| Luke Levandowski | Rosemount HS | Minnesota HS | L | F | 6’0″ | 161 | Wisconsin | 2022 | 2002 | 2020-2021: C+ |
MN High School: Rosemount vs Lakeville South, February 1, 2021: Luke is a good-sized strong, smooth-skating forward. Fresh from returning from Chicago of the USHL he showcased his speed and skillset right off the bat. He can create separation within 3 strides and is very skilled and difficult to contain in the offensive zone. Grade A
Minnesota High School ‘AA’ Section Preview and Predictions, February 2020: ROSEMOUNT (19-6-0): The Irish appear to have a team poised to make a long overdue trip to St. Paul. High flying speedster (F) Luke Levandowski is having a monster season for them with 49 points and 27 games. His sidekick (F) Connor Kenefick (36pts) has been a strong compliment while consistently producing up front. Their defensive core is very difficult to play against as they have size and grit with Jake Ratzlaff and Mason Wheeler. They had a tough loss down the stretch to Burnsville but are poised to rebound well.
Minnesota High School: Tradition at the Park Tournament, January 2020: Luke at times was electric with his skating ability in the open ice. If he was even with another player, then he was leaving. Very few players around the state can match his top speed through the neutral zone. Along with the speed, he showed above average puck skills as well as the ability to shoot the puck while moving. So dangerous off the rush and hard for defenders to turn and skate with. His skill and speed made him a play waiting to happen at any moment.
Minnesota High School All Star- Prospects Game, November 2019: The smooth skating sniper was a bit quiet today but did show glimpses of his breakaway speed and release. He was able to adjust his body and one time a puck coming hard from cross ice in the 3rd period only to be absolutely robbed on the play. When he has time and space, he can be very dangerous.
Minnesota High School Elite League, November 2019: Luke can really skate. He is slim and rangy with the ability to separate from defenders in the open ice. His puck skills are able to keep up with his speed and he proved hard to deal with in time and space. He can score from the top of the circles and play with a lot of pace. College: Wisconsin
Minnesota High School Elite League, September 2019: The Wisconsin commit did not disappointed offensively to start the fall. Levandowski showed skill, compete, and a knack around the net. His ability to find pucks in traffic and anticipate rebounds sets him apart. Levandowski’s ability to get open and position himself in the offensive zone was also noticeable. Look for big things from him this fall. Grade: A, A- College: Wisconsin
USA Hockey Select 16 National Development Camp, July 2018: Luke is a new addition to Neutral Zone and a good one. His athleticism and fluid stride kept him around the puck and he can change direction and accelerate quickly to get to pucks. The late 2002 has very good straight-line speed and made some nice passes at top speed. He showed a real knack for reacting to his forecheckers up ice, waiting as the F3 and jumping on vulnerable opponents. His best attribute here however was his vision and passing ability. He had a brilliant cross-crease assist from the high slot, he made several nice centering passes coming off the cycle or out of the corners in the offensive zone, he had nifty drop passes on zone entries to the late trailer and indirect passes around forecheckers in the neutral zone. A witty, athletic playmaker whose game will only mature as he gets stronger on his skates and on the puck. He played Bantam for Rosemont this season but will be moving to the Tier 1 Elite League to play for Phoenix Jr. Coyotes. He had 2 assists on the week and really put himself on the radar as someone to watch next season.
| Kyle Kukkonen | Maple Grove HS | Minnesota HS | R | F | 5’10” | 165 | Michigan Tech | 2021 | Maple Grove, MN | 2002 | 2020-2021: B |
2021 Minnesota State Tournament Class AA, April 19, 2021: Kyle has a nice combination of speed, puck control and balanced edges. He plays a possession-style game with real poise under pressure and the puck-handling ability to extend plays and beat opponents 1v1. He has a quick and sneaky release, he can get it off in stride or from a standstill or while being checked or slashed. He scored a great tip in goal driving the net and using his hand-eye coordination to get his stick on it in the quarterfinals and added an assist in the semi’s against Eden Prairie. He is an explosive forward that can play at full speed under control, he has elusive deke moves and creativity and can also bear down, win puck battles, protect it along the boards and get pucks to the net. He competed in his own end, blocked shots, took care of his net-front and was excellent on the faceoff dot winning pucks back to his teammates. A Mr. Hockey candidate after leading his team in points with 31 goals and 43 assists in just 23 games. College: Michigan Tech Grade: A-
MN Elite League Invitational, November 2020: Pure skill and speed in a winger. Someone you want on the ice in all situations. What sets him apart is his ability to finish. Whether it is an assist or a goal, off the rush or in a battle area, Kukkonen comes out with the puck and usually ends it with a point. Grade: A-
Minnesota Elite League: 2021 NHL Draft Watch List, November 2020: Kukkonen is a skilled, puck possession style forward out of Maple Grove HS with slippery stick and creativity. He can breakdown defenders 1v1 and get around them and he does a nice job delaying, drawing the pressure and then moving the puck to his teammates with time and space. He is having a highly productive season with 13 goals and 16 assists in just 13 games and the late ‘02 is not only setting table but finishing in the tight areas which is an areas he’s steadily improved. He can sauce the puck effortlessly while at full speed, he can dangle in tight areas to create space for himself and he makes split second decisions when pressured and they almost always the right play. Smart and nifty with the puck he also showed some bite in scrums to come out with the puck and looks a bit stronger and more balanced allowing him to get to the front and get shots off with defenders on him. His hands are not just elusive but they are also quick and the puck seems to stick to his blade on the rush making it difficult for defenders to take it from him. A Michigan Tech commit who is poised for a breakout season after getting injured this past year with Maple Grove. A potential NHL Draft prospect down the line.
2019 Minnesota High School All Star- Prospects Game, November 2019: Kyle has one of the quietest games around because he is so efficient with his puck touches and knows the game very well. He never tried to beat anyone one on one but moved the puck quickly and got open. When the puck touched his stick, you just knew it was going onto another teammate stick accurately. He was smart in trying to find two on one situations and exploit them. The better the players he plays with, the better his game is.
USA Hockey Select 16 National Development Camp Rankings, July 2018: Kukkonen is a puck possession forward out of Maple Grove Bantams last year who competed hard all week, carried the puck skillfully into the scoring areas and created a lot of offense for himself and his teammates with a 1-2-3 line. The late ‘02 needs to get stronger but he goes hard after pucks, he battles in the corners, finishes checks and has an array of quick moves and spins to come out with possession and attack the net. His best attribute here was his acceleration, speed and slippery stick skill but his best play was a top corner snipe in tight on the goalie against Team Forest. He’ll make the jump to high school this season with Maple Grove and should be an immediate impact player at that level with his skill and energy. College: Michigan Tech
| Henry Bartle | Centennial HS | Minnesota HS | L | F | 6’2″ | 195 | Uncom. | Spring Lake, MN | 2003 | 2020-2021: C |
Minnesota Elite League: 2021 NHL Draft Watch List, November 2020: Bartle’s performance so far this fall in the Elite League has turned heads in Minnesota and he’s established himself as one of the top ‘03 forwards in the state with an impressive 6-16-22 stat line through 13 games. He was undrafted in the WHL, USHL and NAHL despite a strong season with Centennial HS last year 18 goals and 34 points in just 25 games. He’s a tall, athletic, balanced skating forward who can play with power and finesse. He has good speed up the wall, he makes quick decisions and has a quick and accurate release on his snap and wrist shots. He makes a crisp pass and hits his targets and has improved his confidence and is taking pucks end to end or carrying through the neutral zone when he has a lane. He goes hard to the net with his stick on the ice, he can bear down on loose pucks and finish in tight and does a nice job receiving hard passes without having to slow down and catch it. He protects down low along the boards, he can power through contact and get from the corner to the net with the puck for quality shooting lanes. He is more savvy than he gets credit for; when he doesn’t have a passing lane on the rush he can slow it down and buy time and hit a late trailer or he would throw a low wrister off the pad to generate a juicy rebound for his teammate crashing the net. He has been playing off the wall on the power play and making smart passes to the points and the backdoor showing his vision and touch but he has the size and the balance to play net front if they needed him to. One of the best uncommitted forwards in the state of Minnesota and his stock is rising quickly.
Minnesota HS: “Tradition at the P.I.C.”, January 2020: Henry is a big, strong power forward who threw his weight around with and without the puck on his stick. He landed some big hits along the wall and in open ice. Aggressive with the puck on his stick and drove the net or cut to the middle to fire the puck. A heavy shot and really tough to take the puck away from because of his size. His skating and puck skills were very adequate to allow him to use his size and shot while in control of the puck. 3GP/1-2-3
USA Hockey Nationals U15, April 2019: Henry is a long left-shot forward that has a big body and a long reach. He plays a direct north/south game and uses his size to drive the net wide. He is good down low and along the walls. Has good stick skills to pick pucks off-the-walls. He needs to develop a better first step and also get faster straight line. He has a solid base to build on and is effective at this level around the net. Grade: B-
| Ethan Mann | Team Wisconsin U16 | T1EHL U16 | R | F | 5’10” | 167 | Wisconsin | 2022 | Grafton, WI | 2003 | 2020-2021: C |
Minnesota Elite League: 2021 NHL Draft Watch List, November 2020: Mann has been one of the better ‘03 forwards in Wisconsin the past few years and was a mid-round USHL pick last season but has really taken his game to the next level here. He has been Team Wisconsin’s best forward throughout the fall and has shown real improvement in several areas including his speed, his hustle and his playmaking ability. He has an explosive first step, he has speed to win races to pucks and the bite and toughness to battle for loose pucks. He can play any position on the power play, he moves pucks quickly and efficiently in all three zones and is able to utilize his speed to push defenders back and then cut in on a dime. Very few defenders can maintain a gap with him given his speed and high motor and when they hit Mann he hits back, he doesn’t just accept contact. With that being said he’ll take a hit to make a play and he’ll dig pucks out of corners, block shots and drive the net away from the puck to draw defenders to him and open up ice for the puck carrier. He trusts his speed and takes full advantage of it to create space for himself and his teammates, he has a heavy one-timer and a high hockey IQ to see the whole sheet and process his options instantly. He has the burst to pull away and is savvy to know when to change speed, when to push the pace and when to slow it down and pick apart the defense with passing. He can zip passes on the tape mid-stride and chip pucks around defenders and pick them up. He’s shifty off the cycle, he slides passes a cross slot coming off the wall and finishes his checks on the forecheck. He stops on the puck on turnovers and backchecks with authority playing a defensively responsible 200ft game. He even scored a nice goal batting the puck out of mid-air showing real hand-eye coordination and finishing ability in tight. He’s averaging a point per game in the Elite League with 5 goals a 6 assists in 11 games and is emerging as a serious WHL/NCAA D1 prospect.
Select 16’s USA Hockey National Camp, July 2019: Mann started the week with a nice goal against Kelly where he caught a pass from Shepler driving hard to the net and scored on a soft-handed one-touch play. He’s a balanced skater, strong on his stick and possesses a powerful release that he can get off in traffic. He can make plays in traffic and while he only scored one goal he had several other chances that he missed over the net or goalies made good saves on him. He snaps passes off and can make quick decisions under pressure. He has a strong net front presence for his size and he used his body to protect the puck and create space for himself along the wall. His best hockey came below the dots where he worked the cycle, knew where the soft areas were and how to read the defensive coverage to expose their holes. He created turnovers and helped carve space for his teammates on the forecheck. Tough to play against although he took an ill-advised penalty against Royal up ice. His approach in the offensive end is excellent overall. He will have to add some pace and become a bit more elusive, but his style will translate as he moves up. We have seen the 6th round pick by Cedar Rapids better in prior showings, but he was solid here and should be a dominant player in Wisconsin HS this upcoming season. Grade: B- College: Wisconsin
CCM World Hockey Invite U14, December 2017: Ethan is a very deceptive and creative hockey player with smooth hands and great agility. He also has top-end speed. He can read the game well. During the game he was transitioning from forward to defense and vice versa, which shows his hockey sense. At times though Ethan did lack intensity in his defensive zone.
| Brody Lamb | Dodge County HS | Minnesota HS | R | F | 5’11” | 147 | Minnesota | 2022 | Byron, MN | 2003 | 2020-2021: C |
MN Elite League Invitational, November 2020: Shows up with his speed every game that he’s in. His stride looks effortless and his skating with the puck sets him apart. Shoots the puck well in awkwards positions and this makes him a threat anywhere in the O zone. Grade: A
Minnesota Elite League: 2021 NHL Draft Watch List, November 2020: Lamb is an intriguing prospect out of Dodge County HS where he absolutely dominated his first season in high school hockey notching 46 goals in 22 games where the next highest scorer had 13. He has a tall, thin build, is light on his feet and has excellent athleticism and agility for his length. He has clever instincts and nimble hands to dangle defenders in the neutral zone and out of the corners and keeps his head up ice looking for passing lanes. He has real vision and can see his teammates through a crowd and see the play beyond the play to move the puck to areas his linemates were going to instead of just where they were. He also had the touch on his passes to lift it over blades and place them perfectly on the tape and he could evade pressure and bounce off checks to the soft areas. He needs to get stronger on his stick and on his skates as he’s a bit lean at this point but he has good speed, he can handle the puck and make plays at pace and doesn’t hesitate when he has lane to the net. He recently committed to Minnesota and was drafted in the fourth round of the USHL Draft by Green Bay after his dominant rookie season at Dodge County. High ceiling prospect as he fills into his frame who is making a strong first impression at the Elite League backing up his high school accolades against lesser competition.
Select 16’s USA Hockey National Camp, July 2019: Lamb is a player we have had limited viewing off this past season but he showed well here. He is still growing into his frame but he plays hard and with a constant motor. The fourth round pick by Green Bay in the USHL is not a burner but has the athleticism and stride to grow into and add power over time. He has a quick release snap shot and made a lot of skilled passes out of the corners and on the rush to the slot area. His head is always up, he shields the puck well and makes smart passes with touch. He finished the week with a goal and 3 assists. He’s a bit raw and needs to get stronger on his skates and on the puck but he has soft hands, he can make in zone and on the rush and has just enough size and just enough puck skill to get to scoring areas and make a nice pass or take the shot. He was solid here but he projects to be better and better with time. He’ll have plenty of eyes on him this high school season in Minnesota. Grade: B-
| Carter Batchelder | Eden Prairie HS | Minnesota HS | L | F | 5’10” | 171 | Colorado | 2022 | Eden Prairie, MN | 2003 | 2020-2021: C |
2021 Minnesota State Tournament Class AA, April 19, 2021: Batchelder is a perfect compliment to linemate Blake because he’s a shoot first, aggressive, attack the net style-forward who is always around the puck. He’s a highly competitive forward who hunts down pucks on the forecheck, can kill penalties, will risk his body to make a play or win a 50/50 puck and he’s willing to take the hit to get to the net. He has a long, fluid stride and the speed to create separation and the balance to get off body contact. His hands are smooth and confident and he made a lot of defenders miss throughout the course of the weekend and was able to get shots off from everywhere. He had a few highlight-reel goals and showed versatility in how he can score; he scored on rebounds, he scored from the outside, he scored on catch and shoot on the power play and scored on the rush with his quick, powerful release. He had one play that really caught our eye where he went wide around a defender at top speed cut in right at the goalmouth and made a deke to open up the goalie and then snuck it 5-hole. He has a 200ft element to his game; he backchecks hard, gets to the point and puts his body in front of shots and uses his acceleration and length to get on his guys and take away time and space. His most impressive attribute here however was his release; his power is impressive and he can get it off in every situation and rarely gets blocked because of how quick he can dust it off. Maybe equally as impressive as his stat line here in the state tournament of 6 goals and 3 assists in 3 games is his shot totals with 24 shots in 3 games! He is not afraid to let it go when he has a lane and he’s fearless in attacking the net and is a legit scoring threat when he’s on the ice. A complete player who gives it his all every shift and will be an immediate impact player at the junior level next year and could be a sleeper pick in the late rounds of the NHL draft this summer now that he’s improved his stride and two-way game. College: Colorado Grade: A
MN High School: #2 Benilde St. Margaret’s vs #3 Eden Prairie Eagles, February 19, 2021: Carter is a hard-working player with a tremendous speed he separates from players and closes gaps on forechecks very quickly. His 200ft game effort makes a very difficult player to play against as he is always on the puck or attacking with speed and he has a great quick release that he can score off many different angles with. He has a shoot-first mentality and then goes hard to the paint hunting for rebounds. Grade A+
Minnesota Elite League: 2021 NHL Draft Watch List, November 2020: Batchelder is a strong edged, balanced skater with a shoot first mentality. The puck sticks to his blade and he can carry the puck at will at this level and stickhandle his way out of trouble areas with no panic and complete puck control. He’s a proven goalscorer and loves to shoot showing he can score from the outside, from in tight and even on a quick wrap around play that caught the goalie off guard. He has sturdy edges which allows him to get off contact, maintain possession in traffic, shield the puck and get shots off in the offensive zone. He can wheel in the offensive zone, rides his edges to the post and has the first step quickness to separate. A talented ‘03 out of Eden Prairie where he compiled 16 goals in 20 games and is one of the best finishers in the Elite League with 7 goals in 11 games. A Colorado College commit who went in the third round of the USHL Draft and will be more than ready to make that next step whenever he decides.
World Selects Invite 2003 Division, June 2019: Carter was a top player not only for Blue Army, but amongst the whole crop of 03’ talent as well. Great skater with a wider stance makes him very hard to read 1 on 1 and even tougher to knock off the puck. Keeps his feet moving when he shoots and stops on the net when there’s a rebound. Great supporter of the puck, recognizes when loose and uses quickness to take off and use his creativity in the offensive zone. Colorado College commit runs the half wall on the PP and has great vision of the ice where he set up several goals and scoring chances. College: Colorado College
Western States Bantam Invite, September 2017: Strong performance from Batchelder this weekend. He can play fast and physical, although sometimes he needs a little prodding to do both. In one instance, he lost the puck vs RHA and tracked back with such purpose that he caught the player a mere twenty feet later. He scored the icing goal vs. RHA late in the third, sliding the puck through the defender’s legs and slipping past him on the outside before popping the goal top from in very tight. Will need to improve consistency, as the speed and physical play were only in flashes but we like the potential here. 4 games: 1 goal: 6 assists
| Nolan Grier | Fond du Lac HS | Wisconsin HS | R | F | 6’3″ | 181 | Uncom. | 2003 | 2020-2021: C |
Minnesota Elite League: 2021 NHL Draft Watch List, November 2020: Every year at MN Elite League there are players out of Team Wisconsin who come out of nowhere and this year that player is Grier; an intriguing, big body, two-way, north-south power forward with real upside. He’s hard on the forecheck, he’s physical and disruptive. He plays with an edge, he hustles to loose pucks and wins a high percentage of 50/50 pucks. At 6’3” he has a long stick and frame and uses his reach to his advantage to hold pucks out beyond defenders grasp and also in his own end to break up passes and block lanes. What first caught our eye was his defensive zone commitment; taking the body, winning pucks, being strong on his stick and killing penalties but as the weeks have gone on he’s proven more and more his offensive capabilities. He’s got deceptive puck handling and can carry it end to end, he’s great up the boards powering through body checks and maintaining possession and he can snap passes off and hit targets cross ice in stride. He drives hard to the net with his stick on the ice and always presents a target and a strong net front presence to get his stick on loose pucks and take the goalie’s vision away. He’s one of the best players in the league at the stick check and taking the puck away from defenders and he protects the puck well along the wall and when driving the net. The 2003 out of Fond du Lac has gone undrafted in the junior leagues but looks to be a prospect on the rise and a well-rounded, tough to play against, power forward whose game will translate at the next level. He’s got 7 goals and 5 assists through the first 11 games of the Elite League and has really caught our attention each week as a legit diamond in the rough prospect.
| Charlie Lurie | Shattuck St. Mary’s U18 | NAPHL 18U | L | F | 5’11” | 180 | Nebraska Omaha | 2022 | Minnetonka, MN | 2003 | 2020-2021: C |
Neutral Zone NHL’s Ian Moran’s comments March 2, 2021: I like how he plays. Charlie might not be the biggest player on the ice, but he certainly doesn’t know it. He has the ability to initiate contact, lean into the defender’s pressure, create space for himself and then quickly spin off his opponent into the open ice. He can do this as the puck carrier or as the shooter in the slot. And let’s face it, Charlie can score. His release is deceptive, quick as regularly seems to catch the goalie while he’s transferring his weight.. He had a handful of games in the USHL earlier this year so he has a taste of what it’s going to take to be successful at the higher levels. In my eyes there’s a lot to like about Charlie’s compete and willingness to play in all three zones. I think he’s a player that we should be tracking for the long haul.
U18: Chicago Mission vs Shattuck St. Mary’s (Three Game Series), March 1, 2021: Average size forward, good skating, speed, contributes to offense and defense. Charlie is a 200ft player, plays hard in all three zones. Charlie had 3 goals and 2 assists this weekend. If you give him time and space, he will make you pay, quick release, hard and accurate shots. He is good on faceoffs, ties up and takes away passing lanes. Smart all-around player that you can play in all situations. Grade A-
Friday night’s game saw the Mission jumped out to a 1-0 lead after the 1st period. This would be the only time Mission led all weekend. SSM would get back into the game in the 2nd period, scoring twice in the first three minutes of the period. SSM added another in the 2nd period five minutes later, for a total of three goals in about seven minutes of play, SSM 3-1 at the end of the 2nd. SSM would add another goal in the 3rd period. Shots SSM 32 Mission 21. Final score SSM 4 Mission 1.
Saturday’s game saw SSM come out flying, scoring 40 seconds into the game and adding another 40 seconds after the first goal to go up 2-0 with just over a minute played. Mission would get in on the scoring two minutes later and then SSM added their third goal just under four minutes played in the 1st period. Mission would pop two more goals in to tie it at 3-3, then SSM scored four straight to end the 1st period up 7-3. The 2nd period both teams would score twice, SSM up 9-5 end of 2nd. In the 3rd period SSM added another goal. Twelve different SSM players picked up points. Shots SSM 53 Mission 25. Final score SSM 10 Mission 5.
Sunday’s game would see SSM jump out to a 2-0 lead after the 1st, expand their lead to 5-0 after the 2nd and then out score the Mission 3-1 in the 3rd. Eleven different SSM players picked up points. Shots SSM 44 Mission 22. Final score SSM 8 Mission 1.
MN Elite League Invitational, November 2020: Nasty playmaking ability. He drives hard and is able to pull up on a dime. Can make small area plays look easy throwing little sauce passes or cross ice. Puck at times seems to be on a string for him. Power play specialist. When he has the time to make plays, plays usually are made. Grade: A-
Minnesota Elite League: 2021 NHL Draft Watch List, November 2020: Lurie is a balanced, 200ft ‘03 forward out of Shattuck St. Mary’s who put up 25 goals last year on the U16 team. He shows good speed in the neutral zone, he can absorb contact and keep his stride and maintain puck possession and has a soft set of hands to receive difficult passes and to make plays with the puck. He can wiggle out of congested areas, he can place passes on the tape over sticks and through feet and he has a bullet one-timer on the power play. He can cut in on the rush and attack the net or use his size and speed to drive wide on defenders, lean on them to get good positioning and ride his edges to the post. The 6th round USHL pick has an impressive 3 goals in 3 games so far this fall and he has scorer instincts knowing how to read the goalie, how to get shots off in traffic and where to be around the slot without the puck to have the best chance to score. He finds the soft areas, he reads the defense and gets to spots. The Nebraska-Omaha commit is the type of forward who the more you watch him, the more you appreciate the details of his game and realize his scoring isn’t a result of just his shooting but more his sense and awareness in the offensive zone.
Shattuck Prep vs Map South Elite League, October 2020: Showed that he can be a skilled player while playing a physical game. Broke the puck out really well using his skating ability and stick handling. Single handedly broke it out multiple times stickhandling around opponents. Has the energy you want in one of your best players in the offense and defensive zone. Grade: A-
World Selects Invite, June 2018: Charlie made a statement here and played very well. He is a swift skater with slick hands and a really nice shot. Played a smart game and the puck followed. Went to the net, scored a goal following up a play. Scored another on a quick snapper from outside. He was unpredictable with the puck and committed without it. Played with his head up, made his teammates better and has an elite shot. Has a chance to be an all situations player who can score at every level. Had a huge weekend.
| Cade Ahrenholz | Lakeville South HS | Minnesota HS | R | F | 6’3″ | 200 | Colorado | 2023 | Lakeville, MN | 2002 | 2020-2021: C |
MN High School: Rosemount vs Lakeville South, February 1, 2021: The Colorado College commit plays a rugged strong power forward game. He uses his size and strength very well. Protects the puck and drives the net hard. He uses his size and strength to create space and opportunities for his teammates. Grade A
Minnesota Elite League: 2021 NHL Draft Watch List, November 2020: Ahrenholz is a late ‘02 standout power forward who led Lakeville South HS in scoring last season and earned himself a NCAA D1 commitment to Colorado College. A 6’3” 200lbs north-south winger who is strong and hard on the puck and barrels down the wall and attacks the net both with and without the puck. He is direct, he shields the puck down low and powers his way to the net and is tough to knock off it. He’s fearless in his approach and goes into the dirty areas and battles for pucks all over the ice especially at the net front going for rebounds and loose pucks. He is a bit sporadic at times and needs to slow it down in certain situations and make plays instead of being in go-go-go mode all the time but he knows what he is, he plays to his strengths and is very hard to defend against because he not only overpowers his opponents but outworks them and out grinds them. He’s only played in 7 games so far this fall but has 5 goals and 2 assists and is one of the toughest forwards to play against in the entire league. He’ll need to continue to improve his offensive skills but he does have deceptive puck handling and can score from beyond the dots. His game will translate at the junior and NCAA level and despite being undrafted in the USHL/NAHL, he’ll certainly attract more attention this season after his play here.
Kings of East Coast, August 2019: Cade is 6’4” and about 200lbs. He is hard to miss. He used his body well to protect possession and bully his way up the wall with the puck. He had an active stick on the forecheck with obvious long reach. He created turnovers and showed poise to wait for help and set up the offense. The late 2002 was excellent on his end. He blocked shots, helped in the high slot and kept his head on a swivel. We really liked him on the penalty kill as he moved well and with excellent defensive instincts. Great defensive stick and hard clears. Offensively, he carved out space and buried one post and in from the high slot which showed he can fire it. He is still a bit raw but the way he played at both ends showed us he is smart. Big guys take a bit longer and he is a late 2002 to keep an eye on. He can play at both ends with some pop. Grade: B
Minnesota Bantam AA State Tournament, March 2017: There is some upside here with Cade, who’s a big forward, towering over others in his age. When he played physical it drew penalties just for the sheer size of him overpowering opponents. As he gets older, these won’t be called and it will be an asset. He can still work on his feet. At times the pace seemed to be a little more but not enough to hurt him or his team. Good potential.
| Landon Parker | East Grand Forks | Minnesota HS | L | F | 6’1″ | 170 | Grand Forks, MN | 2002 | 2020-2021: C |
Minnesota Elite League: 2021 NHL Draft Watch List, November 2020: Parker is a late ‘02 who has played a few games in the USHL after a great season with East Grand Forks HS where he notched 20 goals and 27 assists in 24 games. He’s got size and strength and plays a hardnose game. He’s got a power game to get possession and get to spots and he’s an active shooter who doesn’t hesitate when he sees a lane to the net. He absorbs contact well, he is strong in front of the net and tough to move and he’s strong on his stick coming off the wall in the offensive zone and attacking the slot areas. His shot is both hard and heavy and he can get it off with little to no windup. He attacks the net without the puck opening up ice for his teammates and he’s always ready to shoot. He protects it well along the boards and holds it out beyond defenders reach on line rushes and can drive in on defenders from the outside. He has an impressive 10 goals and 6 assists through his first 12 games of the fall season.
2019 Minnesota High School All Star- Prospects Game, November 2019: North and south game with a high compete level. He gave second effort on numerous plays that kept possession alive for his team. He finished his checks and went to the dirty areas often. Showed the ability to snap the puck off from the slot when given time and space to shoot.
Minnesota High Performance U14, May 2017: Particularly effective off the rush, Landon is a scrappy forward out of northwestern Minnesota. We liked his hands and he was comfortable skating with the puck but occasionally got focused on one thing and when that got shut down, he couldn’t adjust and find another option. Stride is a bit short but his hands were good and he put himself in spots for lots of chances. With strength Landon could be a big scorer.
| Henry Nelson | Maple Grove HS | Minnesota HS | L | D | 6’1″ | 174 | Notre Dame | 2021 | Maple Grove, MN | 2003 | 2020-2021: B- |
2021 Minnesota State Tournament Class AA, April 19, 2021: Henry is a tall, fluid skating, highly athletic, two-way defenseman who was arguably the best player on the ice in both playoff games. He has a quick first step and can reach top speed in just a few strides which makes him very effective on puck retrievals and in the transition game. His backward skating ability from a standstill is flawlessly allowing him to stay on his man and not have to turn around to cover them in the rush. He’s got the edges and agility to move seamlessly laterally and in every direction and he compliments that with a quick processor to survey the ice and make split-second decisions with the puck. He ran their power play and was able to thread passes to the backdoor and fit tight windows and he has a potent shot from the point that is both powerful and accurate enough to score from the outside. His shot selection is mature knowing when to T it up and when to get it off quick; he had a low snap through to get on the net which generated a nice rebound chance that his teammate finished. Nelson’s defensive game is as impressive as what he does offensively; he’s got excellent gap control, he angles opponents and rides them off the puck to the wall and he has a sturdy stick to keep second chance opportunities from happening around his net. He combines that with strong defensive instincts knowing when the pinch and when to retreat, he knows when to take a step forward to force a dump in, when to play the body and when to defend with the stick and he’s sharp away from the puck picking up coverage around the net and on the weakside. A blue-chip NCAA D1 prospect with a high ceiling. College: Notre Dame Grade: A
Minnesota Elite League: 2021 NHL Draft Watch List, November 2020: Nelson is one of the top ‘03 defenseman in the country and continues to improve his game viewing after viewing. He’s a tall, highly athletic, mobile, puck moving defenseman who doesn’t have any obvious holes in his game. He could get stronger and play with some more jam in his own end particularly around the net but the Notre Dame commits skating ability, vision, passing, gap control, reach and decision making are high end. He is smooth in transition, he can accelerate backwards from a standstill and maintain a tight gap and he knows when to make a pinch at the blue line and when to retreat back to his red line. He gets in position to provide a D to D option for his partner when they are pressured and keeps his eyes down ice knowing where he is going with it before he gets it. He’s able to make quick and sure decisions with the puck because he can see the whole surface, survey his options instantly and move it to the soft areas. He can rush the puck end to end at will but picks his spots intelligently knowing when the pass is the best play. He led Maple Grove last season in points despite being a defenseman and is one of the leading point getters on his Elite League squad with a 2-8-10 line through 13 games. What separates Nelson from other skilled defenders is that he can produce on 5v5 and doesn’t rely on power plays to get pucks to the net and feed the backdoor and he also defends as well as he makes plays offensively. He closes very quickly, he has a long reach and perfect stick positioning to take away puck carriers options and limit their space. He’s not a physical force but he has such tight gaps that opponents can’t get inside positioning on him and he keeps his head on a swivel on in-zone defense and doesn’t get caught puck watching so he picks up backdoor pressure and limits second chance opportunities. Nelson has the size, effortless stride and athleticism to play heavy minutes and in every situation and will likely be the top prospect in the state this year for the 2021 NHL Draft.
NTDP Evaluation Camp Report, March 2019: Nelson is another tall, thin prospect who is athletic and carries the puck well. He didn’t have a ton of possession time but he made swift passes, found the seams to his teammates on the backdoor and used his long reach to knock puck off sticks. He can sauce it over sticks and make passes under duress. He’s raw and will need to fill into his frame and improve his stride and physical game but there is a lot to like about this prospect in the coming years. College: Notre Dame
World Selects Invite, June 2018: A poised, fluid skating, versatile defender who can make plays at both ends of the ice. He oozes upside and his game seemed to elevate to another level in the playoff rounds. He’s a gifted backward skater who accelerates well and keeps balanced and agile. He’s a heads up skater with the puck which allows him to read the play and move the puck to safe spots. Nelson has a hard shot, smooth hands and a savvy defensive stick to knock pucks away from opponents. Still a bit raw but has a high ceiling.
Western States Bantam Invite, September 2017: Having seen Nelson on defense, he was a pleasant surprise at forward this weekend. A tall but slender build, Nelson stood out with his hands in tight areas and creative playmaking skills. He sent in Catchelder on a break away with an elite touch area pass, floating it in the air, past defenders, and right where his teammate could skate into it. He didn’t blow anyone away with his straight-ahead skating, in fact between the blue lines carrying the puck his speed was just average but his ability to read the play and make the right puck decisions stood out to us. 4 games: 1 goal: 3 assists
| Joe Palodichuk | Hill Murray HS | Minnesota HS | L | D | 5’11” | 152 | Wisconsin | 2021 | Cottage Grove, MN | 2003 | 2020-2021: C |
MN Elite League Invitational, November 2020: Strong skating two way defenseman. His offensive upside outweighs his defensive side but still plays an all around solid game at both ends. He is dangerous with space at the blue line as he can skate the puck around waiting for a scoring chance to appear. Grade: A
Minnesota Elite League: 2021 NHL Draft Watch List, November 2020: Palodichuk comes to the Elite League after a highly successful season with Hill Murray where he won a state championship and led all defenseman in scoring with 35 points in 25 games. The Wisconsin commit hasn’t brought that level of offensive production to the elite league with just 1 goal and 0 assists in 13 games but he’s been a force every game at both ends of the ice. He’s tall, athletic, can cover a lot of ice with his stride and edges and rub opponents off along the boards. He has a strong stick and uses it well to knock pucks off blades and keep opponents to the outside on the rush. He breaks a lot of passes around the slot area and has good instincts and anticipation to break up plays in the neutral zone before they become clean zone entries. Up the ice he can move pucks to his forwards and is a sturdy presence along the offensive blue line where he can score from the point with a rocket slap shot. He can make difficult passes both flat on the ice and in the air over stick blades and he has both the vision and the decision making ability to know where his best option is. One area of improvement for Palodichuk will be in his pace of play moving it quicker as he hesitates and over handles the puck to the point lanes close on him and then he’s forced to skate into pressure which led to some turnovers. If he can learn to move it quicker and dust passes off instead of trying to rush it end to end constantly he’ll be more efficient and effective as a two-way defenseman. A mid-round USHL pick who is ready for the next level and will be Hill Murray’s best chance at a state final repeat.
Select 16’s USA Hockey National Camp, July 2019: Joe is an athletic, three zone defenseman. He played and looked bigger than listed. He challenged opponents at the blue line with a low, balanced skating style. He fights hard for pucks all over the ice. He has good speed and more to gain as he lengthens his stride. He is quick to top speed with rapid crossover starts. He is quite balanced and very strong on his skates. He hit to defend and attacked forwards with some snarl. He dropped down to block a shot. Joe showed he could carry or pass the puck from his end. He was able to weave through traffic and create plays up the ice. Palodichuk facilitated clean zone entries and moved well along the offensive blue line. Scored a goal with a hard shot through traffic. Snapped one home with ease in a shootout. He did a good job of picking his spots to jump up on the rush. One of the best defensemen here and made the Five Nations team. High ceiling as he looked quicker and more engaged than we have seen him. He is trending in the right direction. College: Wisconsin Grade: A-
World Selects Invite, June 2018: Palodichuk is a gamer; he plays tough, he clears pucks out of his end when needed and makes smart, mature decisions. He’s a stabilizing presence on the backend, he can run the power play, he can get to pucks and break them out cleanly and wins battles down low. His skating could use some work but he makes up for it with his size and effort. A good passer with a mature approach to the game who is detailed and focused in his own end.
| Scott Morrow | Shattuck St. Mary’s U18 | NAPHL 18U | L | D | 6’2″ | 190 | North Dakota | 2021 | Darien, CT | 2002 | 2020-2021: C+ |
MN Elite League Invitational, November 2020: An all around player. Gets his own puck out of the D zone quickly and likes to follow the play up. Has the offensive talent to dance around everyone in the O zone. Gets his shot off quickly and puts power behind it. He has a great first three steps with or without the puck. Grade: A
Minnesota Elite League: 2021 NHL Draft Watch List, November 2020: Morrow is a good-sized, offensive defenseman with smooth hands and next level passing ability to find his teammates up ice and get them the puck in stride. He’s poised, he’s skilled and he can delay draw opponents towards him and slide the puck to the open space. He doesn’t throw pucks away and has improved in his decision making not trying to force impossible plays because he’s got enough skill to sometimes pull it off. While his maturity has improved he still does have moments where he tries to do too much and puck handle through opponents in the neutral zone not realizing he’s often the last line of defense. A poised puck moving defender one could argue he makes the best passes of anyone in the league but he also can play a possession game and carry it out of his end, carry through the neutral zone and pull up inside the blue line waiting for trailers. He has a hard shot from the point that he needs to learn to get off quicker but has good power and can keep it low and through traffic. The late ‘02 is a North Dakota commit and should garner some NHL Draft attention this season but he’ll need to improve his footwork, particularly his first step quickness and transitions. His stride is slightly choppy and he can’t beat speedy forwards back to pucks on dump-ins however he does compensate well by playing smart positionally and using good angles to keep opponents outside. He has a 1-1-2 line through 3 games here after a dominant season on the backend of the Shattuck Prep team last season and could use this season as an opportunity to hone in on his game, make higher percentage plays and improve his footwork and overall skating ability to become the blue chip player he has the potential to be.
Shattuck-St. Mary’s Prep Jamboree, January 2019: Scott has a lot off offense in his game as he held on to the puck until the last second and delivered hit to his forward. He doesn’t appear as a great skater when you see him first but his edges are strong and he can pivot. With the puck he slowed the game down and surveyed the ice very well. With time and space or on the power play he made a lot of plays and created offense.
NTDP Evaluation Camp Report, March 2018: Morrow came into camp after a highly successful season with Shattuck St. Mary’s U16 squad where he plays a lot of minutes in every role and leads their defensive corp. He’s a player you have to really watch to appreciate. He plays a smart, savvy game with the puck but even more so defensively as he is sound positionally and can read a play and step up to break it up. He had a big hit on Peterson and was physical in his own end and in the neutral zone. He did try to do too much with the puck at times and skated into some tough areas, but when there was a pass to be made he saw it an had stick skills to put it on their tape. His stride is a bit wide but he digs into the ice and has strong edges. He’ll need to elongate his stride to get the most out of it and simplify his game with the puck instead of trying to do it all himself. Smarter prospect then he gets credit for and has a game that will get better with time. Uncommitted
STX Elite Hockey Shootout, October 2016: A polished skater who makes top rate decisions who carries the puck effortlessly with his head up and makes smart, efficient decisions. He possesses a hard shot, especially his one time, which makes him a scoring threat from the point (not many Bantams can score from the point). Grade: B+
| Shai Buium | Shattuck St. Mary’s U18 | NAPHL 18U | L | D | 6’3″ | 207 | Denver | 2022 | Laguna Niguel, CA | 2003 | 2020-2021: C+ |
USHL: Sioux City vs Lincoln, April 5, 2021: Buium is a mobile, offensive defenseman who never hesitates to jump up in the play and try to create scoring opportunities. In the offensive zone he is active on the blueline, diving down into the zone regularly and making scissor plays with his teammates. When he stays at the blueline he does an excellent job of using his eyes and feet to create space so he can put the puck towards the net. At times, Buium can get a little over aggressive in his efforts, being the first man in on the forecheck without much support and staying low in the offensive zone for extended periods of time. However, his skating allows him to make up for extending out of position and he always comes back hard into his own end. His skating abilities also allow him to keep tight gaps and angle opponents into tight spaces. The Denver commit is excellent at generating offense from the back end and can do it by creating on the rush, the powerplay, and using constant movement in the offensive zone. Grade: A-
USHL: Fargo Force at Sioux City Musketeers, March 17, 2021: Buium is a mobile defenseman who was active on both sides of the puck for the Musketeers throughout this contest. He registered three shots in this game and two of those came from his ability to work the offensive zone blueline. The Denver commit does a great job of selling his initial fake and then attacking open ice with his feet before firing shots through traffic. His feet are an asset he utilizes regularly, especially to create separation on his first two steps when he reads the play in the offensive zone. In his own zone he used his feet to break the puck out effectively throughout the game. Buium often wheeled the net and then carried the puck up ice, leading the rush attack against Fargo. On two occasions he went coast to coast with the puck and then made a pass into the slot area where his teammates weren’t able to finish the play off. He has good vision and sees the ice well in front of him, especially when skating north and looking to attack off the rush from the back end. Overall, he is a mobile defenseman that can take over the game when the puck is on his stick, which he did on multiple occasions in this game. Grade: A
MN Elite League Invitational, November 2020: Tall defenseman that skates super well for his size. Has a ton of skill to go with his frame but tends to over handle it at times. He can protect the puck for long periods of time but gets caught by the smaller forward. Puts power behind his shots from the blue line. Grade: A-
Minnesota Elite League: 2021 NHL Draft Watch List, November 2020: Buium is a tall, long, mobile defender out of Shattuck St. Mary’s who is making his prep debut here in the Elite League. He oozes with upside at 6’3” with his skating ability, reach and two-way play. The Denver commit is a steady, reliable defenseman with a great reach and ability to break up passes and poke pucks off sticks. He’s still learning when to physically engage and when to hold his position but his size and skating ability make him nearly impossible to get around on the rush. He has soft hands, keeps his head up ice even when pressured on the breakout and makes a clean, accurate first pass. He isn’t afraid to pass it up the middle on the breakout or in the neutral zone and does a good job seeing into the next level knowing not only if the player is open but if they have time and space to make a play once they get the puck. He is fluid in his hips and turns well in transition and he makes the right pivot to stay tight on his coverage and take away opponents time and space. He has only played 3 games thus far in the Elite League but has a 2-1-3 line and proved he can make an impression at both ends of the ice. A mid-round USHL pick who has played a few games in the USHL last season but is still a bit raw and his best hockey is ahead of him as he gains more experience, gets stronger and improves the details of his game. Major NCAA/CHL upside and beyond.
Select 16’s USA Hockey National Camp, July 2019: Shai knows what he is; a big, strong defenseman who can overpower opponents and punish them along the wall. He made a couple of big hits at his blue line to stop the rush. He clogged up shooting and passing lanes all weekend. His stick is active and he hid his reach well. He made simple breakout passes, absorbed hits and never panicked. Buium scored his sole goal as he moved in from the blue line, took a pass, took his space and wristed one home low; nice shot. His skating is not great but he has good mobility and recovered quickly when he had to. He is still a bit raw and he worked very hard. Tough player who showed some wiggles but mainly did his job in his end and chipped in when he could. He never forced anything. Finished with three points and lots of hits. Interesting player who is undecided for next season. Grade: B-
U16 USA Hockey Nationals, May 2019: Buium is an intriguing prospect with size and a lot of raw tools. He has raw feet but still manages to cover a lot of ice. He is aggressive offensively and rushes the puck most chances he gets. He makes a firm, accurate first pass or if there isn’t a lane he skates to open ice. He had one highlight reel play where he went end to end, drove wide on a defender 1v1 and cut in to the net, deked to goalie in tight and scored 5-hole. It was an impressive individual effort especially for someone his size and at his position. He has rare stick skill, size and raw tools that will project at the next level. He needs to improve his skating ability not only in his speed and agility but his stride and balance. Buium got a lot of attention here from NCAA and USHL scouts and has become a coveted two-way prospect with skill and upside finishing the tournament with a 1-2-3 line in 3 games.
U14 Nationals, April 2018: One of the biggest players here at over 6’1”, he showed he could snap passes accurately anywhere on the ice. He has good hands and hammered a hard shot for a goal in the quarterfinals. Made some one-touch passes and can shoot a one-timer as well. Defended with strength and stayed in smart spots in his end. He looked to be still adjusting to his body and will continue to grow. Was good here but his upside is very high. Interesting player.
| David Schoeneman | Shattuck St. Mary’s U18 | NAPHL 18U | R | D | 6’3″ | 195 | Owatonna, MN | 2002 | 2020-2021: C |
Minnesota Elite League: 2021 NHL Draft Watch List, November 2020: Schoeneman is a big body, physically imposing defender who is a bit raw in his footwork but makes up for it with sheer size and athleticism. He competes hard, he is tough in the corners and around the net front and loves to line up his opponents in the open ice and step up for the big open ice check. He makes safe, simple outlet passes and has a good understanding of what he is and doesn’t try to play beyond himself. He has only played 2 games in the Elite League but the 6’3”, 2002 birthyear has 2 assists. Raw but effective and will get better as he improves his stride and first step quickness/agility.
Minnesota High Performance U14, May 2017: David has a tall frame and played with an edge. Occasionally took the uncalled for penalty but he moves well for his size and if he can learn to harness his aggression and put it to better use, he could become a shut down style guy. Older brother plays at Shattuck and we have heard he’ll be following.
| Zach Hayes | Hopkins HS | Michigan HS | L | G | 6’2″ | 170 | Hopkins, MN | 2002 | 2020-2021: C |
Minnesota Elite League: 2021 NHL Draft Watch List, November 2020: Hayes is a talented goalie out of Benilde St. Margaret HS where he got 21 starts and produced an impressive .919 SV% in a tough schedule. He has been one of the top goalies in the Elite League this season with his swift body movements and technical ability. He’s quick on his feet but doesn’t overextend himself and get out of position and he makes difficult saves look routine because of his vision and hockey sense to alway get into the right position. He anticipates well knowing where the puck is going, he gets off his posts quickly and sets his feet. He challenges shooters getting out beyond the paint on 1v1 chances and is able to stay in deeper in the crease and make swift slides to make the big stop on cross crease passes. He is smooth in the hips, he can change his position instantly and plays bigger than he is. He is one of the only goalies in the entire league with over .900 SV% and has accomplished that by maintaining good positioning and controlling his rebounds.