The roster is now set for the 2023-24 USA Hockey National Team Development Program U17 team.
The group of highly talented '07s will play USHL games as well as a few international competitions throughout the season. Dan Muse (Canton, Mass.) is slated to be the head coach for this group over the next two seasons. The ultimate goal of USA Hockey when selecting these teams is to prepare each age group for success at the IIHF Under-18 World Championships that take place each April. For the '07s, they’ll get their crack at the prestigious tournament in April 2025.
While no one, myself included, will ever agree with each and every selection, USA Hockey NTDP Director of Player Personnel Kevin Reiter and assistant director of player personnel Brent Darnell did an excellent job heading up the group that picked this squad. There are a number of talented players in this group that could someday play in the NHL.
Below is a scouting report on the 13 forwards, eight defensemen, and two goaltenders selected for the team.
Keep in mind that the following evaluations and projections are geared toward the eventual NHL draft and pro upside.
Forwards
1. Cole McKinney
Chicago Mission 15O, 3/16/07, C, right shot, 5-11.25/175
McKinney is the best two-way forward in the age group. His skating has improved and become more dynamic. He has good size and that quick twitch ability to get to 50/50 pucks. He’s a playmaking center, but can certainly play the right wing. The Chicago native has a good all-around hockey sense and can play in all situations. He knows where to go to find pucks and often seems to be one step ahead of the opposition, in terms of reading plays. If he can improve his shot and goal-scoring ability, he’ll become even more of a prolific player.
2. Conrad Fondrk
Mount Saint Charles 15O, 6/1/07, C, left shot, 5-10.5/170
Fondrk is an elite goal scorer with a hard, accurate shot. The White Bear Lake, Minn., native averaged over a goal per game over the past two seasons at Mount Saint Charles. The puck snaps off his stick with zip and authority. While his heavy shot and quick release are easily noticeable when watching, his offensive instincts and hockey sense in the attacking zone are evident on closer inspection. He does a good job of moving away from the puck to find soft spots in opposing defenses. His skating is good, but it’s an area of his game that he could continue to work on, in order to become an even more dynamic player.
3. Will Horcoff
Little Caesars 15O, 1/23/07, C, left shot, 6-3.5/170
Horcoff’s pro potential is significant. He’s the son of Detroit Red Wings assistant GM Shawn Horcoff, a longtime NHL star, who played collegiately at Michigan State. The younger Horcoff, from Birmingham, Mich., has the size and overall skill set to be a power forward in the NHL someday. He plays center and half wall on the power play, but likely projects as a left wing and net front down the road. Horcoff has a good shot, can lower his shoulder to drive the net, and also has the length to protect pucks.
4. Will Moore
Toronto Marlboros 16U, 3/24/07, C, left shot, 6-3/160
Moore is another big-time goal scorer, who has proven his dynamic skill set against the top players in Canada. A dual citizen who has spent most of his youth hockey playing north of the border in Toronto, Moore is a big power forward with a heavy shot. He does a good job of protecting pucks, lowering his shoulder to get to the scoring areas, and taking over the game from the dots down. It’s likely in part due to his recent growth spurt, but his boots are a little heavy at times. That should improve as he progresses over the next couple of years.
5. LJ Mooney
Pittsburgh Penguins Elite 16U, 3/8/07, C, right shot, 5-5/134
Mooney is a player I struggle with when choosing where to put him on these rankings. Right now, he’s one of the most skilled players in the age group. He can shake and bake, dance, and juke opposing defenders with his agility and stick. His size is a big concern when projecting NHL potential. Obviously, he has a few years to grow and put on weight. Other small players have had success in the NHL recently and he proved himself by playing up an age group in 2022-23. He’s a smart, playmaking center who makes others around him better. From West Mifflin, Pa., I think he’ll grow a few inches and turn into a top pro prospect in the age group.
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6. Jack Murtagh
Bishop Kearney Selects 15O, 8/22/07, LW, left shot, 6-0.25/180
Murtagh has always been a gifted goal scorer with elite hands. Dating back to 13U, he’s scored a number of highlight-reel goals. He’s got a great shot and can get it off quickly. An underrated part of his game is his vision. He does a great job of scanning the ice and hitting the trailer when he’s rushing the puck into the zone. The East Greenbush, N.Y., native has the size to intrigue NHL scouts in a few years. His skating still needs to improve, but it has come a long way already. A good character player, Murtagh projects as a middle six left wing who can play on the power play.
7. Cullen Potter
Dallas Stars Elite 16U, 1/10/07, C, left shot, 5-8.5/152
Potter is the best skater in this group by a long shot. The Hortonville, Wis., native has elite speed that catches your attention right away. He can fly all over the ice. There's a good reason for that as he’s been coached by his mom, Jenny Potter, a former U.S. Olympian and college star at Minnesota Duluth. Potter can score and he can make plays, but he’ll have to improve on his hockey sense and play more between the dots as he progresses at the NTDP. That and size are why I have him a little down the list, despite his world-class speed.
8. Jake Stuart
Los Angeles Jr. Kings 15O, 1/8/07, C, left shot, 5-7.25/133
Stuart is an underdeveloped center with a lot of upside if he grows as expected. The Manhattan Beach, Calif., native is an extremely smart center. He’s a 200-foot player who can set up his teammates, finish, and play in all situations. Stuart was just the fifth-leading scorer on his midget team, but his hockey sense translates and I think he’ll just keep getting better as he grows. His dad is Brad Stuart, a former first-round pick of the San Jose Sharks who played in over 1,000 NHL games.
9. Jacob Kvasnicka
Wayzata, 8/10/07, C, right shot, 5-10.75/150
Kvasnicka is a talented, hard-working wing who played top six as a youngster in Minnesota high school. From Burnsville, Minn., he wins races for loose pucks and does a good job on wall battles, especially for his age. He’s got an ability to recover pucks and find open teammates. A playmaker, he could improve his stock further if he continues to improve his skating.
10. Andrew O’Neill
Windy City Storm 15O, 2/7/07, C, right shot, 6-1/170
O’Neill is a prototypical bottom-six center. He was a top-six center with Windy City, but he can slide up and down the lineup and play wing if called upon to do so. His versatility is a reason he made the NTDP. Projecting his game to the pro level, his skating, size and 200-foot ability are reasons he could blossom into an NHL pick in two years. While he produced at the 15 Only level, look for him to be more of a penalty killer and defensive center with the NTDP and beyond.
11. Richard Gallant
St. Mark’s, 6/12/07, C, left shot, 5-7/160
Gallant, from Concord, Mass., has proven for two years that he can score against older players while skating for Carl Corazzini’s team at St. Mark’s. For a skilled player, Gallant has a very high compete level. He hunts pucks, goes to the dirty areas, and doesn’t back down from anyone. It’s part of the reason he’s missed significant time this past season with injuries. His size is a concern, but he looks like he could grow some over the next couple of years.
12. Landon Hafele
Dallas Stars Elite 16U, 9/18/07, LW, left shot, 5-10/159
Hafele was one of my favorite players the handful of times I saw him with his team and at national camp and the NTDP Evaluation Camp. He skates well and has speed, which allows him to be the F1 on the forecheck. He’s tenacious, gritty, and hard to play against. He forces turnovers and disrupts the opposition’s breakout. The Fairbanks, Alaska., native can produce, due to his compete, but his lack of elite skill will likely keep him down on the fourth line. Putting on muscle mass will help him in terms of keeping up the physical element of his game as he progresses through junior hockey. His lightness right now is an area of concern when projecting his game forward.
13. William Belle
Shattuck-St. Mary’s 16U, 1/14/07, RW, right shot, 6-2/212
NCAA: Notre Dame
Belle likely slots into a bottom-six right wing spot for the program. Belle has the size and strength to be a physical, grinding wing at the NTDP and in college. He’s solid going north-south, but his agility and skill are just average for pro upside. He can certainly chip in offensively with his hard shot and could be a net-front player on the second power play unit, if necessary. Born in Marlboro, Mass., he’s lived in Minnetonka, Minn., the past few years.
Defensemen
1. Asher Barnett
Chicago Mission 15O, 5/16/07, left shot, 5-11.5/181
Barnett is a special defenseman. The Wilmette, Ill., native is a big-time prospect who plays a steady, smart, two-way game. He’s smart and efficient. He doesn’t make a lot of flashy plays, but he pushes pucks north with accuracy and purpose. He’ll fill lanes and jump into the rush, but he’s rarely out of position. Defensively, he is rangy and protects the net front. To me, he’s a lot like former Wisconsin star and longtime NHL star Ryan McDonagh.
2. Charles Tretheway
Little Caesars 15O, 8/2/07, right shot, 6-1/191
Tretheway, from Ellicott City, Md., is a two-way defenseman with size, strength and composure. He can be a shutdown defender, but he makes solid breakout passes and can play in all situations. The clear-cut best defenseman for Little Caesars, he’s long been a well-known prospect in this age group.
3. Carter Amico
Mount Saint Charles 15O, 3/15/07, right shot, 6-4.5/200
These next two selections on the back end are all about projection. Amico is an extremely raw defenseman who previously played forward. He skates well for a big man on the blue line. From Portland, Maine, he can close on opposing players quickly and has the reach to take away time and space in a hurry. He’ll probably have to learn to play more of a physical style as he transitions to junior hockey. His stick and offensive hockey sense are still works in progress. Another thing I’ve always liked about Amico is his willingness to do whatever it takes for his team. Just this year, he played some right wing and net-front on the power play. Some kids would have balked at that idea, but he did it multiple times with Mount facing a depleted forward group due to injuries.
4. Maceo Phillips
Benilde-St. Margaret’s, 2/25/07, left shot, 6-4.5/195
Phillips was selected for this team because of his size, athleticism and potential. He’s still very raw and has many areas of his game that are a work in progress. He projects as a mean, physical, shutdown defender. He can deliver bone-crunching hits and has consistently shown that ability. His puck skills and decisions are areas of his game that will need to improve. He rims a lot of pucks and sends passes into teammates’ skates. If he can improve his hockey sense, including limiting his proneness to running around, he could be a first-round pick.
5. Drew Schock
Team Wisconsin 15O, 2/7/07, left shot, 5-9.5/140
Schock is a puck-moving, offensive defenseman with an elite hockey sense. He recently made a terrific backhand pass while coming into the zone to hit a forward in stride for a scoring opportunity. The Green Bay, Wis., native skates with his head up and makes strong hockey plays. His skates are big and I think his footwork will improve in time. Skating could be an issue when he starts at the NTDP, but I really like Schock’s hockey sense. It will carry him a long way.
6. Garrett Lindberg
Moorhead, 3/8/07, right shot, 5-7.75/157
Lindberg’s size is a detractor right now, but he’s a smooth, puck-moving defenseman with mobility. Playing for his hometown high school, the Moorhead, Minn., native is smooth and puts breakout passes right on the tape. He skates with his head up and is always looking to push the pace. Lindberg shined against older competition at the Upper Midwest High School Elite League and during the high school season. If he were a few inches taller, he’s further up on this list.
7. Lincoln Kuehne
Northstar Christian 16U, 11/28/07, right shot, 6-0/176
Kuehne is the player on this team that I have watched the least. From West Fargo, N.D., he played bantam hockey during parts of the 2022-23 season before finishing with Northstar Christian Academy 16U in Minnesota. He projects as a steady, reliable defenseman. His skating, size and ability to defend well and hard are all positive attributes. His puck skills aren’t elite, but they’re average for a defensive defenseman. The only late birthday among the defensemen on this team, the possibility of his development curve trending upward is intriguing.
8. Donato Bracco
Long Island Gulls 16U, 7/26/07, left shot, 5-9.25/153
Bracco being so far down this list just goes to show how many talented players there are on this team. The Locust Valley, N.Y., native is an offensive defenseman who proved his worth this season while playing up with the Gulls’ 16U team. He’s an offensive defenseman with good vision and offensive instincts. He can quarterback a power play and has a good shot. Bracco likely would have dominated even more if he didn’t play up an age group. He’s the younger brother of KHL defenseman Jeremy Bracco, who played for the NTDP from 2013-2015.
Goaltenders
1. Harrison Boettiger
Shattuck-St. Mary’s 16U, 12/1/07, catches left, 6-0.5/170
I don’t profess to be a goaltending expert, but Boettiger is the clear-cut top prospect at this position. A late birthday from Wheatridge, Colo., he has good size, fundamentals and moves well. He put up good numbers, in terms of save percentage, and didn’t lose a game through the first 27 of the season while playing up with Shattuck’s 16U team.
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2. Joseph Slavick
Little Caesars 15O, 4/5/07, catches left, 5-9.25/161
I wouldn’t argue with anyone who said Slavick was the best goaltender right now. He’s undersized, but athletic and just stops pucks. From Westland, Mich., he has shined in all my viewings over the past two years with Little Caesars and at national camp.
3. Patrick Quinlan
Bishop Kearney Selects 15O, 4/19/07, catches left, 5-9.75/150
Quinlan is one of those goaltenders that probably projects better than his current ability. That’s not to say he isn’t a good goalie now, but the Kennett Square, Pa., native has his ups and downs.
