Another season has come and gone, but just like that, preparations are already underway all over the country for next hockey season. The USHL is no exception.
Prospects
U16 Tier 1 USA Nationals Recap
It felt strange getting out of the hotel room, stepping out to 85-degree weather, and passing palm trees on the way to the rink at the end of March. The tournament ran from March 31 through April 4, a five-day event that featured 32 of the best Tier 1 Midget AAA teams in the US. The event was held in San Jose at the Sharks practice facility, a four sheet complex with a restaurant upstairs that became a hangout for the NCAA/CHL/USHL/NAHL scouts putting in long hours in the rinks. The tournament was hosted by the San Jose Sharks youth program and they did a nice job keeping scouts fed, handing out programs, and printing shirts, hats, sweatshirts, etc.
NTDP U17 Roster Breakdown
After two years of scouting and evaluating the 2000 birth year class, USA Hockey’s National Development Program announced its U17 Team roster. This announcement came just a few short weeks after the NTDP Evaluation Camp which included the top 48 players in the US as determined by USA Hockey scouts and staff. We sat down with the Director of Player Personnel, Ryan Hardy, before the Evaluation Camp to ask about the program and the selection process.
USA Hockey U14 National Tournament
First, I would be remiss if I did not point out what a wonderful host city Anchorage, Alaska made for a tournament of this magnitude. From the facility, The Subway Sport Center, and volunteers, to the many local fans who came out to watch these impressive young hockey players compete. Around every corner was a friendly face looking to strike up a conversation about the sport of hockey and more specifically the national championships taking place in their backyard.
Making the Grade: An exclusive look inside USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program
By Neutral Zone staff with support from Ryan Hardy, NTDP Director of Player Personnel Neutral Zone staff recently attended USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program Evalutation Camp held in Plymouth, Michigan,…
Beantown Classic Reviewed
Anyone who plays upper-tier hockey in New England knows about the Beantown Classic. For over a decade it has been the region’s top tournament featuring all of the best NHL, NCAA, CHL and USHL prospects in the region.
The impact on top-quality, draft eligible players leaving New England high school, prep school and Tier III junior hockey was evident during the most recent Beantown Classic as the best pro prospect in the building likely won’t hear his name called until the draft gets into triple digits. The most elite players simply didn’t take part in the showcase this year.