The USHL Phase 1 Draft is a big day.
On Monday, the top 2008-born prospects around the world will be waiting to see if they were selected. The draft will be 10 rounds as the 16 USHL teams make their selections. It's slated to begin at 5 p.m. EST.
There will be many New Englanders anxiously awaiting their name called.
It's thought to be a strong year for locals at forward. On defense and in net, however, there are also some very strong candidates to be taken.
Does that mean all of the players in this story will be selected? Absolutely not. But these are players who have some chance of hearing their names called on Monday.
The USHL Phase 2 Draft will be held on Tuesday at 12 p.m. EST. Prospects in the 2004-2008 birth years are eligible to be taken.
Let's dive in to the eight defensemen who have a good chance, along with three goalies.
Gavin Callahan
Mount St. Charles 15O, 4/12/2008, D, left shot, 6-0/165
Hometown: Lexington, Mass.Â
Callahan is well-known for being a reliable, two-way defenseman. He's great moving the puck out of his own zone and he can make an impact in the offensive zone. He posted two goals and 31 points in 58 games for Mount St. Charles this past winter. He's also a great defender and can shut top opposing players down.
Kaiden Donia
Groton, 1/16/2008, D, right shot, 6-5/175
Hometown: Townsend, Mass.Â
After scoring an invite to U.S. National Team Development Program Evaluation Camp, Donia is pretty much a lock to be selected in Phase 1. His size is the biggest reason why he got an invite. He's still very raw, but with that kind of size, Donia could become a force as he learns to play in his body. He had three goals and 13 points in 26 games for Groton.
NEW ENGLAND DISTRICT '08s: 11 standouts up front | 9 standouts in back
Oskar Drabczynski
Mid Fairfield 15O, 2/13/2008, D, left shot, 5-10/181
Hometown: Easton, Conn.Â
If I was in charge of a USHL team, Drabczynski would be at or near the No. 1 spot for defensemen. He's a great skater and he's calm under forechecking pressure, which means he's elusive and makes very smart decisions with the puck. He has a great stick and impacts the game so well at both ends of the ice. Like Noah Survilas with the forwards, I was surprised Drabczynski didn't at least get an invite to NTDP Evaluation Camp.
Sullivan Martin
Seacoast Performance Academy 15O, 2/20/2008, D, left shot, 6-4/205
Hometown: Essex Junction, Vt.Â
Martin is big and plays heavy. He's hard on opposing forwards in the defensive zone and uses his size to end plays. If a USHL team is selecting him, they're betting on Martin continuing to get used to playing at that size. He packed an offensive punch with Seacoast Performance Academy this winter, scoring 10 goals and totaling 42 points in 67 games.
The saying always goes, "Kids who lack size have to prove they can play; Kids who have size have to prove they can't." Well, Martin can certainly play.
Carson Mertz
Mount St. Charles 15O, 2/19/2008, G, catches left, 5-11/160
Hometown: Coventry, R.I.Â
Mertz is fresh off a very strong showing at New England District Camp. He's very calm and steady in the net and seems to just let pucks come to him. His numbers with Mount St. Charles this winter were sparkling. He posted a 1.97 goals-against average and a .972 save percentage. I was also surprised Mertz didn't at least get an invite to NTDP Evaluation Camp.
Ryan Poirier
Kent, 9/19/2008, D, left shot, 5-10/165
Hometown: Salem, N.H.Â
Poirier burst onto the scene with Kent this past winter, stepping into a big role and posting five goals and 13 points in 28 games. He's dynamic and, as I noted in my standouts story from the New England District Camp, has terrific edgework, which helps him defending any situation. He also plays with an edge and some snarl to him.
Ian Sherman
Pomfret, 5/13/2008, D, left shot, 5-11/176
Hometown: Brooklyn, Conn.Â
Sherman was my No. 2-ranked defenseman from New England District Camp this past weekend. His poise and command with the puck on his stick was impressive. He's also a good skater who can generate speed with his first couple of steps. He has a good stick in own zone, too. Sherman wasn't on my radar much this winter with Pomfret. That has very much changed.
NEW ENGLAND DISTRICT '07s: 11 standouts up front | 9 standouts in back
Brady Sloper
Belmont Hill, 5/21/2008, D, right shot, 6-1/187
Hometown: North Andover, Mass.Â
The word I'd use to describe Sloper is raw. There's a lot of development still left to be had, but Sloper has a good stick and is a strong, shutdown defender. He played good minutes with Belmont Hill this past winter and has always been one of the top '08 defensemen in Massachusetts, making a name for himself with the Boston Jr. Eagles.
Kris Soja
Nobles, 3/11/2008, D, left shot, 5-10/180
Hometown: Ludlow, Mass.Â
Soja took his lumps this winter playing against older kids while at Nobles. But even through all the hits taken and lessons learned, Soja looks primed to be a breakout candidate next winter in prep. His best assest, in my opinion, is his skating. He's fast, dynamic and shifty. He played on the top power play for a very good Nobles team this winter and was a mainstay in the top four.
Parker Stockseth
Seacoast Performance Academy 15O, 12/9/2008, G, catches left, 6-2/165
Hometown: Blandford, Mass.Â
It can be hard drafting goalies in Phase 1 since netminders have a much longer road of development. But Stockseth is worth it. He was outstanding for Seacoast Performance Academy's 15O team this winter, posting a 2.00 GAA and a .931 save percentage in 35 games. He also has the kind of size that can make it easier to project him as someone who will be a Division 1 goalie someday.
USHL PHASE 1 DRAFT: 20 local forwards who are candidates to be taken
Jacoby Weiner
Mid Fairfield, 6/19/2008, G, catches right, 6-3/220
Hometown: Riverside, Conn.Â
While it can be hard to pick goalies in Phase 1, it won't be hard to take Weiner. The Riverside, Conn., native was invited to NTDP Evaluation Camp and has long been one of the best '08 goalies in the nation. His size matched with his athleticism make him a goalie prospect with tremendously high upside. He will play at Kent next season.
