In New England Hockey Journal's continued review of USA Hockey's Select 17 Player Development Camp, we've broken down the event's top 40 defensemen.
From the camp, players were selected to compete in the Hlinka-Gretzky Cup next month in Alberta, Canada, including four New England locals. The summer tournament is the first big international scouting showcase for players eligible for the 2019 NHL Draft.
There were some very strange omissions from the Hlinka roster, leaving many scouts, college coaches, and agents scratching their heads.
Several surprising roster moves occurred on the blue line, especially considering the 2001 birth year lacks depth. There are some good players, but the level of talent level drops off quickly.
Listed below are the top 40 defensemen from the Select 17s, with future projection and performance in Amherst both factored into the equation. Seven players from NEPSAC programs are included, plus seven commits to colleges in New England.
