With just around 40 players being invited to USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program (NTDP) Evaluation Camp, there were good players left at home.
There were a few players who this observer believes should have been at camp who weren’t invited for one reason or another. Below is a list of the top six forwards, four defensemen, and a goaltender from across the country who should have been, or were the next closest to being invited. Following that, the top three forwards, two defensemen, and two goaltenders from New England who should have been close to being invited are unveiled.
By no means is this is an attack at the decision-makers at USA Hockey. More goes into selecting camp invites and the eventual roster than just talent on the ice. USA Hockey brass also factors in character and other elements. There are players on this list who have more skill on the ice than some players invited to camp. Some of them probably should have been invited while others possibly were rightfully kept at home.
Isaac Novak
Little Caesars 18U, 1/8/02, Forward, Left Shot, 5-10/160 (NCAA: Wisconsin)
He’s strong, heavy on pucks and has an explosive offensive skill set. He has a good first step, gets to loose pucks, and can win battles. He plays with an edge and can try to be overly fancy at times. As long as he keeps his emotions in check, he’s a dangerous offensive talent.
Patrick Schmiedlin
Culver Academy, 3/20/02, Forward, Left Shot, 6-0/170
He can really fly. He goes hard, gets to loose pucks, and wins battles. He’s not the best thinker of the game offensively, but he can be a good complementary player for the right linemate.
Chase Bradley
New Jersey Colonials 16U, 1/9/02, Forward, Left Shot, 5-11/170 (NCAA: Northeastern)
His shot is his best asset. He gets it off quickly and comes off his stick with zip. He knows where to go to find pucks and he’s just one of those players who can rip shots from the slot. He’s a finisher. Bradley was tendered by the USHL's Omaha Lancers following his exclusion from the camp.
Jackson Kocur
Honeybaked 16U, 1/9/02, Forward, Left Shot, 6-3/202
He’s a good player now, but he’s going to pop over the next few years as he grows into his frame. He drives the net and uses his size and physical prowess. He has decent hands in tight, but scores a lot of his goals by going to the dirty areas. His upside is intriguing.
Nick DeSantis
Selects Academy 15U, 5/2/02, Forward, Right Shot, 5-6/141 (NCAA: Miami)
He’s a little on the smaller side, but he’s fast, gritty and can flat out find the score sheet. A lot of his ability to score and create offense for others is in large part because of his energy and motor. He’s got quick feet and keeps them moving which helps him in small areas. Obviously, size is a factor when considering his upside, but he’s a fun player to watch.
Ryan Mulrenin
Wayzata HS, 4/9/02, Forward, Right Shot, 5-9/150
His elite speed is a difference maker. He finds seams in opposing defenses. He gets to puck to generate offense. He has a quick release. He has just one pace – fast. He has a great shot. He can draw penalties. He’s fun to watch.
Casey Roepke
Team Wisconsin 16U, 5/2/02, Defense, Left Shot, 5-11/150 (NCAA: Wisconsin)
Roepke is an athletic, poised two-way defender who can skate well. He can join the rush, but he also plays well defensively. He’s strong on his feet and has the ability to hang on to pucks and escape trouble. He has a good stick and positions himself well.
Gerard Keane
Chicago Mission 16U, 1/30/02, Defense, Right Shot, 5-10/165
Keane is a defenseman who can skate well and he has good hands and feet. He does a good job moving pucks north and he can also join the rush and make plays. His skill set with the puck on his stick is consistently notable. His vision is strong, but his own zone needs a little improvement.
Jarod Crespo
North Jersey Avalanche 16U, Defense, Right Shot, 5-11/183 (NCAA: Penn State)
Crespo is a converted forward, who is still learning the game defensively. A year ago at this time, he was thought to be a shoe-in for the NTDP. His skating and offensive instincts are solid. He has above average stick skills for an offensive-minded blue liner.
Matthew Basgall
Chicago Mission 16U, 8/16/02, Defense, Right Shot, 5-9/179
Basgall is largely underrated because of his style of play. He’s not overly big, but he keeps things simple. He’s steady and reliable at both ends of the ice. He has good stick and body positioning in the defensive zone and he makes smart plays with the puck.
Aidan Campbell
Pittsburgh Penguins Elite 15U, 8/22/02, Goaltender, Catches Left, 6-4/150
Campbell was somewhat lost in the shuffle this year as he played for an unheralded U15 team. He’s huge and he moves well. He covers a lot of net and cuts down on shooting angles by playing at the top of the crease and squaring up to shooters. He’s still a little raw, but there’s a lot of upside.
New England Snubs
Jack Williams
Selects Academy 15U, 3/3/02, Forward, Right Shot, 5-10/150 (NCAA: Northeastern)
Williams really came on strong this past year. He’s a winger that can get up and down the sheet and he plays heavy on pucks. The Biddeford, Maine, native wins a lot of battles along the wall and in corners and can drive into the goal scoring areas and rip wrist shots.
Victor Czerneckianair
Selects Academy 15U, 2/17/02, Forward, Left Shot, 5-9/162 (NCAA: Quinnipiac)
Going forward he probably projects as more of a middle six or bottom six forward who can chip in offensively. From Southington, Conn., he does have the ability to make some terrific individual plays, but his skating and puck pursuit are his best assets. He should be a very good fit for Rand Pecknold’s program in a few years.
Sasha Teleguine
Thayer Academy, 9/17/02, Forward, Right Shot, 5-8/165 (NCAA: Northeastern)
His best asset is certainly his skating. The North Attleboro, Mass., native has a fundamentally strong stride and uses his skating to separate and protect pucks. He makes a lot of good plays below the goal line and in corners to keep plays alive. An exciting aspect of his development is how much better he got as the prep season moved along.
Timmy Lovell
Boston Advantage 15U, 2/8/02, Defense, Left Shot, 5-2/110
Lovell is extremely small, even for his age, but he’s as silky smooth of a skater as there is. He makes smart decisions with the puck and can sidestep oncoming forecheckers. His father and coach, Tim, played college hockey for the University of Maine for three years before finishing up at UMass Amherst.
D.J. Hart
New Jersey Colonials 16U, 2/23/02, Defense, Right Shot, 6-0/160 (NCAA: Ohio State)
A native of Stamford, Conn., the Buckeye recruit has good size and athleticism. He skates well and isn’t afraid to play with a mean streak. He can step up and join into the offense.
Connor Bradford
Boston Advantage 15U, 8/23/02, Goaltender, Catches Left, 5-11/165
He’s a very good goalie in a deep crop of Mass. goalies in this age group. He has good size and athleticism. He moves well post-to-post and can make the highlight reel stop while also being fairly quiet in net.
Gavin Fitzpatrick
Thayer Academy, 1/9/02, Goaltender, Catches Left, 6-0/160
Fitzpatrick has been unfairly scrutinized due to playing prep hockey in back-to-back seasons when many of his peers were only facing shots against players in this age range. He’s athletic and moves well. He has good size. He isn’t as quiet as he could be, but there’s a lot of upside.
