AMHERST, N.Y. — NHL and junior scouts, college coaches, and NHLPA agents continue to scour the Northtown Center for talent at the 2018 USA Hockey Select 17 Player Development Camp.
While it might not be a popular take around New England, the cream of the crop here just outside of Buffalo has little local flavor. There’s a high likelihood that the roster selected out of this camp for the 2018 Hlinka Gretzky Cup will have zero New England natives.
So far, the top player with any ties to New England has been Dexter School center John Farinacci, a Chatham, N.J., native who’s committed to Harvard. His skating is good, but his foot speed still needs a little improvement.
However, his offensive skill set and hockey IQ in the attacking zone are elite. He’s a lock to make the Hlinka team and he should be a top-three round selection at the 2019 NHL Draft in Vancouver.
Speaking of the 2019 NHL Draft, below is a look at five players who have increased their stock while at the Select 17s. Keep in mind that most NHL organizations have at least one scout here, but several have three or four scouts in attendance. Just about every NCAA Division 1 college has a coach or two here, and all the USHL teams are represented. Some Canadian major junior teams are present, too.
To come over the weekend: A projection of the U.S. roster for the Hlinka Gretzky Cup, as based on first-hand analysis.
NHL Stock Soaring
Austen Swankler
#17 Orange, Oakland Jr. Grizzlies, 8/21/01, Forward, Left Shot, 6-0/181
NCAA Commit: Michigan
Swankler is leading the event in scoring with four goals and two assists through two games. He scored a beauty on Thursday, picking the pocket of a defender trying to make a play at the point. After getting the puck, he skated down the ice and roofed one right under the bar without breaking stride. Simply put, Swankler looks like a man among boys out here.
Kaden Bohlsen
#12 Kelly, Des Moines Buccaneers, 1/10/01, Forward, Right Shot, 6-3/188
NCAA Commit: Minnesota
Bohlsen has two goals here and is playing with explosiveness at times. He still needs to be more assertive on a consistent basis. With his size and length, he should be more dominant than he has been. He has a pro release and it showed on a goal Thursday.
Nick Robertson
#17 Columbia, Peterborough Petes, 9/11/01, Forward, Left Shot, 5-8.75/159
Robertson plays north of the border in the Ontario Hockey League. The more you watch him this week, his junior experience shows. He has the skating, skill and puck possession abilities that will make him a strong candidate for the Hlinka team. His hockey IQ has been questionable at times.
Local Flavor
Rivers School forward Matt Cormier (Waltham, Mass.) has been a pleasant surprise out here. He’s steadily improved over the past year, but his speed and willingness to go to the dirty areas have been impressive. He has two goals and an assist to show for it.
Boston University recruit Braden Doyle (Lynnfield, Mass.) has shown off his stick skills and skating two last days. He is such a good skater that he can defend with his feet and his stick skills allow him to recover when he rushes up ice and gets caught out of position. While he still needs to pick his spots, he is a superb puck-moving defender.
While not in the top three goaltenders here, two New England natives have had solid showings between the pipes.
Union College commit Joe Sharib (Natick, Mass.) of Cushing Academy was really good on Thursday. Loomis Chaffee-bound Kyle Chauvette (Goffstown, N.H.) is small, but he’s athletic and just seems to make stops.
The top three goaltenders here have been Dustin Wolf of the WHL’s Everett Silvertips; Dominic Basse, a Colorado College commit who will play for Selects Academy 18U; and Michigan State recruit Jack Williams of the St. Louis AAA Blue.
