries, trades, and players leaving or leaving for high school programs, imperfect information is always better than no information and I’d rather share what I know about the early 2019-20 season in the USHL with you than not do it.

For those who just want to know which teams are best/worst, I was most impressed with Waterloo, Chicago, and Cedar Rapids. Des Moines, Sioux City, and Muskegon had it roughest. For everybody else, keep reading.

Cedar Rapids RoughRiders (Prediction – 1^st in the Eastern Conference)

I am going alphabetically, so it is just a coincidence that the team I had as the best on the weekend is going first. After getting past the first round for the first time in nine years last season, the RoughRiders are positioned to go further in 2019-20. Outscoring opponents 10-3 on the weekend, it was the defense that stood out to me most consistently. The name everyone knows is Will Francis, a sixth round pick of Anaheim’s last summer. He was always a good skater for his size, but he looks to be a bit more assertive with the puck this year. He is joined on the blueline by a number of other sizable, mobile blueliners, several of whom should be watched closely by NHL scouts this season. 17 year olds among them include Alex Gagne, a big player who can help to push the pace, and Bennet Zmolek, who is more of a first pass kind of player. Most impressive though was Ben Meehan, an 18 year old who spent his draft year playing New England prep school hockey. Although not as big as his teammates, he has dynamic elements to his puck game and isn’t exactly small. He could be a game breaker.

The forwards are solid, but there might not be a future NHLer among them, although I wouldn’t put it past Grant Silianoff to have a big second year of eligibility. He is a very good skater with solid hockey IQ. Instead, look in net. I’d also keep half an eye on Justin Hryckowian, an 18-year old who joins the team after a year at prep school, who brings pace and energy, blended with some puck skills. The RoughRiders will probably split the crease, at least in the early going, but at least on one out of every two games, giant Colorado draft pick Shamil Shmakov will fill up the space between the pipes. His limbs are so long, I have taken to calling him Shamil the Shpider. Unlike most big netminders, he is aggressive in the crease. According to Alessandro Seren Rosso, he had been inconsistent in Russia, but it’s easy to see what the Avalanche like about him.

Chicago Steel (Prediction – 2^nd in the Eastern Conference)

Once again, the fact that another of our expected front-runners comes near the top of our list is coincidental. Despite the loss of top scorers Nicholas Abruzzese and Robert Mastrosimone to the college ranks, the Steel should once again be one of the strongest teams in the league, and may in fact be a more well-rounded team this year than the squad that made it to the Clark Cup finals last year.

The biggest change is in net, as the graduation of inconsistent incumbent Justin Robbins has paved the way for a pair of newcomers to the league in Victor Ostman from Sweden and Ian Shane from California. Both were steady in their debut games, allowing a pair of goals apiece. The blueline should also be stronger than the youthful crew in place last year. While Luke Reid is the only defender likely to be observed closely for draft reasons this year, the North Dakota commit has some flaws to iron out in his own end. On the other hand, 2021 eligible Owen Power is ready to lead the charge from the back. He is large, mobile and his game grew by leaps and bounds as a 16 year old rookie in the league last year. He is trending to be a high pick when his time comes.

The offensive attack will be led by a trio of intriguing draft eligible forwards in late-‘01 birthdays Sean Farrell (late of the USNTDP) and Brendan Brisson (son of super-agent Pat Brisson), and Sam Colangelo. Farrell and Brisson both play skilled games with pace and hockey IQ. Neither have great size, but make things happen on the ice. Colangelo has similar attributes, but better size in his package. Also worth keeping an eye on are Gunnarwolfe Fontaine, whose overall game is almost as much fun as his name, and Matthew “Mackie” Samoskevich, a late-’02 birthday who looks like a probable draft pick in the 2021 draft. Famously under the tutelage of star skills coach Darryl Belfry, the Steel have talent up and down the lineup and will be a tough out all season, even though their roster is the youngest (excepting the USNTDP, which has age limits) in the league.

Des Moines Buccaneers (Prediction – 7^th in the Western Conference)

While the Buccaneers were pretty rough in their opening weekend, all hope is not lost for the Iowan squad. Their team is at an odd juncture of being among the oldest in the league, but only in the middle of the pack in terms of experience at this level. It is fair to expect more out of imports Yaroslav Alexeyev, who has already seen success at the QMJHL level, as well as from third year USHLer Jan Kern, who played for his native Czech Republic at last year’s WJC. I would also assume there is more offense to come from 2001 borns Mason Nevers and Michael Mancinelli, who have flashed their skills in the past.

A lot of their hopes to turn around the tough beginning will rest on the shoulders on former USNTDP backup netminder Cameron Rowe. He has the requisite athleticism you want in a top goaltender, but needs to take a few steps forward in terms of his consistency and focus. Rowe will need the blueline to step up and minimize Grade A scoring chances against and I will be keeping my eyes on a pair of 2001s to play key roles in that endeavor in Nicklas Andrews, an undersized puck mover, and John Driscoll, a much bigger, rangier player who is more of a stay-at-home type.

For those interested in first year draft eligible players, I will be focused on Iowa native Noah Ellis, a UMass (Amherst) commit who is entering his first year in the league and is being given a chance to prove himself on the power play, as well as center Matt Choupani, who has come to the USHL from the AAA ranks in Quebec. He has solid wheels, some puck protection ability, and brings energy to all three zones.

Dubuque Fighting Saints (Prediction – 3^rd in the Eastern Conference)

The Fighting Saints always build talented rosters, even if most of their players are on the older side (oldest roster in the league) and many are not necessarily on the forefront of NHL scouting radars. Exhibits 1A and 1B to that point are the Jackson twins, Ty (a center) and Dylan (RW). A pair of waterbugs on the top line, Dylan is the bigger of the two, at 5-9”, 155. They are both quick and talented, playing a creative, instinctive game. Had they been born 10 days later, they would have been first time eligibles next June, but were passed over last season. In a similar boat, but one year older, is Riese Gaber, tiny yet one of the most talented stick handlers in the league. Gaber could be a potential free agent signing out of college like recent signings Blake Lizotte and Mason Jobst, but he is going to turn 20 this week and 5-8” is still small, even in the modern NHL.

Dubuque also has a pair of already drafted players in the lineup in Swedish netminder Erik Portillo, who aced his debut, holding Muskegon to a single goal on 23 shots. Jimmy Hamrin was very high on this mountain man from his time in the Swedish junior ranks and the Buffalo Sabres were intrigued enough to use their third round pick on him. Blueliner Braden Doyle looked overwhelmed late last season after his prep schedule ended, but Los Angeles saw enough potential to use a late pick on him and he looks much better in the early going, with his stickhandling and puck rushing abilities more able to come to the fore. Both Portillo and Doyle will be critical to Dubuque’s chances this year.

In terms of first time draft eligible for this season, look back to the Jackson line where Stephen Halliday is being tasked with creating room for his talented linemates. Already standing 6-4” and over 210 pounds, he has the size to play a power game and the speed and puck skills to keep up in the modern game. The first overall pick in the USHL Futures draft in 2018, he was stuck on a now-defunct Central Illinois team last year and now has the chance to establish his draft stock in light of his natural gifts. First, he will need to play with some snarl to match his skill as he was getting pushed around too easily by smaller players for my liking.

Fargo Force (Prediction – 6^th in the Western Conference)

A team with age and size on its side, Cary Eades’ team is set to compete now. The most well-known names on the roster belong to netminder Cole Brady and forward Aaron Huglen, both entering their first full seasons in the USHL but with NHL affiliations already in place. Brady was a late round pick of New Jersey and Huglen of Buffalo in last June’s draft. Brady impressed in his debut games. He takes up a lot of room in the crease, has his movements under control, stays square to the shooter and flashes a quick glove. Huglen missed the USHL Classic due to injury but his high end skill set is expected to make him one of the Force’s offensive leaders.

Fargo’s chances will rest on their ability to limit the scoring chances provided to the opposition, which they looked more than capable of doing in the opening weekend. Their blueline crew is relatively anonymous, although big Cedric Fiedler played for Switzerland at last year’s WU18 tournament. Their first pairing for the moment consists of Noah Beck and Colton Huard, who are both reliable defenders with plus size but without any remarkable tools to their name. In the absence of Huglen, their top offensive threats look like a pair of 18 year olds who passed over at the draft last year in Lynden Breen and Kaden Bohlsen. The former brings the skill and play driving ability and the latter brings the size and trigger. 16-year old Tristan Broz is also worth noting, although his draft date won’t be until 2022.

While any of the names mentioned in the last paragraph can make enough noise in their respective second years of draft eligibility to hear their names called next June (I would say that Bohlsen is the odds-on favorite in that duck race), the only first year eligible player who played a regular shift at the USHL Classic was Kyle Smolen, who was essentially their extra skater.

Green Bay Gamblers (Prediction – 8^th in the Eastern Conference)

In the absence of much in the way of 2002 born talent, the primary point of interest in scouting the Gamblers this year is to see how a trio of drafted forwards continue their development. Big Texan Ryan O’Reilly is the rare player who is still gracing the rinks of the USHL in his draft + two season. He has always had talented mitts and good shot, but has struggled with his consistency throughout his time in the league and his first few steps have remained below average. The other two drafted players were more surprising that they were selected in the first place. In the seventh round last year, Boston drafted Jake Schmaltz and Tampa took McKade Webster. The Schmaltz selection was odd in that he was a bottom six player without any discernable high end tools in his draft year as a member of the Steel. For Webster, it was his second year of eligibility, but he missed most of the season to injury. Schmaltz should take on a bigger role this year and we will get the chance to see if there is any latent skill lying beneath the two-way responsibility. Webster is healthy and brings energy, but can his early point pace be sustained over time?

Green Bay’s ability to compete will rest on a group of undrafted, yet talented late 2000 and 2001 born players. Up front, I would look to Tyler Paquette, Nicholas Zabaneh, and Camden Thiesing. Paquette is big and skates well, although his hands haven’t yet caught up to his feet. Zabaneh and Theising are both undersized and have flashed the ability to execute skill plays, but without the necessary consistency to be of pro interest. On the blueline, the top two left side players, Dylan Moulton and Chris Giroday, are all situations players with solid all around games. Moulton, in particular, has the look of a promising late bloomer, after spending last season in the NAHL.

Thus far, the only first year eligible on the roster are wingers Luke Mylymok and Alex Servango. Servango has scored twice in his first three games at the level, but standing 5-8”, he will have to prove himself continuously all year. Mylymok had a decent rookie season in the USHL last year, but hasn’t shown much yet in 2019-20. I would posit that one of the players in the previous paragraph is more likely to earn the affections of NHL scouts, with Giroday and Paquette the most primed.

Lincoln Stars (Prediction – 4^th in the Western Conference)

After a terrible 2018-19 campaign, which saw the team sell off many of its better players at the trade deadline, the Stars seem to have regrouped with much better things expected for 2019-20. The lineup is stocked with players with USHL experience, with only Green Bay and Omaha have more on hand. This type of team-building is easiest to recognize with their goaltenders. Neither Ryan McInchak nor Jacob Mucitelli look like future NHLers, but neither are prone to coughing up games behind their squad.

The Stars feature four veteran forwards leading the charge, including three who all played with the Chicago Steel last season in Travis Treloar, Josh Groll, and Christian Sarlo. Groll may be recognized as a depth player for the Team USA outfit at the 2018 Hlinka, although he struggled to produce for the Steel. Treloar and Sarlo were productive, and Treloar looked, at times, like a potential NHL draft pick in the first half, before slowing down considerably in the second half. They played as a first line at the USHL Classic and could collectively be primed for a strong season now. Joining them as a critical forward is holdover Josh Lopina. He has gained in mass since last year and flashes a promising wrist shot. Through their first two games, the Stars blueline corps did not add a single point, although players like Jordan Power and Jake Boltmann should change that in short order.

Speaking of Boltmann, he is one of the few first year draft eligible players on the roster. He plays in all situations and has a solid point shot from the right side. He also plays a promising physical style. Two other draft eligibles of note are left winger Zach Urdahl and blueliner Jacob Bauer. Urdahl impressed for the Stars in a brief cameo last year. His first few steps are fine, but his top speed needs an extra gear. Bauer is a right handed shot with good size, but none of his tools flashed overly brightly on the weekend.

Madison Capitols (Prediction – 6^th in the Eastern Conference)

Ever since I began covering the USHL, the Capitols have been the dregs of the league. They would have the occasional high end prospect in their ranks, but more often than not, they were drastically outmanned by the other teams in the league. While I am not ready to state that Madison will play in the postseason for the first time in its six year history, they could be a .500 team for the first time. The roster is still too shallow for me to project for more, but progress is apparent.

My general optimism comes from the first line of forwards, with Hungarian center Kristof Papp flanked by two first year draft eligible wingers in Carson Bantle and Reid Pabich. I will start with a word on Pabich, a Madison native who helps to keep things moving along, but is the clear third wheel on this unit. If the Capitols wanted to maximize their top line, Pabich would be subbed out for another first year draft eligible in Ryan Kirwan, who had a good showing for Team USA at this summer’s Hlinka Gretzky Cup. Regardless of how they move the right wing forward, the player to watch here is left winger Bantle, also a Hlinka alum. In his second season in Madison, Bantle has started the season hot, with six points through his first three games. He has ideal size, good touch, a nice top gear and a strong stick. I would like to see more aggression, but so far he looks like one of the top draft eligible prospects in the league. The line is centered by Papp, the team’s second leading scorer last season. He has very soft hands and plays creatively and now with added confidence. His size is only average and he may not have the speed to be of great NHL interest, but if he continues to push the pace as he did in the USHL Classic, he will force teams to take notice.

Although most of the attention on Madison will be placed up front, there is one blueliner who should also be minded in right handed shooting Stephen Davis, a Boston College commit. Although offensively inclined for the most part, the puck mover puts in good effort in his own end and could do enough to keep himself on the radar. Starting netminder Simon Latkoczy is also a 2002-born player, but at 5-11”, he is too small to be a draft target. That said, if he can provide Madison with at least average performance in net, the team will be competitive.

Muskegon Lumberjacks (Prediction – 5^th in the Eastern Conference)

One of the most surprising facets of the USHL this year is that Daniil Gushchin is still a part of it. The Lumberjacks have a knack for developing Russian players, with high draft picks Andrei Svechnikov and Yegor Afanasyev both recently gracing the team roster. Gushchin played with Afanasyev last year and was very impressive as a 16-year old in the league, so when the Regina Pats used the seventh overall pick in the CHL Import Draft on the pint sized winger, it was widely expected that the player would be moving to Saskatchewan. Perhaps not. Although Gushchin has not recorded a point through three league games, he is widely expected to spearhead the Lumberjacks offense as the season progresses.

Coming up behind the talented Russian is another talented left winger who is small enough to make the 5-8”, 165 lbs Gushchin look big. I am referring to 5-7”, 158 lbs Alex Gaffney, who held his own as a rookie last year, but will need to do far more than that to garner NHL attention this year. Gaffney was strong at the Hlinka, but with his frame, the Harvard commit will need to prove that he can handle the grind. Another first year draft eligible winger of note for Muskegon is Jack Williams (one of two Jack Williamses on the roster). After crushing at the Selects Hockey Academy for two years, he was electrifying in a short stint with Muskegon at the tail end of last year. He has already shown that he can bring a lot of energy to his shifts this year, but the offense will need to follow.

There are enough interesting players on the Lumberjacks to expect them to overcome their rough start to the season (5 goals through 3 games), but the only one who seems likely to be followed for draft purposes is netminder Jonathan (Jack) Williams. Passed over last year after an uneven NAHL campaign, he has the size and athleticism that teams look for. He needs the minutes and the consistency. They are the smallest team in the league, and one of the least experienced to boot, so a slow start is not all that surprising, but better days should be ahead.

Omaha Lancers (Prediction – 2^nd in the Western Conference)

Muskegon has the least experienced roster in the USHL. Omaha has, by far, the most experience, with nearly 200 more cumulative games to its players’ credit than the runner-up. Among those experienced players, none will play as critical a role in Omaha’s fortunes as that of starting goalie Akira Schmid. The 6-5” behemoth led the league in save percentage after coming over from the WHL, by way of the NAHL, and allowing for a mid-year break to represent his native Switzerland at the WJC. Considering the gap in ability between New Jersey draft pick Schmid and his backup, he should receive the lion’s share of playing time.

The Lancers’ offensive attack will reply on two 18 year olds who actually have very little USHL experience in Alexander Campbell a Nashville draft pick, and Rhett Pitlick, a Montreal selection. Campbell is coming over off a fantastic draft year in the BCHL, while Pitlick spent the bulk of his draft year playing Minnesota high school hockey. At the USHL Classic, they were generally playing opposite wings on the same line, with Pitlick playing as a trigger man on his off wing. Both players are above average skater and exciting puck players. When they are on the ice, especially playing together, the opposition should expect to be playing mostly in its own end.

Similar to the gap between Schmid and his backup, the level of talent on Omaha sees a big drop off after Campbell and Pitlick. With a plethora of 1999 and 2000 borns, there is little room o the roster for first year draft eligible, and only three played at all at the Classic. Neither Cameron Berg, Michael Cameron, or Matt Basgall did much to separate themselves. Omaha will go only as far as its three drafted players can take them.

Sioux City Musketeers (Prediction – 8^th in the Western Conference)

Eeli Tolvanen is long gone. Last year’s hero, Bobby Brink is gone now, too. Draft picks Martin Pospisil and Marcus Kallionkielli are also gone. In fact, all of the top eight on the scoring list from last year’s squad are now gone. So are the two main netminders. I have already mentioned how high the level of turnover is in this league and the Musketeers are the prime example of that trend. It isn’t all bad though. For one thing, Sioux City could have even better netminding this year as Ben Kraws and Jake Sibell have been replaced by Nashville draft pick Ethan Haider, coming off a fantastic campaign in the NAHL, where he was named the Goaltender of the Year for the Midwest region of that league.

Additionally, even though they didn’t factor into the scoring leaders last year, the team added a pair of defensemen from high end college programs around midseason and both Adam Samuelsson and Dominic Vidoli are back. The former provides a gigantic body on the blueline with enough snarl to make himself useful even without much in the way of offensive contributions. The latter is six inches shorter and 55 pounds lighter, but looks to be one of the more dynamic offensive defensemen in the league this year. As a 20 year old, he is not draft eligible, but could work his way into consideration as an undrafted free agent after more time in college at Ohio State.

The Musketeers may be a weaker squad this year, but with a plethora of 2002 borns in the lineup, the stands will always have a lot of NHL scouts in attendance. Among the first year eligible, Jackson Nieuwendyk, son of Hall of Famer Joe is currently more curiosity than legit draft prospect, but that may yet change. Offensively inclined blueliner Christian Jimenez is a decent puck mover, but his reads are still a little rough. Center Blake Biondi comes with glowing advance clippings, considering his past production for Minnesota high school powerhouse Hermantown, which last year culminated in his being named an All-USA Hockey First Teamer, along with four players who were drafted last June. There is some thought that he will yet return to play for Hermantown this year, and his early play this season in the USHL has been underwhelming, but leaving for high school will leave his prospect status with more questions than answers, even if he excels for Hermantown once again. At this point though, the top scouting draw is following in a hallowed Sioux City tradition as a high end Finnish scorer. Tolvanen begat Kallionkieli. Kallionkieli has begat Joel Maatta. Maatta has started his USHL career on fire, with the ability to control the offensive attack from the half-wall, getting right to the net on rushes and making sure his stick is ready to play the puck. Between his hands, size and solid stride, he has the makings of a top half of the draft candidate.

Sioux Falls Stampede (Prediction – 3^rd in the Western Conference)

Winning the Clark Cup last year was very nice. Starting again with only two players who contributed even 10 points to the championship team is not as nice, but flags fly forever. The goalies have turned over, too. So let’s give a quick shout-out to returning champions Jared Westcott and Ryan Sullivan, as they spend one more season in the USHL before going to school, but the simple matter is that any chance of repeating that the Stampede have will be reliant on new players. Starting in the crease, both netminders are new to the league, and neither Nathan Reid nor Grant Adams (both 2000-borns) has yet to claim a stranglehold on the starting job.

The biggest drop off from year to year for Sioux Falls is most likely on the blueline, though, as the championship team starred NHL draft picks Ryan Johnson and Max Crozier in the back in addition to other veterans of the league. The only defender on the current squad to have entered the new season with over 10 USHL games under their respective belts is the undersized Chase Foley, who held his own last year as a member of the defunct Central Illinois Flying Aces. For draft purposes, I will be keeping an eye on Evan Bushy, who joined the Stampede late last year after a strong showing for his hometown Thief River Falls High School team. Bushy didn’t record a single point in 10 regular season or four postseason games last year with Sioux Falls, but is being given a bigger role for the moment.

The forward group is also young and relatively inexperienced, but through three regular seasons, they have combined to score 12 goals, with eight different players lighting the lamp. Having a roster that can contribute from every line can only be a positive, even if it means that there isn’t a single offensive play driver, or focal point to lean on. That said, there are two first year eligible players that have earned a follow already. One is right winger Luke Weilandt, who the Stampede nabbed in the 13^th round of the most recent USHL entry Level Draft. The Chicago native leads the way with five points through three games, although he is undersized and hasn’t yet shown any high level tools. The other player of note is Poland import Jakub Lewandowski, a rangy winger who comes over after a strong season in the Czech U19 league. He has good balance on his skates, can control the puck nicely and shows a touch of creativity to boot.

Tri-City Storm (Prediction – 5^th in the Western Conference)

Although they have yet to come away with two standings points from any of their three first games, scoring only six times in the process, there are a lot of pieces on the Tri-City roster who should be interesting follows as the season plays on. Despite losing four NHL picks to the college game in netminder Isaiah Saville, defensemen Ronnie Attard and Zac Jones, and forward Shane Pinto, a fifth draft pick, Mike Koster, who only played with the Storm in the final quarter of the season, returns. His early absence due to injury has not helped the Tri-City offense find its legs.

Even without Allard, Jones, Koster (for now), or Ruben Rafkin, upon whom high hopes were placed, but who left for an opportunity with Windsor in the OHL, the Tri-City blueline once again should provide a lot of eye candy for scouts. Most prominent among that crew is Mitchell Miller, who came over in an off-season trade from Cedar Rapids. Miller is undersized, but is a composed puck mover, who plays with a pleasant physical side away from the puck. He has a full tool kit and may be one of the better first time eligible defenders in the league this year. He is joined on the blueline by a pair of rookies who join Tri-City together from the Chicago Mission program in Kyle Aucoin and Nicholas Donato. I am not sure if Donato is part of the famous Donato hockey clan, but Aucoin is the son of longtime NHLer Adrian. He showed a few flashes of high hockey IQ during the USHL Classic, and a few reminders that he was still very raw as well.

Despite not being able to score much yet, it seems the issue is not one of a lack of talent, but more likely a matter of some bad luck over a small sample. The forwards are very young, with four first year eligibles among the season opening lineup, in addition to two more who won’t be draft eligible until 2021. The four first year eligible include Colby Ambrosio, Mark Estapa, Carter Mazur, and Nick Capone. Estapa and Ambrosio are good shooters. The latter has a knack for hitting the twine and will likely be an offensive leader for Tri-City this year, while the former looks like more of a depth, energy player for now. Capone chose the USHL over strong overtures from the QMJHL and is ready for a full season in the league after two partial years previously. He has fantastic power forward size and plays a rough game to boot. He is a strong skater for his size and shows the hands to win puck battles in the corners. He has yet to find the scoresheet, but he is the type of player who can have a big impact on the game even without scoring.

Waterloo Black Hawks (Prediction – 1^st in the Western Conference)

Three games, three wins with only four goals allowed (although only eight scored), and Waterloo is easily the early favorite in the Western Conference. Rookie goalie Gabriel Carriere has played in all three games for the Black Hawks, ignoring the lure of the OHL for the lure of Hockey East. He has been steady, but not spectacular. That said, if he keeps his numbers even close to his current .947 save percentage, NHL teams will be forced to consider the third year eligible from Ottawa.

The blueline in front of Carriere that has been so far so good at keeping opponents to the outside, is mostly young and small. It includes two first year eligible and four players who are 6-0” or smaller. The Venn diagram of young and small is basically a circle within a circle, as all three first year eligible are on the small side. Ethan Szmagaj would have been draft eligible last year were he born three days earlier, and he held his own as a USHL rookie at the time. More of a first pass than an offensive driver, he shows some grit along the boards and the quiet effectiveness of a potential late round selection. The other first year eligible also has a year of USHL experience under his belt as Nic Belpedio (brother of Minnesota’s Louie) played a solid season with Muskegon.

Szmagaj and Belpedio aside, scouts will flock to Waterloo this year as the forward units have a number of intriguing draft eligible players. The biggest name among that group is Ryder Rolston (son of Brian) who played with the USNTDP U18s last year, but was not draft eligible as a late birthday, so gets another year in the league before getting the chance to hear his name called by an NHL team. Like his father, he is a brilliant skater and plays a responsible two way game. He is an opportunistic player with a big wrist shot. He has the tools and the big game background to be one of the first players from the league to be drafted next June. The other notable first year eligible include Patrick Guzzo, Dane Montgomery, and Wyatt Schingoethe. Guzzo is a big center who can skate and was a former USHL first round pick. Montgomery is undersized, but quick, and has a nice wrist shot. He currently straddles the line between being responsible, but barely in control. Schingoethe had a great season as a 16 year old last year, trailing only Daniil Gushchin and Stephen Halliday in points in his age group. He has exceptional hockey IQ and is the type of player who can lengthen offensive zone time and can punctuate the attack with a great wrist shot, but I would like to see a touch more burst to his first few steps.

Team USA (Prediction – 7^th in the Eastern Conference)

For the purposes of this introduction, I will be completely ignoring the U17s. Sorry, fellas, we’ll talk about you next year. The U18s are not nearly as deep as last year’s team, but there is still a ton of talent here. With the exceptions of forwards Hunter Strand and Matthew Beniers, both with November birthdates that push their draft eligibility off to 2021, the rest of the lineup will be draft eligible next June. Unlike last year, where all but two draft eligible players were selected, there will be a few more from this year’s class who will enter college without NHL affiliation. I was only able to see the first Team USA game at the USHL Classic, so I won’t be so bold as to predict which players will and will not be drafted, but I saw enough to highlight some elements from some players that stuck out. Also of note, forward Ty Smilanic, who some see as the top draft prospect from this class, missed the Classic due to injury. He played the following weekend, so this isn’t a long term issue, but I will not be commenting further on him at this time.

The goaltending situation for the Program is currently blurry, with Noah Grannan and Drew Commesso splitting the net at the Classic. I saw Grannan, and he was fine and reports on Commesso were also generally positive, but neither will be following in the footsteps of Spencer Knight or Jake Oettinger as first round picks. In fact, there were reports that the Program may consider bringing in a goalie from somewhere else to augment their group when it comes time for international play.

There are several interesting blueliners in this group and Eamon Powell was most impressive to there eyes, with his dynamic skating ability and propensity to lead the rush and activate in the offensive end. He is an impressive puck handler and has a good right-handed point shot to boot. On the other hand, he is smallish and can be a bit rough in his own end. Jake Sanderson (son of Geoff) has a more traditionally desirable tool kit from a scouting perspective. He is tall and rangy, is central at both ends, and has plus edge work. Brock Faber plays a quieter game, within the team structure, and not chasing a play at either end. He has good strength and is a goalie’s friend in his own zone, working to keep the crease clear. A shout out also to big Daniel Laatsch, who can fire one from the point.

Once we get past the late birthdays up front, the most interesting draft candidate among the forwards looks like Luke Tuch, who looks a fair bit like older brother Alex, now with the Vegas Golden Knights. He is big and beefy and has good hands and decent quickness. Hunter McKown also impressed from the fourth line, thanks to his plus speed, and great hands. He has ankle breaking puck skills. Center Chase Yoder is an exceptional skater, although there are open questions about his offensive ability. Landon Slaggert is a muscular winger following in the footsteps of his older brother Graham. Landon is more likely than his brother to be drafted, as he has plus hands, and plays a much chippier game. Dylan Peterson is very big and skates well for his size with a discernable second gear. Thomas Bordeleau led the team in scoring last ear and has the early lead in goals this season. He is smallish, but plays with jam and skill. Many more views are needed.

Youngstown Phantoms (Prediction – 4^th in the Eastern Conference)

I really like the new orange uniforms, although I would appreciate them more if they put the player numbers on the shoulders. Whose idea was it to only have player numbers on the back? The first place I looked to on this team was in net, as they were debuting Chicago draft pick Dominic Basse, a gigantic puck stopper who spent his draft year playing midget hockey at the Selects Hockey Academy. His first game stepping up two levels to the USHL was brutal, though. He gave up way too many goals, including a few bouncers. To his credit, his first game after the USHL Classic was much better, stopping 22 of 24 in a victory against Muskegon. Even with that rebound, he may end up playing second fiddle to crease mate Colin Purcell. Purcell spent some time last year with the NTDP program, but spent most of his year playing Tier 1 hockey in the Cleveland area. Just as big as Besse, Purcell plays a much calmer game, is sharp from post to post, and keeps a stiff back, allowing him to cover more of the top of the net. Purcell is the early favorite to be the first goalie drafted out of the USHL, including the USNTDP stoppers.

The Phantoms’ postseason chances will be aided by a veteran blueline, with only one regular under the age of 19, unless 16-year old Austin May works his way into the regular rotation. While there are unlikely to be any future NHLers in this blueline crew, there is a ton of size, with three regulars standing at least 6-3”, while UMass (Amherst) commit Jayson Dobay brings offensive wherewithal.

While scouts will not be looking for miracles from the defensemen, the forwards have a lot to recommend them. Looking to the future, there is Japanese wunderkind Yusaku Ando, who comes to Youngstown from an elite hockey school in Western Canada. He turned 16 around one month ago and scored three goals in his first five USHL games. For the current draft, remember the name of Ben Schoen. He is small, but a gifted playmaker. He is the go-to player for his team and controls the game like a veteran from the half-wall. He has great offensive instincts and vision and could be a sleeper if he adds some muscle to help him withstand physical play.

Also fighting for scouting attention on the Phantoms are a pair of second time eligible forwards in Trevor Kuntar and Reilly Funk. This is Kuntar’s third year in the USHL, and the Harvard commit is starting this season hot. He is a solid skater with a plus top speed and a good shot. He can also flash high end puck skills, such as the play leading up to a goal scored late against Tri-City. Funk is new to the USHL, having played in the MJHL for the past two seasons. He has a great frame (6-3”, 190), which he uses to good effect along the boards. He skates well for his size and attacks the net on offense. He is coordinated and athletic and has a knack for creating room for himself with the puck with a shoulder check. With eight points in his first five games at the new level, he has put the league – as well as NCAA recruiters (he is without a college commitment) - on notice.

Top ten draft eligible players in the USHL

Ty Smilanic, USNTDP
Sean Farrell, Chicago
Jake Sanderson, USNTDP
Carson Bantle, Madison
Luke Tuch, USNTDP
Ryder Rolston, Waterloo
Colin Purcell, Youngstown
Joel Maatta, Sioux City
Thomas Bordeleau, USNTDP
Ben Shoen, Youngstown

Bonus, second time eligible draft prospects

Reilly Funk, Youngstown
Justin Hryckowian, Cedar Rapids
Ben Meehan, Cedar Rapids
Kristof Papp, Madison
Trevor Kuntar, Youngstown