Thursday, January 5, 2012

USHL Names Top Prospects Roster

Future college stars will play in Jan. 24 game in Muskegon, Mich.

USHL Names Top Prospects Roster

The United States Hockey League today announced the 40 players selected to compete in the 2012 USHL/NHL Top Prospects Game presented by CCM which is scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 24 at the L.C. Walker Arena in Muskegon, Michigan. The game, which is the first of its kind for the USHL, will showcase many of the top USHL players eligible for the 2012 NHL Entry Draft.

A total of 30 players selected are in their first year of eligibility for the NHL Entry Draft. Seven of the players are draft-eligible for the second time this year. In addition, the USHL will showcase three players who are eligible to be drafted by NHL teams in 2013.

Thirty-five of the 40 players selected have already committed to colleges and will be on campus next fall or in the coming seasons.

The selection process for the players was completed in cooperation with USHL General Managers, NHL scouts and decision makers, and NHL Central Scouting.

A Great Stage

“We’re proud to be able to provide such a great night and stage for some of our young stars,” said USHL President and Commissioner Skip Prince. “It’s also a credit not just to the players, but the education-based American development model we celebrate in the USHL – that is, that you can remain NCAA-eligible, play Division I college hockey, and fulfill the dream of playing in the National Hockey League.”

USHL players selected for the game include forward Zemgus Girgensons of the Dubuque Fighting Saints and the USHL’s top-rated goaltender, Jon Gillies of the Indiana Ice. A trio of top defensemen prospects for the 2012 NHL Entry Draft, including Jordan Schmaltz of the Green Bay Gamblers, Mike Matheson of the Dubuque Fighting Saints, and Brian Cooper of the Fargo Force. The current leading scorer in the USHL, Kevin Roy of the Lincoln Stars, has also been named to the roster.

“The prospect game is a positive addition by the USHL as it presents a unique and valuable opportunity for NHL scouts to view these elite USHL players as they showcase their abilities,” said Dan Marr, Director of NHL Central Scouting.

Fourteen USHL teams will have at least one player represented in the contest. Team USA declined to participate in the game due to academic commitments for its players during the week of the event.

2013 Prospects

Four players who are top prospects for the 2013 NHL Entry Draft were also selected to compete in the event, including Waterloo Black Hawks leading scorer Taylor Cammarata, the top pick in the 2011 USHL Futures Draft, and Black Hawks 16-year-old defenseman Ian McCoshen, who is in his second USHL season. Lincoln Stars forward Luke Johnson, the team’s third-leading scorer, was also chosen for the event. Dubuque Fighting Saints 16-year-old defenseman Michael Downing, an original selection, will not be able to participate due to the heavy academic and playing schedule he faces after returning to the team from international competition.

The 40 USHL/NHL Top Prospects will now be divided into two teams, the makeup of which will be announced at a later date.

The 2012 NHL Entry Draft takes place on June 22-23 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Last year, a total of 37 players with USHL experience – 28 from the 2010-11 season and nine USHL alumni – were selected by NHL teams in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft.

2012 USHL/NHL Top Prospects Roster

Forwards

Ray Pigozzi – Chicago Steel (U. of Denver)
Kevin Irwin – Des Moines Buccaneers (Ohio State University)
Zach Saar – Des Moines Buccaneers (Penn State University)
Cody Bradley – Dubuque Fighting Saints (uncommitted)
Zemgus Girgensons – Dubuque Fighting Saints (U. of Vermont)
Nate Arentz – Fargo Force (uncommitted)
Austin Farley – Fargo Force (U. of Minnesota Duluth)
Alex Kile – Green Bay Gamblers (U. of Michigan)
Nicholas Schilkey – Green Bay Gamblers (Ohio State University)
Robbie Baillargeon – Indiana Ice (Boston University)
Robert Polesello – Indiana Ice (Boston University)
Zach Aston-Reese – Lincoln Stars (Northeastern University)
Luke Johnson – Lincoln Stars ** (U. of North Dakota)
Kevin Roy – Lincoln Stars (Brown University)
Adam Chlapik – Muskegon Lumberjacks (uncommitted)
Matthew DeBlouw – Muskegon Lumberjacks (Michigan State University)
Jordan Masters – Muskegon Lumberjacks (U. of New Hampshire)
Justin Selman – Sioux Falls Stampede (U. of Michigan)
Austyn Young – Sioux Falls Stampede (U. of Minnesota Duluth)
Taylor Cammarata – Waterloo Black Hawks** (U. of Minnesota)
Vince Hinostroza – Waterloo Black Hawks (U. of Notre Dame)
A.J. Michaelson – Waterloo Black Hawks (U. of Minnesota)
Austin Cangelosi – Youngstown Phantoms (Boston College)
Richard Zehnal – Youngstown Phantoms (uncommitted)

Defensemen

Ian Brady – Cedar Rapids RoughRiders (U. of Nebraska-Omaha)
Jaccob Slavin – Chicago Steel (Colorado College)
Mike Matheson – Dubuque Fighting Saints (Boston College)
Brian Cooper – Fargo Force (U. of Nebraska-Omaha)
Justin Wade – Fargo Force (U. of Notre Dame)
Dakota Mermis – Green Bay Gamblers (U. of Denver)
Jordan Schmaltz – Green Bay Gamblers (U. of North Dakota)
Mike McKee – Lincoln Stars (Western Michigan University)
Mark Yanis – Muskegon Lumberjacks (Penn State University)
Cliff Watson – Sioux City Musketeers (Ohio State University)
Ian McCoshen – Waterloo Black Hawks** (uncommitted)
Chris Bradley – Youngstown Phantoms (Rensselaer)
Michael Downing^ – Dubuque Fighting Saints** (U. of Michigan)

Goaltenders

Jon Gillies – Indiana Ice (Northeastern University)
Alex Lyon – Omaha Lancers (Yale University)
Stephon Williams – Sioux Falls Stampede (Minnesota State University)
Jay Williams – Waterloo Black Hawks (Miami University)

**2013 draft-eligible
^will not participate