All-American Top Prospects Game rosters, date set

Heralded defender Seth Jones of the Portland Winterhawks headlines the 40-player roster for the first annual CCM/USA Hockey All American Top Prospects Game which will be played September 29 in Buffalo, NY. The USA Hockey event serves as a showcase for the top eligible prospects for the 2013 NHL Draft.

The full roster courtesy of USAHockey.com:

G
Hunter Miska, 6'0, 171, 7/795, North Branch, MN, U.S. National U17
Eamon McAdam, 6'2, 180, 9/24/94, Perkasie, PA, Waterloo Blackhawks
Cal Peterson, 6'2, 180, 19/19/94, Waterloo, IA, Waterloo Blackhawks
Jared Rutledge, 5'11, 180, 8/4/94, Chicago, IL, U.S. U.S. National U18

D
Gage Ausmus, 6'1, 204, 4/22/95, L, E. Grand Forks, MN, U.S. National U17
Will Butcher, 5'11, 200, 1/6/95, L, Sun Prarie, WI, U.S. National U17
Cody Corbett, 6'2, 210, R, 12/14/93, Lakeland, MN, Edmonton Oil Kings
Mike Downing, 6'3, 195, 5/19/95, L, Canton, MI, Dubuque Fighting Saints
Trevor Hamilton, 6'0, 185, 3/17/85, R, Grosse Pointe Farms, MI, U.S. National U17
Seth Jones, 6'3, 210, 10/3/94, R, Plano, TX, U.S. National U18
Clint Lewis, 6'2, 206, 1/12/95, L, Burnsville, MN, U.S. National U17
Ian McCoshen, 6'3, 205, 8/5/95, L, Husdon, WI, Waterloo Blackhawks
Dakota Mermis, 5'11, 190, 1/5/94, L. Alton, IL, Green Bay Gamblers
Steve Santini 6'2, 208, 3/7/95, R, Mahopac, NY, U.S. National U17
Scott Savage, 6'0, 168, 4/11/95, L, San Clemente, CA, U.S. National U17
Keaton Thompson, 6'1, 182, 9/14/95, L, Devil's Lake, ND, U.S. National U17

F
Evan Allen, 5'11, 195, 2/3/95, R, Sterling Heights, MI, U.S. National U17
Justin Bailey, 6'3, 195, 7/1/95, R, Williamsville, NY, Indiana Ice
Taylor Cammarata, 5'6, 160, 5/13/95, L, Plymouth, MN, Waterloo Blackhawks
Cole Cassels, 6'0, 170, 5/4/95, R. Columbus, OH, Oshawa Generals
J.T. Compher, 6'0, 178, 4/8/95, R, Northbrook, IL,  U.S. National U17
Dawson Cook, 6'2, 197, 6/15/95, L, Cadillac, MI, U.S. National U17
Adam Erne, 6'0, 206, 4/20/95, L, New Haven, CT, Quebec Remparts
Austin Farley, 5'8, 178, 11/10/93, L, Park Ridge, IL, Fargo Force
Hudson Fasching, 6'3, 214, 7/28/95, R, Burnsville, MN, U.S. National U17
Ryan Fitzgerald, 5'10, 165, 10/10/94, L, North Reading, MA, Malden Catholic High School
Ryan Hartman, 5'11, 179, 9/20/94, R, West Dundee, IL, U.S. National U18
Luke Johnson, 5'11, 170, 9/19/94, R, Grand Forks, ND, Lincoln Stars
Tyler Kelleher, 5'6, 154, 1/2/95, R, Longmeadow, MA, U.S. National U17
Matt Lane, 5'10, 170, 3/15,94, L, Rochester, NY, U.S. National U18
Jimmy Lodge, 6'1, 170, 1/5/95, R, Downingtown, PA, Saginaw Spirit
Anthony Louis, 5'6, 142, 2/10.95, L, Winfield, IL, U.S. National U17
Sean Malone, 5'11, 185, 4/30/95, L, West Seneca, NY, Nichols School
Mike McCarron, 6'5, 227, 3/7/95, R, Macomb, MI, U.S. National U17
Jacob Montgomery, 6'1, 190, 6/8/94, L. Oakdale, MN, Shattuck-St. Mary's
Tyler Motte, 5'10, 184, 3/10/95, L, St. Clair, MI, U.S. National U17
Ross Olsson, 6'4, 190, 11/22/94, L, North Billerica, MA, Williston-Northampton School
Quentin Shore, 6'1, 190, 5/25/94, R, Denver, CO, U.S. National U18
Devin Tringale, 6'0, 195, 9/21/93, L, Medford, MA, Lawrence Academy
Frank Vatrano, 5'10, 210, 3/14/94, L, East Longmeadow, MA, U.S. National U18

Saturday, August 04, 2012 | 0 comments | Read More

Draft hopefuls attend Sweden U20 camp

Highly touted forward Elias Lindholm headlines the list of four 2013 draft hopefuls attending Sweden’s U20 World Junior camp this week in Norrtalje.

A total of 34 players will compete in intra-squad tilts prior to a two-game set with the Czech Republic (no draft eligible invites) on August 1-2. From there, Sweden will cut down to a 22-man roster and head to Lake Placid, NY for the USA National Junior Development camp taking place August 4-11.

Joining Lindholm at the five-day session are fellow forward Alexander Wennberg, as well as defensemen Linus Arnesson and Arvid Lundberg.

Sweden will look to defend their IIHF U20 gold medal at the 2013 World Junior Championship in Ufa, Russia beginning December 26th.

Tuesday, July 31, 2012 | 0 comments | Read More

USA gears up for Hlinka

USA Hockey will wind down its summer by sending 22 U18 players, including 16 who are eligible for the 2013 NHL draft, overseas to compete in the 2012 Memorial of Ivan Hlinka. The six-day tournament scheduled for August 13^th-17^th will feature Select teams from Canada, Czech Republic, Finland, Russia, Slovakia, Sweden and Switzerland.

Erne among Hlinka hopefuls

Roster highlights include QMJHL scoring star Adam Erne and recently-inked Kitchener Rangers recruit Justin Bailey, as well as over 10 others who helped USA skate to a first-place finish at the U17 Five Nations Tournament last August.

The full roster:

GOALIES

Thatcher Demko, Omaha Lancers, USHL (2013)

Devin Williams, Erie Otters, OHL (2014)

DEFENSEMEN

Connor Clifton, New Jersey Hitmen, EJHL (2013)

Anthony DeAngelo, Sarnia Sting, OHL (2014)

Mike Downing, Dubuque Fighting Saints, USHL (2013)

R.J. Gicewicz, Nichols School, NY-HS (2014)

Teemu Kivihalme, Burnsville, MINN-HS (2013)

Parker Reno, Edina, MINN-HS (2013)

Tom Vanelli, Minnetonka, MINN-HS (2013)

FORWARDS

Justin Bailey, Indiana Ice, USHL (2013)

Jason Cotton, Colorado Thunderbirds U16, CAHA (2013)

Adam Erne, Quebec Remparts, QMJHL (2013)

Gabe Guertler, Fargo Force, USHL (2013)

Karson Kuhlman, Cloquet, MINN-HS (2014)

Vinni Lettieri, Lincoln Stars, USHL (2013)

Jimmy Lodge, Saginaw Spirit, OHL (2013)

Sean Malone, Nichols School, NY-HS (2013)

Drew Melanson, Delbarton, NJ-HS (2013)

Trevor Moore, Tri-City Storm, USHL (2013)

Andrew Oglevie, Cedar Rapids RoughRiders, USHL (2013)

Corey Ronan, St. Sebastian's School, MASS-HS (2014)

Matt Weis, Green Bay Gamblers, USHL (2013).

Monday, July 30, 2012 | 0 comments | Read More

Shinkaruk, Monahan out to impress

Medicine Hat Tigers forward Hunter Shinkaruk and Sean Monahan of the Ottawa 67's have been tabbed for the 2012 Canada-Russia Challenge, a four-game tournament taking place in Yaroslavl, Russia and Halifax, Nova Scotia between August 8th-14th that will help each country identify the leading talent for this winter's World Junior Championships. The pair are the only 2013 draft eligible prospects identified as U20 candidates by Hockey Canada.

Shinkaruk previously represented Canada at the 2012 U18's, finishing second in team scoring to Matt Dumba with four goals and eight points en route to earning a bronze medal. The tourney came on the heels of his 49-goal, 92-point campaign while riding shotgun with Anaheim prospect Emerson Etem.

The 6'2, 193-pound Monahan skates into the series after an impressive 17-year old season that saw him collect 33 goals and 45 assists to increase his year-over-year production by 31 points. His momentum carried into the 2012 OHL playoffs, where he scored posted 15 points (8+7) in 18 games before the 67's bowed out to Niagara in the Eastern Conference final.

Both Shinkaruk and Monahan are expected to be top-10 picks at the 2013 NHL draft.

Sunday, July 29, 2012 | 0 comments | Read More

Finns bring youth to Lake Placid

Two holdovers from last year's fourth place finisher at the World Junior Championship, Aleksander Barkov and Rasmus Ristolainen, will be on display for NHL scouts next week as Finland brings their 24-man roster to Lake Placid, NY to take part in USA's National Junior Development Camp. The duo are currently among consensus top-10 picks for the 2013 draft. In fact, 25% of Finland's tournament roster will be eligible next June.

The 6'2" Barkov recorded a game winning goal and three assists at the 2012 event, while Ristolainen contributed three helpers, eight shots on goal, and plenty of blueline poise. Both played big roles in SM-liiga last season and are locks for the 2013 U20 tournament.

Joining them as 2013 eligibles in Finland's camp are forwards Artturi Lehkonen, Jusso Ikonen, and Saku Salminen, as well as goaltender Janne Juvonen.

The rising Lehkonen enters the summer after a strong performance at the U18's where he led all scorers with seven goals as Finland skated to a fourth-place finish. Ikonen, who recorded just one assist in five games at the U18s, should rebound in front of scouts with his explosive blend of speed and skill. Scouts will be looking to see if the hard-working Salminen has improved his footwork following a five-point (0-5-5) effort at the U18s.

After opening the week with a contest versus USA Blue (split), the Finns will play two games each against Sweden and the United States before heading back across the pond to prepare for their club team seasons.

Sunday, July 29, 2012 | 0 comments | Read More

Jones, Hartman head to USA Evaluation Camp

A pair of 2013 draft prospects, Seth Jones and Ryan Hartman, have been selected to participate in USA Hockey's 2012 National Junior Development Camp, taking place August 4th-11th in Lake Placid, NY. Key members of the US squad that captured gold at the IIHF U18's back in April, the 17-year olds will now get a look as Phil Housley and his staff begins formulating their entry into the 2013 World Junior Championships, which kicks off the day after Christmas in Ufa, Russia.

The duo share a similar distinction in that they both have opted of out the NCAA route to instead continue their development in Canadian major-junior. The 6'3 Jones, a native of Texas, will patrol the blueline for the WHL's Portland Winterhawks in 2012-13, while the scrappy Hartman spurned Miami University for the Plymouth Whalers.

The entire camp roster and schedule, including games with teams from Finland and Sweden, can be found at the USA Hockey website.

Sunday, July 29, 2012 | 0 comments | Read More

Nathan MacKinnon

Nathan MacKinnon 
RC | 5'11", 180 lbs.

Halifax (QMJHL)

9/1/95

- combination of speed and shooting in the mold of Steven Stamkos
- average frame but powerful, very strong on his feet
- superior skating and vision, elite playmaking skills

- drafted 1st overall in 2011 QMJHL draft (Baie-Comeau)
- possesses superstar NHL potential

Sunday, July 29, 2012 | 0 comments | Read More