By: Clare McManus
The 2021/22 season is coming up soon and prospects eligible for the 2022 NHL draft are ready to prove to pro clubs why their name should be called in June.
The USHL was one of the few leagues that managed to play a full season last year, despite Covid-19. The league will look for hopefully another successful season while still dealing with Covid concerns.
The list below highlights four players that could make a strong impact on their USHL club and could also potentially see their name rise up draft boards during the season.
Casy Laylin(F) – Chicago Steel
| Casy Laylin | St. Michael-Albertville | Minnesota HS | R | F | 5’8″ | 160 | Uncomm. | St. Michael, MN | 2004 | 2021-2022: C |
The Minnesota native was born on January 9th, 2004. The five-foot-eight forward was drafted by the Steel in the 4th round, 48th overall, in the 2020 USHL Futures Draft.
Laylin played this past season between Team SIT Financial Services of the UMHSEHL and St. Michael-Albertville High School. In 18 games played with Team SIT, Laylin posted seven goals and six assists for 13 points. In 19 high school games, he posted 10 goals and nine assists for 19 total points.
Laylin also appeared at the USA U17 selects camp, posting a goal and three assists in four camp games. Casy had the honor to suit up for Team USA at the 2021 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, posting a goal in four games played.
Laylin is currently a four star rated player for Neutral Zone. A report from the selects U17 camp says, “Casy was superb and dangerous all week. He was able to break opponents down with his feet, mobility and slick stick. He looked slippery and played a savvy game. Casy jumped to pucks and protected the puck while losing defenders to attack the net from the corners. On the rush, he showed vision and pace and scored a goal as he carried from the neutral zone faceoff dot and ripped one low and into the net. His release was quick and it happened quickly. He showed a unique and important ability to pick pucks from crowds and off the wall and emerge into space. He worked the high cycle in the zone and he also bachecked hard and on one play hit the opponents and took the puck, turning quickly in transition. He is dynamic and hard-working. Excellent prospect who will have lots of options.”
Rastislav Elias(G) – Green Bay Gamblers
| Rastislav Elias | Team Slovakia U18 | Slovakia2 | L | G | 6’3″ | 176 | Uncomm. | Nyiregihaza | 2004 | 2021-2022: C |
Elias is one of the most intriguing prospects coming to North America this season.
The Slovakia native has played the past three years with HC Kosice U20. This past season, Elias suited up for 11 games with Team Slovakia U18, posting a 3.16 GAA and a .906 save percentage. At the U18 international tournament, he posted a 2.34 GAA and a .934 save percentage in three games played. At the recent Hlinka Gretzky Cup games, Elias appeared in five games for Slovakia, posting a 3.11 GAA and a .891 save percentage.
The six-foot-three netminder will look for a strong first season in North America with the Gamblers of the USHL. A scouting report from Danny Tiffany states that
“Elias tracks the puck really well on initial shots from the point, but sometimes struggles to stay with the play when a rebound pops out. He challenges well and is usually in a pretty good position off the rush. Off angle shots however seem to be a bit more of an issue for him. He doesn’t seem totally confident in his post play when the play develops high to low quickly. Has active hands.”
Nick Pierre(F) – Sioux City Musketeers
| Nick Pierre | Sioux City Musketeers | USHL | L | F | 5’8″ | 171 | Wisconsin | 2022 | Cottage Grove, MN | 2004 | 2021-2022: C |
Nick Pierre, a Cottage Grove, Minnesota native, will be a fun player to watch in the USHL for the 2022 NHL Draft. The University of Wisconsin commit appeared in 22 games for the Musketeers this season, scoring only one goal.
Before coming to Sioux City, Pierre was a star for Hill-Murray School in Minnesota. In 52 total high school games, Pierre posted 31 goals and 41 assists for 72 total points. Pierre also played for Team MAP South Hockey before coming to the Musketeers. Like many 2004s, Nick was invited to the U17 selects camp this summer. Playing for team royal, he recorded three goals in four games.
Pierre is a four star rated prospect for Neutral Zone. “Pierre is a highly-skilled, dynamic offensive talent with speed, quickness and vision. He can score from anywhere in the offensive zone and was the best player on the ice during the Minnesota State Tournament for Hill Murray. He gets shots off quickly, he can read the play and find open ice and has an explosive step to create separation and the balance to absorb hits.”
Michael Mastrodomenico(D) – Lincoln Stars
| Michael Mastrodomenico | Lincoln Stars | USHL | R | D | 6’0″ | 185 | Notre Dame | 2023 | Kirkland, QC | 2004 | 2021-2022: C |
Kirkland, Canada native will be another USHL player to watch in the 2022 NHL Draft.
The six-foot-two defenseman played his first season in the USHL last year, posting two goals and six assists in 37 total games. Before coming to the US, the University of Notre Dame commit played for Laval-Montréal Rousseau Royal of the QMAAA.
He was drafted by two QMJHL teams, the Québec Remparts and Shawinigan Cataractes, but seems to want to stick with the USHL route.
Mastrodomenico is currently a 4.5 star rated prospect for Neutral Zone. A scouting report from February 15th, 2021, states that “Mastrodomenico played a solid game defensively for Lincoln. He kept his gaps tight throughout the night and shut down a number of rush opportunities against him, most before they reached his defensive blueline. The Notre Dame commit has a great stick and uses it effectively when opponents come within his reach. In his own zone, he is hard on the puck, winning a number of puck battles and clearing space in front of his net. In the neutral zone, Mastrodomenico had two big open ice hits and did a great job of reading the play in front of him all night. Overall, he is sound defensively, physical, and competes hard in the tough areas of the ice.”
Honorable Mentions:
Ryan Greene(C) – Green Bay Gamblers
| Ryan Greene | Green Bay Gamblers | USHL | R | C | 6’1″ | 180 | Boston University | 2022 | Paradise, NL | 2003 | 2021-2022: B |
Jake Livanavage(D) – Chicago Steel
| Jake Livanavage | Chicago Steel | USHL | L | D | 5’9″ | 155 | North Dakota | 2023 | Gilbert, AZ | 2004 | 2021-2022: C |
Vinny Borgesi(D) – Tri-City Storm
| Vinny Borgesi | Tri City Storm | USHL | R | D | 5’8″ | 163 | Northeastern | 2023 | Philadelphia, PA | 2004 | 2021-2022: C |
Photo Credit: Dan Hickling/Hickling Images