General Game Notes: Cornell jumped out to a four-goal 1st period lead as it looked like Men vs. Boys in the beginning. Then NTDP-18 progressively played with more effort, puck management, and goalie Jack Parsons dialed in mentally making four to five big saves with his glove, blocker, and holding the post tight to deny any more goals in regulation. Cole Eiserman started the scoring comeback and scored late on the 6v5 extra skater on the Teddy Stiga set-up to force overtime. Although the Big Red would eventually win on a George Fergas goal near the net in the 3v3 session.
| Jack Parsons | NTDP U18 | USHL | L | G | 6’3″ | 184 | Providence | 2025 | Ithaca, NY | 2006 | 2023-2024: C+ |
Game Grade: B+
Comments: Parsons struggled as did his team from the outset as he gave up four goals in the 1st period. He did not appear mentally dialed in, back in his net a bit, and not ready to challenge the shooter. Then his team and Parsons progressively performed better in the 2nd period as Parsons made 4-5 big, challenging saves that if he did not, could have easily made the game ugly for NTDP. His game came alive as he made a breakaway save on #11 Donaldson, a quick top-of-crease save from slot on #19 Mack, a good glove save on #22 Penny off a defensive zone turnover, blocker save on 2v1 rush on #10 Kraft, glove save on #27 Suda down the slot, quick reaction of point shot tip save, and held his post strongly on an attempted jam in play all in the 2nd period. In the 3rd period, he also was focused making a few challenging saves. Even though Cornell eventually won in overtime, you have to give Parsons credit for bouncing back for the last two periods and OT. He was reading plays much better, playing big in challenging shooters, and limiting rebounds.
| John Whipple | NTDP U18 | USHL | L | D | 6’1″ | 194 | Minnesota | 2024 | Deephaven, MN | 2006 | 2023-2024: B |
Game Grade: B-
Comments: Whipple is a left-handed defenseman who showed good moments in puck-moving plays on, the defensive side, then also had some odd puck decisions. In the 2nd period, he had puck possession twice with time yet instead of making an outlet pass, he went off the glass and turned the puck over. He picked up the primary assist in the 3rd goal as he made a play inside the blue line with passing then found the shooting lane to get the puck toward the net, #8 Stiga picked up the loose puck in the slot for goal.
| EJ Emery | NTDP U18 | USHL | R | D | 6’3″ | 185 | North Dakota | 2024 | Surrey, BC | 2006 | 2023-2024: B |
Game Grade: B
Comments: Emery is an intriguing prospect if he truly develops his foot speed and agility. He has the size, strength, and defensive knowledge to play at the next levels. In the 1st period, he showed an ability to move around the defender at the offensive zone blue line to find a shooting lane. Although there was a shift where he retrieved the puck yet was caught before making an outlet pass that resulted in turnover in his own zone. Also had a giveaway pass in 2nd period from the defensive zone. There were also a few times on even strength and penalty kill where he was a step behind to make an impact on the play to jump up or gapping up defensively. At the end of 2nd period utilized long reach to stick check the last-second opportunity at the buzzer.
| Dakoda Rheaume-Mullen | NTDP U18 | USHL | L | D | 6’0″ | 180 | Michigan | 2025 | Northville, MI | 2006 | 2024-2025: B |
Game Grade: B-
Comments: Rheaume-Mullen played a solid game overall. The left-shot defenseman moves well and shows good puck handling. He was also steady with puck decisions as made outlet passes or knew when to just clear the zone. In the 2nd period, he made a good stretch pass up through the neutral zone to hit #34 Eiserman for a scoring chance. He also jumped up on play with #24 Humphreys in trying to create offense. Overall offensively, he was somewhat quiet.
| Teddy Stiga | NTDP U18 | USHL | L | C | 5’10” | 177 | Boston College | 2024 | Sudbury, MA | 2006 | 2023-2024: B |
Game Grade: B+
Comments: Stiga showed well in this game, making plays around the ice that either led to scoring chances or goals. While he is undersized, he thinks the game well. He showed good effort in the 1st period as battled for puck possession down the wing and made a pass at the net to #2 Ziemer for a scoring chance. He showed his crafty side in small areas to gain puck possession as he has good puck skills and read-on plays. He scored the 3rd goal in the 3rd period as he worked the offensive zone with teammates, went to the net picked up the #4 Whipple shot in the slot, quickly spun, and scored low. He also made the primary assist on the tying goal with an extra skater gaining possession behind the net and quickly feeding #34 Eiserman going to the net for the goal. While he is undersized, he thrives with his hockey IQ and puck skills.
| Austin Baker | NTDP U18 | USHL | L | F | 6’0″ | 192 | Michigan State | 2024 | White Lake, MI | 2006 | 2023-2024: C+ |
Game Grade: B-
Comments: Baker is a player who possesses a good skating stride, although he was fairly quiet through most of the game even though he was top line with #34 Eiserman and #24 Humphreys. He showed his speed in the 3rd period and overtime. He had a semi-breakaway in the 3rd period, yet at least the second was stick checks at had marks by #27 Suda. Then in overtime showed his speed by taking off in the neutral zone gaining puck possession and getting a quality backhand shot on net.
| Kamil Bednarik | NTDP U18 | USHL | L | C | 6’0″ | 186 | Boston University | 2024 | Elmhurst, IL | 2006 | 2023-2024: B |
Game Grade: B
Comments: Bednarik was given 4th line center on the line-up sheet and also 2nd power play time as well as penalty kill. Bednarik showed good puck skills and smarts. He can play a versatile role and may not receive the full opportunity in the line-up. In the 2nd period, he showed effort, smarts, and offense on a 5v3 penalty kill as he jumped on the puck when the opponent mishandled in the defensive zone to gain puck possession, rushed up the ice, and dropped a pass to #27 Skahan for a quality shot on goal. He showed the ability to win face-offs as well. Later in the 3rd period, he made a good set-up to #24 Humpherys at the dot for another scoring chance. Bednarik is secondary scoring option and solid 2-way forward. Probably one of the underrated or under appreciated players on NTDP.
| Luke Goukler | Cushing Academy | NE Prep | L | LW | 5’11” | 173 | Merrimack | 2025 | Cumming, GA | 2006 | 2023-2024: C |
Game Grade: B-
Comments: Goukler was a new addition to the NTDP roster for the weekend. In the early going of the game, he was a bit delayed in his thoughts. On one shift he had all sorts of time on the wall in the defensive zone, yet stayed on his backhand not seeing the play, then just chipped the puck out of the zone instead of making a concrete pass. Early in the 2nd period, he made a good rush and hit #3 Purdue for a scoring chance. Slowly he progressively showed more confidence and in the 3rd period positioned himself well to use his stick on the defensive side to deflect the opponent’s shot out of play. Then he was rewarded as he softened the open, soft area off the side of the net to receive #23 Hutson cross-ice pass for an open net goal as NTDP applied pressure.
| Sam Laurila | NTDP U18 | USHL | L | D | 6’0″ | 188 | North Dakota | 2025 | Moorhead, MN | 2006 | 2023-2024: C+ |
Game Grade: B-
Comments: Laurila is a left-shot defenseman with some size with the ability to skate and handle the puck. He kept his game simple and steady. While he did not contribute on the offensive side, he was fairly solid in his own zone with gaps, defensive positioning, and making good puck decisions on outlet passes.
| Logan Hensler | NTDP U18 | USHL | R | D | 6’2″ | 197 | Wisconsin | 2024 | Woodbury, MN | 2006 | 2024-2025: A- |
Game Grade: B
Comments: Hensler is a late ’06-birthdate eligible for the 2025 NHL Draft. He moves well with good puck-handling skills, and decision-making, and overall is a very solid 2-way right-shot defenseman. He showed his ability at the offensive blue line to use his feet to find shooting lanes. One mistake in the 1st period cost his team a goal while on the power play, as he brought the puck up the ice he lost possession and Cornell quickly turned it into a goal against the NTDP. You appreciated the stand-up for his goalie in the 2nd period vs. #8 Devlin on the crease, both were given roughing penalties as the play ended after the whistle. While Hensler was also on the 1st power play he was limited in his offensive output. While he was not bad, it was an average outing for Hensler.
| Kristian Epperson | NTDP U18 | USHL | L | LW | 5’11” | 182 | Michigan | 2024 | Mequon, WI | 2006 | 2023-2024: B- |
Game Grade: B-
Comments: Epperson is a left-shot winger who showed his speed and offensive looks in spurts. His best asset was his initial steps as showed his ability at times to separate in puck possession. In the 1st period, he created a 2v1 with his speed and then held the puck releasing a shot right into the goalie’s chest area without any rebound. While Epperson showed some offensive thoughts, his puck skills and finishing touch for the next levels will be more of a forechecker and secondary scoring threat. In the 3rd period, used his skating to get on the forecheck and pressure the opposing defense.
| Cole Hutson | NTDP U18 | USHL | L | D | 5’10” | 158 | Boston University | 2024 | North Barrington, IL | 2006 | 2023-2024: B |
Game Grade: B+
Comments: Hutson played his normal shifty, elusive self from the blue line. He is a risk-reward player, though he plays more of a reward player overall with his playmaking. In the 1st period, he made a weak pass just inside the offensive zone blue that led to a turnover, and transition against NTDP, and tripped up his partner on the rush that led to the 4th goal against. He also was walked in the 2nd period by #17 Bancroft at the defensive zone blue line, which gave up a good scoring chance. Although, on a positive note he showed the ability to make good outlet passes and in the 2nd period made a nice little backhand pass up the middle to the center to easily break through the opponent’s forecheck. Also, in the 2nd period, he broke the opponents through the neutral zone on the re-group with fakes and elusion to find the open ice and find an open forward to gain offensive zone entry. Then on the power play, he showed his passing skills by showing poise with puck movement then quickly made a seam pass when the opportunity arose to #34 Eiserman across the slot. Then in the 3rd period with pressure and opportunity to shoot coming down from the point, he deceived all with a fake, then made a quick pass across the slot to #12 Goukler near the crease for the goal. His shot velocity is average, thus he thrives with his vision, and passing abilities. Huston shows great similarities and projection in his game to his older brother, now at BU and a Montreal draft pick.
| Christian Humphreys | NTDP U18 | USHL | R | C | 5’11” | 170 | Michigan | 2025 | Pittsburgh, PA | 2006 | 2023-2024: |
Game Grade: B
Comments: Humphreys is a player who possesses good offensive skill sets and thoughts, yet also can contribute in a 200-ft manner. He does not always play the body, which in the 1st period, he simply reached with a stick as the opposing defenseman came down the wall instead of throwing a body check. Although as the center, he came low and supported his defense in his own zone on shifts. On one play in the 1st period, he smartly read the play to come up the wall in the defensive zone, intercepted a pass, and then created the breakout with #34 Eiserman that led to a penalty drawn. In the 3rd period, he had his best offensive chance at the dot receiving a #8 Stiga pass from below the goal line for a quick shot on net. He also made a soft, creative touch pass through his own legs on 3v2 rush that setup teammate for shot on net in the 3rd period. Humphreys has offensive knowledge, generates speed in stride with puck skills, though he could be better served with more sandpaper and defensive confidence in his game.
| Will Skahan | NTDP U18 | USHL | L | D | 6’4″ | 211 | Wisconsin | 2024 | Maple Grove, MN | 2006 | 2023-2024: B |
Game Grade: B
Comments: Skahan is a big-bodied, left-shot defenseman who played more of a defensive style, especially in the early part of the game. He skates fairly well in all directions, although his fluidity could be a bit more smoother with his cross-overs, cuts, and pivots. However in the 2nd period in showed some offensive thoughts even on a 5v3 penalty kill as he jumped up on the play took a drop pass from #11 Bednarik and snapped a quick shot on net. Later in the period he also quickly transitioned from the neutral zone with the puck, entering offensive zone recognizing a middle lane, snapping a good shot of goal. Then in the 3rd period, he played a good gap on a rush at the defensive blue line using a good stick check, then used his own feet to quickly transition on the offense, chipping the puck around the opposing defenseman in the neutral zone, then tried a toe drag move at the top of the circle. While he lost puck control, he did manage to draw a penalty on the play. Skahan was a good surprise in showing some offensive thoughts.
| Cole Eiserman | NTDP U18 | USHL | L | LW | 6’0″ | 196 | Boston University | 2024 | Newburyport, MA | 2006 | 2023-2024: A |
Game Grade: A-
Comments: Eiserman is a goal scorer, simply put. He started the scoring in the 2nd period on the power play as he received the cross-ice #23 Hutson pass in the low circle and with a quick catch and release wrist shot found the short-side high shot that banked off the goalie’s shoulder and into the top of the net for the goal. His 2nd goal was late in the game with the extra attacker as he got open in the slot and received the #8 Stiga pass from behind the net and just quickly shot over the pad to tie the game 4-4. In the 1st period, he drew a hooking penalty after receiving a pass down the wing, he got a jump on the defender wide, showing his strong stride. Later in the 1st period on a 2v1 rush, he tried to toe-drag the defender yet left the puck in the circle on his attempted move. He did show some physical side finishing a check on the forecheck. He also blocked a shot in the later stages of the 3rd period. His shot release is elite as he can score off the rush of standing still on power play. While his defensive zone positioning and commitment, even strength, and on the penalty kill could use improvement, he consistently makes plays and wants the puck on his stick to score. Also had great opportunity in OT as gained puck possession in neutral zone, used body to protect puck from defender and created a breakaway with quicker stride, yet denied on pad save. He wants to win as when he scored NTDP 1st goal, still down 3-goals, he was trying to lift up his team on the bench.
Photo Credit: Dan Hickling/Hickling Images