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NHL Scouts Keeping Watch on USHL
Wednesday September 19, 2012
Luke Johnson of the Lincoln Stars, J.T. Compher of Team USA, Michael Downing of the Dubuque Fighting Saints, and Ian McCoshen of the Waterloo Black Hawks are ranked as "A" list skaters. (photos by Kim Fogle, Tom Sorensen, Jim Naprstek, and Steph Regenold)
NHL Central Scouting releases their preseason “players to watch” list
The USHL regularly has the eyes of NHL scouts upon it and this season will be no different as teams begin their early preparations for the 2013 NHL Draft. Today, NHL Central Scouting released its “players to watch” and identified a number of USHL players who are among the top hockey talent that will gain plenty of attention this season.
NHL Central Scouting compiled the list to track the top draft-eligible players in leagues throughout the world and listed them with “A”, “B”, or “C” rating. “A” players are considered potential first-round NHL picks, “B” players are considered second- to third-round picks, while “C” are possible fourth- to sixth-round selections.
Multiple USHL players earned “A” rating from NHL Central Scouting, including defenseman Ian McCoshen of the Waterloo Black Hawks and Michael Downing of the Dubuque Fighting Saints. Lincoln Stars forward Luke Johnson earned a top grade along with a pair of forwards from Team USA, J.T. Compher and Hudson Fasching.
A total of 39 USHL players are listed among the three ratings. All of these players will be on display this week at the 2012 USHL Fall Classic in Sioux City, Iowa as NHL scouts will get their first look this season at the USHL talent.
USHL Players to Watch List
“A” Skaters
J.T. Compher (F), Team USA
Michael Downing (D), Dubuque Fighting Saints
Hudson Fasching (F), Team USA
Luke Johnson (F), Lincoln Stars
Ian McCoshen (D), Waterloo Black Hawks
“B” Skaters
Will Butcher (D), Team USA
Brendan Harms (F), Fargo Force
Blake Heinrich (D), Sioux City Musketeers
Tyler Hill (F), Muskegon Lumberjacks
Mike McCarron (F), Team USA
Tyler Motte (F), Team USA
Gustav Olofsson (D), Green Bay Gamblers
Ross Olsson (F), Lincoln Stars
Steve Santini (D), Team USA
Keaton Thompson (D), Team USA
“C” Skaters
Jake Ahlgren (F), Sioux Fall Stampede
Evan Allen (F), Team USA
Bryan Basilico (F), Des Moines Buccaneers
Michael Brodzinski (D), Muskegon Lumberjacks
Taylor Cammarata (F), Waterloo Black Hawks
Dawson Cook (F), Team USA
Jason Cotton (F), Tri-City Storm
Jordan Gross (D), Green Bay Gamblers
Trevor Hamilton (D), Team USA
Joel L’Esperance (F), Tri-City Storm
Vinni Lettieri (F), Lincoln Stars
Conor McGlynn (F), Sioux City Musketeers
Drew Melanson (F), Omaha Lancers
Jacob Montgomery (F), Sioux City Musketeers
Trevor Moore (F), Tri-City Storm
Peter Quenneville (F), Dubuque Fighting Saints
Alex Smith (D), Indiana Ice
John Stevens (F), Dubuque Fighting Saints
Frederik Tiffels (F), Muskegon Lumberjacks
Joseph Widmar (F), Chicago Steel
Limited Viewing Skaters (player who was injured and had limited opportunities to be viewed by scouts)
John Hayden (F), Team USA
“B” Goaltenders
Eamon McAdam, Waterloo Black Hawks
“C” Goaltenders
Cal Petersen, Waterloo Black Hawks
Sean Romeo, Youngstown Phantoms
Headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, the USHL celebrated its 10th season as the nation's only Tier I junior hockey league in 2011-12. With 28 picks during the 2012 NHL Entry Draft and over 280 players already committed to NCAA Division I schools this season, the USHL has emerged as the world’s foremost producer of junior hockey talent. For more information, visit us on the web at www.USHL.com or visit the League’s social media platforms, including Facebook (www.facebook.com/ushlhockey), twitter (www.twitter.com/ushl), and YouTube (www.youtube.com/ushlinteractive). Fans can also watch USHL action all season long, live or on-demand via FASTHockey (ushl.fasthockey.com).
It’s not just hockey. It’s the USHL.
