General | 6/17/2025 2:09:03 PM

The United States Hockey League (USHL) seeks to extend its success in developing talent for the next level at the NHL Draft on June 27-28 at the Peacock Theatre in Los Angeles, Calif. 

With 49 selections in last year's draft, the USHL has produced more picks than the OHL, WHL, and QMJHL for eight straight years, and no junior league has had more drafted players since 2012. James Hagens (NTDP/Boston College), Logan Hensler (NTDP/Wisconsin), and Sascha Boumedienne (Youngstown Phantoms/Boston University) ranked among the top players on NHL Central Scouting's final rankings. Here are some other names and notes to keep in mind. 

Mason West, F, Fargo Force

Hometown: Edina, MN

NCAA Commitment: N/A

NHL Central Scouting Ranking: 27

• Despite being ranked as the top quarterback recruit in Minnesota by USA Today, West has elected to pursue hockey long-term.
• New York Islanders captain Anders Lee was also a top quarterback prospect at Edina High School before playing one season for the Green Bay Gamblers, three seasons for Notre Dame, and embarking on a long NHL career. He is in his 12th season with the Islanders with 841 games played.
• West cites Lee as an idol and mentor. He said seeing Lee's path inspired him to continue playing football. West wants to be a captain in the NHL one day. West and Lee spoke before the NHL Scouting Combine.
• West played 10 regular season games for the Fargo Force last season. "I really loved it there,” said West about Fargo. "I think I was only there for a month, and it felt like I was there for a whole year.” West intends to play his senior year of high school football before rejoining the Force toward the end of the 2025-26 season.

Ryker Lee, F, Madison Capitols

Hometown: Wilmette, IL

NCAA Commitment: Michigan State

NHL Central Scouting Ranking: 28

• In 2020-21, he played for Shattuck St. Mary's 14U AAA with Macklin Celebrini (San Jose Sharks), Cole Eiserman (New York Islanders), and other players listed on NHL Central Scouting's final ranking, including Will Belle (NTDP), and Aidan Park (Green Bay Gamblers).
• Lee had the highest vertical jump at the NHL Scouting Combine (25.67") and had the 10th-strongest left-hand grip (151 lbs).
• "When I committed (to Michigan State), (the plan was to) play a year of junior hockey, see how it goes," said Lee to SI.com at the NHL Scouting Combine.  "'If you have a good year, we think you're ready to come in, then you can.' And I think I had a good year, and I earned it, and I'm ready to play."

Vaclav Nestrasil, F, Muskegon Lumberjacks

Hometown: Praha, Czechia

NCAA Commitment: Massachusetts

NHL Central Scouting Ranking: 36

• Vaclav's brother, Andrej, was drafted by the Detroit Red Wings in the third round of the 2009 NHL Draft. Vaclav has leaned on Andrej for advice throughout the season.
• Vaclav has three older brothers who played professional hockey: Andrej (34), Boris (35) and Viktor (28).
• Vaclav tested fourth-best on the VO2 max (63.2 (ml/kg/min) and had the 10th-widest wingspan (79.25") at the NHL Scouting Combine.
• Andrej is the only Nestrasil brother still playing. Vaclav was seven years old when Andrej made his NHL debut with the Detroit Red Wings. Andrej currently plays in Czechia.

Jacob Rombach, D, Lincoln Stars

Hometown: Blaine, MN

NCAA Commitment: Minnesota

NHL Central Scouting Ranking: 42

• Rombach finished ninth in anaerobic fitness testing, seventh in left-hand grip (155 lbs), 10th in pro agility for his right side (4.35 seconds), and had the fourth-widest wingspan (81") at the NHL Scouting Combine.
• He played one season of Minnesota High School hockey at Spring Lake Park. He left after his sophomore year, leaning on fellow Minnesotan and friend Adam Kleber for advice, who was selected in 2024 by the Buffalo Sabres and played with Rombach in Lincoln last season.

Ben Kevan, F, Des Moines Buccaneers

Hometown: Fairfield, CA

NCAA Commitment: Arizona State

NHL Central Scouting Ranking: 55

• Kevan billeted with Blake Zielinski this season. Both players were selected in the first round of the USHL Phase I Draft. Kevan was selected fourth overall in 2023, and Zielinski was selected third overall.
• Kevan was one of 21 players in the USHL from California at the end of the season, making The Golden State the fifth-best producer of talent for the league in 2024-25 behind Minnesota, Michigan, Illinois, and New York.

Teddy Mutryn, F, Chicago Steel

Hometown: Norwell, MA

NCAA Commitment: Boston College

NHL Central Scouting Final Ranking: 59

• Teddy is the son of former Boston College quarterback Scott Mutryn and older brother to Casey Mutryn (NTDP). Teddy and Casey are committed to playing for the Eagles. When Teddy was younger, he held birthday parties at BC hockey games.
• Represented the U.S. internationally this season at the World Junior A Challenge, Hlinka Gretzky Cup, and the World U18 Championship, joining Ben Kevan (Des Moines Buccaneers) and Matthew Lansing (Fargo Force) after their seasons.

Sam Laurila, D, Fargo Force

Hometown: Moorhead, MN

NCAA Commitment: North Dakota

NHL Central Scouting Final Ranking: 65

• Played with two other players listed on NHL Central Scouting's final ranking, Brendan McMorrow (Waterloo Black Hawks) and Jack Parsons (Chicago Steel), at the NTDP from 2022-24.
• Finished first in anaerobic fitness/mean power output numbers at the NHL Scouting Combine (12.2) and fifth in anaerobic fitness at the NHL Scouting Combine.

Bruno Idzan, F, Lincoln Stars

Hometown: Zagreb, Croatia

NCAA Commitment: Wisconsin

NHL Central Scouting Final Ranking: 67

• Positioned to be the first Croatian selected in the NHL Draft after joining Lincoln midway through the season.
• Idzan enters the draft at 19, having played seasons for leagues in Slovenia, Croatia, Sweden, and the United States.

Sean Barnhill, D, Dubuque Fighting Saints

Hometown: Scottsdale, AZ

NCAA Commitment: Northeastern

NHL Central Scouting Final Ranking: 64

• Barnhill finished third in the horizontal jump (118"), third in pro agility for his left side (4.23 seconds), fourth in pro agility for his right side (4.23 seconds), ninth vertical jump (23.07"), and no-arm jump (20.48")

Nicholas Sykora, F, Sioux City Musketeers

Hometown: Roseland, NJ

NCAA Commitment: Quinnipiac

NHL Central Scouting Final Ranking: 109

• Son of former NHL veteran Petr Skykora, who played more than 1,000 games for the New Jersey Devils, Anaheim Mighty Ducks, New York Rangers, Edmonton Oilers, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Minnesota Wild.
• Nicholas was born in May 2007, seven years after his father, Petr, won his first Stanley Cup with the Devils. Two years after Nicholas was born, Petr won again with the Pittsburgh Penguins.
• The Devils drafted Sykora in the first round of the 1995 NHL Entry Draft. If Nicholas is picked, it will mark almost 30 years after his father was selected. 

About the USHL

The United States Hockey League (USHL) and its 16 member clubs are committed to being the world's leading 16–20-year-old junior hockey league. During the 2024-25 season, USHL alumni held over 50% of NCAA Division I roster spots, and over 25% of NHL players had USHL experience. With 10 first-round selections and 49 total picks in the 2024 NHL Draft, the USHL has developed the most draft choices of any junior hockey league since 2012.

Elevated through the recently announced Declaration of Excellence with the NHL and USA Hockey, the league's player-first approach, including a 2:1 practice-to-game ratio and a schedule with 92% of games played on weekends, provides its players with the optimal environment for athletic and personal growth, creating pathways for the next generation of stars like Kyle Connor (Youngstown Phantoms), Macklin Celebrini (Chicago Steel), Matthew Knies (Tri-City Storm), Adam Fantilli (Chicago Steel) and Jeremy Swayman (Sioux Falls Stampede). More.