AMHERST, N.Y. — The U.S. roster for the 2018 Hlinka-Gretzky Cup, comprised of players chosen from this week’s USA Hockey Select 17 Player Development Camp, will be officially unveiled Monday afternoon. Before then, New England Hockey Journal projects what the American entry could look like for this prestigious youth tournament. The games, held in early...
AMHERST, N.Y. — The U.S. roster for the 2018 Hlinka-Gretzky Cup, comprised of players chosen from this week’s USA Hockey Select 17 Player Development Camp, will be officially unveiled Monday afternoon.
Before then, New England Hockey Journal projects what the American entry could look like for this prestigious youth tournament. The games, held in early August in Alberta, Canada, are a prime showcase opportunity for 2019 NHL Draft-eligible prospects.
USA Hockey elects to keep the National Team Development Program (NTDP) players home from the Hlinka tournament to showcase some second-tier prospects, which means the country has typically struggled to maintain success at this event. The country's first-tier prospects are given ample opportunities throughout the season to impress with the NTDP.
Further, this year’s team will likely have very little New England flavor. The region's homegrown players and those with ties to prep schools have struggled to stick out from their peers.
The following roster is who this observer would take, and is not meant as a prediction of what USA Hockey will ultimately do. Overall, the forward group should be fine, but the U.S. lacks depth and shutdown defenders on the blue line.
Forwards
First line:Â Arthur Kaliyev - John Farinacci - Nate Robertson
Second line:Â Luke Toporowski - Austen Swankler - Kaden Bohlsen
Third line:Â Robert Mastrosimone - Grant Silianoff - Tyler Paquette
Fourth line:Â Brendan Brisson - Joshua Nodler - Michael Mancinelli
Extra forward:Â Carson Riddle
Defensemen
First pairing:Â Cam McDonald - Mitchell Miller
Second pairing: John Prokop - Jackson Lacombe
Third pairing: Mason Lohrei - Michael Koster
Extra defenseman:Â Ian Pierce
Goaltenders
- Dominic Basse
- Jack Williams
The following players would be my next group in contention, and should also make the Selects 17 All-Star game. That final showcase opportunity takes place on Monday.
Forwards
- Jacob Badal
- Robert Christy
- Sam Colangelo
- Matt Cormier
- Jake Dunlap
- Jake Hale
- T.J. Koufis
- Trevor Kuntar
- Joshua Lopina
- Jackson Niedermeyer
- Ryan Robinson
- Dan Russell
- Camden Thiesing
Defensemen
- Jake Boltmann
- Braden Doyle
- Clay Hanus
- Jack Hillman
- John Larkin
- Luke Reid
- Hunter Skinner
- Cade Webber
Goaltenders
