First-ever Western New York College Showcase nears

The inaugural Western New York College Showcase will take place Monday through Thursday at the Holiday Twin Rinks in Cheektowga, N.Y.

The event, put on by Evolve Hockey's Chris Collins, will run concurrently with USA Hockey's Select 16 Player Development Camp at the Northtown Center in Amherst, N.Y. They're only a 15-minute drive apart.

Along with Vegas Golden Knights director of college free agents Mike Levine and former Brown University defenseman Kyle Quick, Collins will bring together many of the top players throughout the northeast in the 1999 through 2004 birth years.

Some very-talented '02s who were snubbed by USA Hockey for Select 16s will be in attendance, including defenseman Ben Ritter – who has a few scholarship offers from Hockey East schools – and forwards Niko Rexine and Blake Humphrey.

A few top '04s expected to be at the showcase are Ryan Conmy, Kiernan Gately, Nick Peluso and Nathan Stachowiak.

Approximately 20 Hockey East, ECAC Hockey and Atlantic Hockey coaches will be at the event. Due to USA Hockey's Select 16 Festival going on simultaneously, they'll be in the area and otherwise might not make the trek to Buffalo for a summer showcase.

Collins, a former player at Boston College, runs Evolve Sports and coaches the Rochester Coalition youth teams.

You can check out the full schedule below:

Monday, July 9

• 12:00 p.m. - 1:20 p.m. Game (2003s-2004s)
• 1:30 p.m. - 2:40 p.m. Game (1999s-2002s)

Tuesday, July 10

• 10:45 a.m. - 12:10 p.m. Game (2003s-2004s)
• 12:20 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. Game (1999s-2002s)

Wednesday, July 11

• 2:00 - 3:30 p.m. Game (2003s-2004s)
• 3:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. Game (1999s-2002s)

Thursday, July 12

• 10:45 a.m - 12:00 p.m. Game (2003s-2004s)
• 12:00 - 1:30 p.m. Game (1999s-2002s)