On Monday, USA Hockey unveiled its roster for the 2018 U.S. Under-18 Men’s Select Team that will compete in the Hlinka-Gretzky Cup.
While four New Englanders were selected and will compete against other countries’ top 2001-born prospects in the first major scouting showcase for the 2019 NHL Draft, the bigger story reverberating around hockey circles was the omission of several deserving players.
USA Hockey is routinely criticized for its selection process when it comes to the Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament, now referred to as the Hlinka-Gretzky Cup. USA Hockey allows its American Development model personnel to have a heavy hand in picking the team, and it usually backfires.
From that, we’ve highlighted six players who are all incredibly deserving of a roster spot, but were surprisingly left off.
It’s a shame that USA Hockey will not put its best roster available from Select 17 Player Development Camp forward when the Hlinka begins August 6th in Alberta.
Biggest Snubs
Austen Swankler
#17 Orange, Oakland Jr. Grizzlies, 8/21/01, Forward, Left Shot, 6-0/181
Irwin, Pa. | NCAA Commit: Michigan
Swankler was dominant at times at USA Hockey Select 17 Player Development Camp. He was tied for second in scoring, but his ability to drive the net and play heavy was noticeable throughout. He has a good shot and would have been a legit difference maker in Edmonton and Red Deer. His omission is completely ludicrous.
Cam McDonald
#2 Grey, Kenai River Brown Bears, 2/3/01, Defense, Left Shot, 5-8.5/162
Eagle River, Alaska
McDonald is being heavily wooed by several schools across the country, including perennial NCAA Tournament contenders. He’s on the smaller side, but he’s a puck-moving machine. He does a great job on retrievals and his first touch gets pucks north. He’s tough and defends well with his feet and a good stick.
Brendan Brisson
#16 Red, Shattuck St. Mary’s Prep, 10/22/01, Forward, Left Shot, 5-10.25/172
Manhattan Beach, Calif.
To provide background, Brisson is the son of NHL super agent Pat Brisson. That fact means nothing in terms of why he should have made the Hlinka Tournament, but there are plenty of other reasons why the Manhattan Beach, Calif., native should have. He led the USA Hockey Select 17 Player Development Camp in scoring. He’s added size and a step to his skating over the past few months. He’s certainly trending up. He plays the game the right way and could have been counted on in a variety of different ways.
Jackson Lacombe
#2 White, Shattuck St. Mary’s Prep, 1/9/01, Defense, Left Shot, 6-1.25/171
Chaska, Minn. | NCAA Commit: Minnesota
Like Brisson, Lacombe’s dad, Chris, is also a NHLPA agent, working for CAA Sports. Lacombe is another player whose development is trending upwards. A converted forward, he was flying all over the ice at Select 17s. His skating and ability to jump into the rush as a fourth forward were both impressive. Also notable was how he almost always got back and was on the right side of the puck if play headed towards his own zone.
John Prokop
#5 Red, Team Wisconsin 16U, 5/13/01, Defense, Left Shot, 6-1.75/161
Wausau, Wisc.
Prokop is a tall, lanky defender with a lot of upside. He skates well and has good offensive instincts. His puck skills are getting better. While he is still raw, he would have been a solid contributor at the Hlinka.
Kaden Bohlsen
#12 Kelly, Des Moines Buccaneers, 1/10/01, Forward, Right Shot, 6-3/188
Wilmar, Minn. | NCAA Commit: Minnesota
Bohlsen is better than several of the players selected for what would seem like a similar role. He’s a big power forward with a pro release and he has junior experience. While it’s true his offensive production is inconsistent at times, he can change a game with his shot.
