| Ben Schoen | Youngstown Phantoms | USHL | R | F | 5’8″ | 150 | Penn State | 2021 | Detroit, MI | 2002 | 2020-2021: College F/A |
USHL: Waterloo vs Tri-City, March 22, 2021: Schoen is a skilled forward for the Storm who skates well and is creative offensively with the puck on his stick. In the offensive one he used his edges to cut back, protect the puck, and create separation from defenders so he could make a play with the puck. The Penn State commit stands out because of his smooth stride and edges which allow him to glide freely on the ice. In the offensive zone he is very effective with time and space, showing off his creativity when he is allowed to get his head up and feel comfortable. He is also a threat on the rush where his skating makes defenders uncomfortable, forces bad gaps, and allows him to make delayed plays to the second wave of attackers. Overall, Schoen is a smooth skater and when he has time and space he is very creative offensively with the puck on his stick. Grade: B+
USHL: Youngstown Phantoms vs Chicago Steel, January 27, 2021: Schoen was effective for the Phantoms in this game. He was physical throughout the night and won the majority of the 50/50 puck battles he was in. The Penn State commit displayed great straight ahead speed through the neutral zone when he had open ice ahead of him. He navigates the ice well when he is carrying the puck, playing with his head up and entering the offensive zone with speed. Schoen scored Youngstown’s first goal on a beautiful end to end rush that he finished by using a defender as a screen and ripping a shot around the top of the circles. Overall, he played a consistent game for the Phantoms and is most effective when he is carrying the puck through the neutral zone with speed. Grade: B+
USHL: NTDP U18 vs Youngstown, January 18, 2021: Schoen stood out in this game for a few different reasons. Right off the bat, he was physical on first shift. Throughout the game, he showed off great hands to get scoring chances in 1-on-1 situations, he was a focal point of the Phantoms powerplay, and was making great reads and passes. After generating some good looks on the first few powerplays, he gave the Phantoms a lead with a great short-side shot, using the defender as a screen recognizing Homer looking through the far-side shot lane. He also was effective on the penalty kill, disrupting the US breakouts on a few occasions and taking away lanes in the defensive end. Great performance. Grade: A-
Neutral Zone NHL’s Ian Moran’s comments, January 9, 2021: So here’s the dilemma. Ben can flat out play. He is a hockey player who brings it every night, every shift. You know he can impact the game in a lot of different ways, but will he be able to do it at the NHL level? I know the rules have changed and undersized players can not only find a home pro hockey they can find a home in the NHL. Is Ben one of these guys? Will a team take a chance on him in the late rounds of his second year? Or will they wait to see how much stronger he can get at Penn St and hope to sign him to a free agent deal? It’s a good question and I would think teams will wait, but to me he is an ideal seventh rounder. You draft him and stash him for a few years. I mean seventh rounders aren’t supposed to make it, so why wouldn’t you select a kid who’s been proving people wrong his entire life who has a brain and a ridiculously high compete level?
USHL: NTDP 18s vs Youngstown, January 6, 2021: Schoen had a goal and an assist in this game for the Phantoms and was their most dynamic offensive threat. He competed hard in the offensive zone and used his cutbacks and vision to make plays with the puck. The Penn State commit was buzzing all night, creating chances on the powerplay and during extended offensive zone possessions. On his assist, Schoen fired a pass through a seam across the ice that broke down the defense and eventually led to a goal. On his goal, he ripped a beautiful wrist shot from his spot on the half wall for a goal. The Phantoms forward played extremely well in this game and was moving his feet to create all night. Grade: A
USHL: Youngstown NHL Prospects, October 2019: Ben can fly with or without the puck. He has the ability to easily change speeds and angles very quickly while carrying the puck and he uses these attributes for easy zone entries. In the offensive zone Ben plays with his head up looking for line-mates in the soft areas and he has the soft hands to put touch on passes for activating defensemen. Defensively he plays with his head on a swivel and does not cheat by leaving the zone early. He will get stronger as he matures, but he has pro level quickness and agility now which could make him a high level penalty killer in professional hockey. His shot is released quickly and with a purpose. If Ben was two inches taller we feel his skill set would put him everyone’s draft watch lists. But for us his high IQ and feet makes him a C+ with a chance to move higher.
Interview: Schoen Looking For Strong Year Coming Off Hlinka Tournament, September 2019:
Ben Schoen, a 4.5-star recruit who committed to Penn State this summer, is looking to take his game to another level for the Youngstown Phantoms (USHL) this season.
Schoen had 28 points (6 goals, 22 assists) in his USHL rookie season last year. This summer he had five points (1 goal, 4 assists) at the Select-17 camp and then was selected for Team USA’s entry into the Hlinka Gretzky Cup, where he posted three points (1 goal, 2 assists) in four games.
The former Miami recruit is an Ohio native who grew up playing youth hockey for Belle Tire and Little Caesars in Michigan. He was selected No. 239 overall (12th round) in the 2018 OHL Priority Selection Draft by the Sarina Sting.
“He’s super quick and light on his feet and has a clever stick to get around defenders 1v1,” our scouts noted last summer. “He has excellent puck touch, processes the game with pace and has just enough jam to show he isn’t afraid despite his size but doesn’t go as far as to get distracted and get himself in bad spots. He’s an exciting player to watch because he can fly and makes slick moves at full speed but disguised in his flashy skill is a sophisticated approach; he reads plays, he has a patient stick and makes really smart passes. He isn’t a powerful shooter but he reads goalies movements and positioning and can aim his shots in stride and he takes the right pursuit angles when pressuring the puck.”
NZ: As you were going through the recruiting process – originally choosing Miami and then switching to Penn State – what made Penn State the place for you?
Schoen: “Penn State has shown their success in the Big Ten and also with how they are developing players for the next level, which was huge for me. The campus and ice arena are unbelievable and the coaches were great to me the whole time during the recruiting process. The biggest thing for me was just how comfortable I felt with all the coaches and how I could really see myself there and playing at Penn State.”
NZ: You’re listed on as an Ohio native, but it looks like you grew up in the Michigan area? Or at least played hockey there. Granted there was a coaching change, but was it a tough choice to re-open your recruitment being committed to Miami and being born in Ohio?
Schoen: “It was really tough to leave Miami, and being from Ohio makes it tough for sure. But I just felt with Penn State was the best fit for me and developing me for the future.”
NZ: How would you describe yourself as a player? What do you see as being your strengths?
Schoen: “I’m obviously a smaller guy and playing with bigger guys is tough. But the biggest thing I use is my speed and quickness to get away from guys or to get around guys. I also can see the ice well and can make plays for me and my teammates. I’m good in tight areas because I can get out quick and make space for myself.”
NZ: Making the jump from midget to the USHL last season, what was the biggest adjustment you needed to make? What were some of the biggest things you learned playing with and against older players in the USHL?
Schoen: “Yeah, it was not an easy adjustment moving to the USHL and playing against bigger, older and faster guys. The biggest adjustment was just making faster plays. You only have so much time with the puck so you have to move it and get up the ice quick. It was tough at first but you adjust to the speed and get more comfortable as the season goes on.
“The biggest things I learned was just how little time you have with the puck and how making quick plays up the ice will get you to offense faster than trying to skate it all the way up by yourself. Also, just how to act on and off the ice. We had great leaders in Youngstown who taught me a lot and great coaches.”
NZ: What are some of your personal goals for this upcoming season? Anything within your game you’re looking to improve, specifically?
Schoen: “A personal goal, for sure this year, is to have more production on offense. I also want to have a great regular season and have a run in the playoffs.”
NZ: You were selected by USA Hockey for the Hlinka Gretzky Cup this summer. What was that experience like?
Schoen: “It was an honor to be selected for Team USA and to be able to play in a tournament like the Hlinka. It was an incredible experience and just awesome to be able to compete against some of the best players in the world. You never know when you’re going to be able to do something like that again, so I just took in as much as I could and enjoyed every bit of it.”
NZ: Our scouts have noted your quickness and speed. What do you do to work on that speed?
Schoen: “I’ve always kind of had quickness. I think the biggest thing for me was just playing other sports at a young age and having to use it to my advantage. For example, I played basketball, and as a smaller guy, you have to get around the defender with quickness. I also played baseball and when pitchers are throwing pretty hard you have to have quick hands to hit the ball. So I’ve always kind of had that quick touch in the sports I played.”
NZ: How important is that speed when you are going up against some bigger, stronger D? I’d imagine that’s where your elusiveness comes into play the most.
Schoen: “Yeah, my speed and elusiveness is huge for me in my game and how I play. I think just being able to make a defender bite one way and being quick enough to go the other way and get distance so I have time and space to make a play.”
USA Hockey Select 16 National Development Camp, July 2018: Schoen is a small, speedy, quick twitch forward who came to camp after being tendered with Youngstown Phantoms. He’s super quick and light on his feet and has a clever stick to get around defenders 1v1. He has excellent puck touch, processes the game with pace and has just enough jam to show he isn’t afraid despite his size but doesn’t go as far as to get distracted and get himself in bad spots. He’s an exciting player to watch because he can fly and makes slick moves at full speed but disguised in his flashy skill is a sophisticated approach; he reads plays, he has a patient stick and makes really smart passes. He isn’t a powerful shooter but he reads goalies movements and positioning and can aim his shots in stride and he takes the right pursuit angles when pressuring the puck. He’ll have an adjustment to the size and balance of the USHL having to improve his defensive zone play and overall strength but he has plenty of pace, skill and hockey sense. He scored three goals here in five games; one was a beautiful goal where he split two defenders, separated and fired a low wrister by the goalie and the other two came in the slot; one off a catch and shoot and the other off a rebound. He’ll suit up for Youngstown next season in the USHL and has a bright future ahead despite his size. College: Miami
NHL Youth Cup U15, January 2018: Showed great speed and was at his best on the rush. He is small but was impossible at times for defenders to catch and get a body on. We liked his slick stick as he can drag and shoot, dangle through sticks and push pace while the puck does the work. Touches were easy and smooth and he worked hard. High ceiling as he gets stronger and gains experience. Played with energy and lots of wiggle. College: Miami (OH)
U14 USA Tier 1 Nationals, April 2017: Ben did a good job protecting the puck and we noticed that his management was good. He used his strong hands and reach to get pucks to the net and create rebounds. He went to tough areas but much like his team never really got much going offensively (Caesars only scored 10Gs in 4 games) College: Miami (OH)