Monday, October 1, 2012

Future Stars Shine in Prospects Game

Future Stars Shine in Prospects Game
Boston College commit Ryan Fitzgerald accepts the MVP trophy from Scotty Bowman.

Current and future college players accounted for six of the seven goals in Saturday’s night’s USA Hockey All-American Prospects Game, with Boston College commit Ryan Fitzgerald posting three assists and earning MVP honors. Team McClanahan – coached by former Minnesota star Rob McClanahan – bested Phil Housley’s Team Housley, 5-2, at Buffalo’s First Niagara Center.

Fitzgerald was just one of the players with college ties to stand out at the event. Others included:

  • Evan Allen: The Michigan commit, currently skating for the U.S. NTDP, scored both of Team Housley’s goals, both in the third period.
  • Denver players: Current Denver forward Quintin Shore and three Denver recruits were all on victorious Team McClanahan. Shore and future Pioneer Dakota Mermis each had a goal, while Mermis and his defense partner, Gage Ausmus – another Denver recruit – each finished a game-high +4.
  • Hudson Fashing: The Minnesota recruit opened the game’s scoring. Fellow future Gopher Taylor Cammarata had an assist on Shore’s tally.
  • Evan Cowley and Hunter Miska: Two uncommitted goaltenders both posted perfect save percentages, with Cowley turning aside 11 shots and Miska stopping four, both in 20 minutes of work.

Four current college players participated in the event, which featured 40 of the top American-born prospects for the 2013 NHL Draft. Shore, Minnesota Duluth’s Austin Farley, Boston University’s Matt Lane and Maine’s Will Merchant took part.

Sixteen schools had representatives at the event in the form of either current or future players. Denver and Michigan had four each, Boston College had three, and Harvard, Miami and North Dakota each had a pair.