BUFFALO, N.Y. — We've covered the potential U.S. National Team Development forward and defenseman prospects from USA Hockey's Select 15 Camp.
But that's the minority. The large majority of players at camp won't be at the NTDP's Evaluation Camp next March, and that's OK.
There were plenty of standout players who aren't quite NTDP-caliber yet in my eyes, but are still intriguing prospects that junior and college teams will spend plenty of time watching over the next few years.
Also, some of these players could jump into NTDP contention over the next year. And don't forget I'm only one opinion.
I was at Select 15 Camp on Saturday and Sunday, taking in every team at least once. Obviously, the players highlighted in the NTDP stories stood out. But to not waste your time with repetitiveness, this is the rest of the gang that stood out.
Let's dive in.
Jack Arnold
Dallas Stars Elite, 11/1/2011, F, right shot, 6-3/176
Hometown: North Richland Hills, Texas
Final stat line: Two goals and three points in five games
Arnold was the most raw prospect I saw at 15s. At 6-foot-3 and a late '11, there were times when Arnold's skating and stickhandling were a bit awkward. But he consistently made plays and was actually good with pucks in tight. He also wasn't afraid to use that size to barrel to the front of the net and into scoring areas. The tools are there. With time, Arnold should become more comfortable in his frame and could be a force of a forward in the coming years.
Sebastian Blanchard
BK Selects, 4/15/2011, F, left shot, 5-11/163
Hometown: Manlius, N.Y.
Final stat line: Two goals and nine points in five gamesÂ
Blanchard showed himself as a confident play-driver. He's a great, fluid skater who has a good stride. He had great hands, too, with an ability to sift through defenses, into the offensive zone and into high-danger areas.
Braden Boblick
Masters Academy, 2/10/2011, F, right shot, 5-7/166
Hometown: Hershey, Pa.
Final stat line: One goal and seven points in five gamesÂ
One thing I had in my notes for Boblick: He never makes the expected play. He has so much skill and poise with the puck that he's fine with holding onto it for a bit longer to try and see if there's a better pass to be made. In Saturday's game, he crossed the offensive blue line and wired a laser for a snipe. His hands and ability to make plays were high-end for the camp. I'm excited to watch him at Masters Academy this winter.
Brayden Campanale
Boston Junior Eagles, 3/15/2011, F, left shot, 5-10/171
Hometown: Norwell, Mass.
Final stat line: One goal and three points in five gamesÂ
Campanale is a really good passer and play-driver, and that showed at camp. He made creative puck plays off the cycle and in transition in the offensive zone, and consistently kept his feet moving to open up passing lanes. Campanale will be one of the top '11s to watch with the Junior Eagles this fall.
READ MORE: 17 uncommitted standouts from USA Hockey's Select 17 Camp
Wesley Grossman
Minnesota Walleye, 6/6/2011, F, right shot, 5-9/169
Hometown: Maple Grove, Minn.
Final stat line: Three goals and five points in five games
Grossman was everywhere in Sunday's game. He scored in the first half, dangling to the middle and sifting a backhand through traffic. He was highly confident with the puck, stickhandling into high-danger areas with ease. Grossman had a high compete, too, hustling back to break up plays and lay hits.
Jaxson Kilimonis
Masters Academy, 8/17/2011, D, left shot, 6-0/165
Hometown: Westford, Mass.
Final stat line: Four goals and seven points in five gamesÂ
Kilimonis can do everything really well. He made intelligent, creative passes out of his own zone. His good skating and stick allowed him to get on top of opposing puck carriers and eliminate threats. In Saturday's game, he scored when a shot of his deflected off a defender. His seven points in five games ranked second among all defensemen at the camp. He'll be an intriguing prospect to watch at Masters this winter.
Malik Lukungu
Woodbridge Wolfpack, 4/10/2011, D, left shot, 6-0/170
Hometown: North Ridgeville, Ohio
Final stat line: Two assists in five gamesÂ
I really liked Lukungu. There's nothing flashy about his game, but he's a stout, two-way defenseman. He moved pucks up ice reliably and showcased some creativity. He was physical defending his own zone and used his stick well to negate chances. I'm curious to watch him progress with Woodbridge this fall.
Connor Martinson
Duluth East, 10/14/2011, F, right shot, 5-8/150
Hometown: Duluth, Minn.
Final stat line: Three goals and seven points in five gamesÂ
Martinson was everywhere in my viewings and was constantly creating chances. In Saturday's game, he scored on a snipe when he zipped down the wing and ripped a wrister low blocker. In Sunday's game, he scored another nice goal off the rush. Martinson also showcased great vision during sustained offensive zone time.
Mason McGovern
Winchendon, 6/3/2011, F, right shot, 5-11/170
Hometown: Andover, Mass.
Final stat line: Three goals and six points in five games
McGovern was a force offensively. He showed off a quick release and very good hands, especially on his goal Sunday. In Saturday's game, he got into the slot with the puck and fired a backfoot snapper top corner. McGovern should be a phenomenal addition for Winchendon this winter.
Brian Modelski
Little Caesars, 9/10/2011, D, right shot, 5-10/157
Hometown: New Boston, Mich.
Final stat line: Zero points in five gamesÂ
Modelski stood out for his physical, hard-nosed defending. He was always laying hits, maintaining good gaps when defending the rush and picking the right time to drive his shoulder into opposing players' chests. The same went for when he battled for pucks in the corner, using his stick to interrupt puck play and drive through opposing players. To cap it off, he's a reliable puck mover.
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Zuma Morgan
Woodbridge Wolfpack, 6/14/2011, F, right shot, 5-9/179
Hometown: Annandale, Va.
Final stat line: One goal and two points in five gamesÂ
I mentioned in my NTDP forward prospects story that Colton Nash was dominant. On Saturday, a lot of that came from playing with Morgan. Morgan's hands and ability to protect pucks helped him stickhandle into space and hit teammates with passes. He showcased great vision, especially off the cycle. Morgan will make the move from the Philadelphia Junior Flyers to Woodbridge Wolfpack this fall.
Charlie Pohl
Minnesota Moose, 5/4/2011, F, right shot, 6-0/185
Hometown: Woodbury, Minn.
Final stat line: Four goals and five points in five gamesÂ
On Saturday, Pohl scored a nice goal crashing the net and putting in a rebound. Pohl followed that up with two on Sunday, one that showed off his slick hands and the second was a complete snipe. Pohl used his frame really well to protect pucks. He had a staggering 137 points in 65 games for Woodbury's bantam squad this past winter.
Nicholas Sisti
Nashville Junior Predators, 1/24/2011, F, right shot, 5-5/132
Hometown: Indian Land, S.C.
Final stat line: Three goals and seven points in five gamesÂ
Sisti was so much fun to watch. While he's small, his compete, speed and shiftiness made him a force. In Sunday's game, his speed helped him earn a 2-on-1 and blow past the defenseman, leading to him dangling the goalie for a goal. He was physical on the forecheck and didn't shy away from bigger players. As he grows, he should become even better.
Gavin Thomas
Mount St. Charles, 5/3/2011, F, left shot, 5-3/112
Hometown: Livonia, N.Y.
Final stat line: Three goals and seven points in five gamesÂ
Despite Thomas' size, he was fearless. In Saturday's game, he fought to get to the front of the net and tipped a shot in from the point. He was highly skilled, too, using his good hands to dangle to space and into high-danger areas. His elusiveness made him tough to defend as well. He had 69 points in 49 games for Mount's 14U team this past winter.
Chase Thulin
Little Caesars, 3/31/2011, D, left shot, 5-10/167
Hometown: Shorewood, Ill.
Final stat line: Two goals in five gamesÂ
Thulin showed himself as a strong, puck-moving defenseman. He made creative passes up ice from his own zone and aided in zone exits. He was physical, at one point hitting an opposing player so hard his helmet came off. And he showcased a great stick when defending.
READ MORE: 15 potential USNTDP forward prospects from Select 15 Camp | 7 potential USNTDP defensemen prospects from Select 15 Camp
Jaxson Wakefield
Mid Fairfield, 2/4/2011, F, left shot, 5-4/126
Hometown: East Grand Forks, Minn.
Final stat line: Two goals and four points in five gamesÂ
Wakefield always knew how to get open. His great skating and high IQ helped him fly under the radar in the offensive zone. Even with his size, he protected pucks so well and knew how to slip through defenders. In Saturday's game, he did that and hit the post with a chance. Later in that game, his hard net drive drew a penalty.
Tyler Wood
Mount St. Charles, 2/11/2011, D, left shot, 5-9/135
Hometown: Fairfield, Conn.
Final stat line: One goal in five gamesÂ
I really liked Wood's puck-moving and offensive upside. At the offensive blue line, he showed off great hands and an ability to elude pressure, get to space and open up passing lanes by forcing defenders to move. He's also a great skater whose elusiveness on breakouts was impactful, too.
