Fourteen New Englanders were selected in the 10 rounds of the USHL Phase 1 Draft last season. Now, it's the 2009-born players' time to be selected.
The USHL Phase 1 Draft kicks off on Monday at 6 p.m. EST and will go for 15 rounds. Getting drafted into the USHL — and eventually playing someday — is a big deal for players. Even with the CHL ruling in November, the USHL is still a top priority for local players looking to play junior hockey.
Four locals made the U.S. National Team Development Program, so they won't be selected. One of those players is defenseman Jake Boguniecki (Orange, Conn.), who most certainly would've headlined this list had he not been picked for the next NTDP squad.
Players picked in Phase 1 don't typically go right to their USHL teams. All 14 locals picked last season at least began their season with their former team.
We've already looked at 10 forwards who could hear their names called on Monday. But before we look at the defensemen and goalies who could be picked, I want to mention a forward I admittedly forgot from Thursday's story.
Let's dive in.
Chase Warsofsky
Cushing, 6/19/2009, F, left shot, 5-9/160
Hometown: Northboro, Mass.Â
Warsofsky missed part of the prep season due to injury, but came back and was a steady, reliable center for head coach Ryan Bourque's Penguins. He has high-end skating and can drive play. His hands are good in tight, and he takes smart routes upon offensive zone entries. He's a sure-fire bet for a breakout in prep next winter.
Now, let's get to the defensemen and goalies.
Easton Anello
Williston Northampton, 1/19/2009, D, left shot, 6-1/161
Hometown: Windsor, Mass.Â
Anello wrapped up his first prep season with Williston Northampton, scoring two goals and tallying 13 points. He has an intriguing combination of being a very good skater, a reliable puck-mover and size, which always helps in the eyes of USHL coaches. He notched two assists at USA Hockey's Select 15 Camp last summer and was with the Neponset Valley River Rats 15O team in the fall.
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Kurt Beck
Arlington High, 4/2/2009, D, left shot, 6-1/170
Hometown: Arlington, Mass.Â
Beck posted a strong winter at Arlington High, helping the Spy Ponders get to the state semifinals. He's a responsible, two-way defender who progressed throughout the season. He's at his best when he picks his spots to rush the puck and jump-starts the offense with strong breakout passes from his own zone. His skating helps him defend as well as he does, too. He played with the Boston Junior Eagles last fall and had a goal last summer at Select 15 Camp.
Brody Berard
Mount St. Charles, 9/2/2009, D, right shot, 6-0/181
Hometown: Cumberland, R.I.Â
Berard was a surprising omission from the U.S. National Team Development Camp Evaluation Camp. Nevertheless, he's been in the top grouping of '09 defensemen from the United States for the past two seasons. He has the qualities of a shutdown defenseman at higher levels, as he's physical, has a high compete and has a good stick. He also has no issue getting down to block shots and can handle tough assignments. He posted a goal at Select 15 Camp last summer.
Quinn Beumer
Mount St. Charles, 10/1/2009, G, catches left, 6-4/181
Hometown: Orono, Minn.Â
Much of the attention directed at the Mount St. Charles '09 over the last two seasons was on goalie Nathaniel Chizik, and rightfully so — Chizik made next season's NTDP team. But Beumer had a fantastic past two seasons. The 6-foot-4 goalie posted a 1.53 goals-against average and a .918 save percentage with the 14U squad. This season, with the 15O team, he notched a 1.88 GAA and a .920 save percentage.
Matthew Koch
Avon Old Farms, 1/30/2009, D, left shot, 6-1/183
Hometown: New York City, N.Y.Â
Koch has the tools of a slick, puck-moving defenseman. He notched a goal and 12 points in 27 games with Avon Old Farms this past season, which was his first in prep. He's a smooth skater and played up on the Northern Connecticut Nor'Easter's 16U squad. He was previously with the Long Island Gulls and tallied two assists at Select 15 Camp last summer.
Justin Lee
Nobles, 6/28/2009, G, catches left, 6-1/170
Hometown: Wellesley, Mass.Â
In his first prep season, Lee broke out with Nobles, notching a 2.55 GAA and a .912 save percentage in the majority of starts. He led the Bulldogs to the No. 8 seed in the Elite 8. He's athletic, has strong positioning and an ability to face a high volume of shots and still have success. He played with the Boston Junior Eagles for the last two seasons and made Select 15 Camp last season, posting a 3.57 GAA and a .892 save percentage in Buffalo.
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Cam Minella
Brunswick, 8/29/2009, D, left shot, 5-11/155
Hometown: Darien, Conn.Â
Minella should be a lay-up pick. He was invited to NTDP Evaluation Camp and had a strong showing. While he didn't make the team, he showed himself as one of the premier puck-moving, offensive defensemen in the United States. He burst onto the scene with 37 points in 34 games with Brunswick as a freshman. He also played for Mid Fairfield's 15O team, scoring 16 goals and tallying 68 points in 56 games.
Jacoby Palmer
Long Island Gulls, 8/9/2009, D, left shot, 6-1/176
Hometown: Holden, Mass.Â
A stout, two-way defenseman, Palmer has long been a top '09 defenseman in Massachusetts. After playing for the Boston Junior Eagles' 14U team and Hillside School last season, he skated for the Long Island Gulls' 15O this winter. He scored 18 goals and finished with 51 points in 57 games. He's a responsible puck-mover who has great vision and can be counted on to execute smooth breakouts.
Alex Wang
Boston Hockey Academy, 1/28/2009, G, catches left, 6-3/181
Hometown: Concord, Mass.Â
Statistically, Wang was the best goalie at Select 15 Camp last season, sporting a 0.50 GAA and a .979 save percentage over four games. He struggled a bit at Groton to start the season, but moved to Boston Hockey Academy's 16U team and had more success. His size is his biggest asset.
Maksim Yakub
Mount St. Charles, 7/16/2009, D, left shot, 5-10/181
Hometown: Manalapan, N.J.Â
Yakub is fresh off scoring the overtime winner to get the Mount '09s their second-straight national championship. He posted a nice season, potting 15 goals and totaling 46 points in 61 games for the Mount 15s. He also scored a goal last summer at Select 15 Camp. He's a crafty, puck-moving defenseman. He's not afraid to get physical with opposing players when defending his own zone, either.
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Colin Yandle
Catholic Memorial, 10/15/2009, D, right shot, 5-10/159
Hometown: Dorchester, Mass.Â
Yandle helped lead his team to an MIAA Division 1 championship in March. The do-it-all defenseman improved throughout the season, gaining more of an offensive presence, especially down the stretch, and becoming someone who could handle the toughest possible matchups. He has a high IQ in his own zone and a great stick, using it to take away passing lanes and maintain good gaps. He scored three goals and Select 15 Camp last summer.
