19 uncommitted players to watch at 18U boys USA Hockey Nationals

On Tuesday, full-season and half-season teams begin play in the 18U boys USA Hockey Nationals, which are held in Las Vegas through Sunday.

Five New England teams made the 16-team field, with No. 2 Boston Junior Eagles, No. 6 Northern CT Nor'Easter, No. 7 Yale Junior Bulldogs, No. 8 Neponset Valley River Rats and No. 9 Mid Fairfield.

The tournament offers players a final showcase before hockey settles down in the spring. Junior hockey executives, college hockey coaches and NHL scouts spend a lot of time at the event.

That makes it a big event for uncommitted players. Here are 19 players to keep an eye on.

Let's dive in.

Tommy Browne

Neponset Valley River Rats, 8/28/2007, D, right shot, 6-0/190
Hometown: Deptford, N.J. 

Browne was one of the best defensemen in prep this winter, leading the region in goals (18) and ranking second in points (40). He's an elusive puck-moving defenseman who is terrific on breakouts and finding space. In the offensive zone, he's able to find shooting lanes through from the point and is crafty on his passes to forwards low in the zone. He's a strong junior hockey candidate for next season.

Owen Burke

Mid Fairfield, 4/22/2008, F, left shot, 6-0/175
Hometown: Trumbull, Conn. 

Burke progressed this winter with 15 goals and 28 points in 25 games as a senior. He plays a tough game with skill and has a chance to showcase that one more time at nationals. The QMJHL's Cape Breton Eagles picked him in the 11th round of last year's QMJHL Draft.

READ MORE: New England 19U Tier 1 girls players to watch at USA Hockey Nationals

Nico Ciardiello

Northern CT Nor'Easter, 11/10/2008, F, right shot, 6-0/170
Hometown: Guilford, Conn. 

Ciardiello is coming off a dominant NEPSAC postseason with five goals and two assists en route to an Elite 8 title. The right-shot center can drive play and uses his frame well to protect pucks. He has a deadly shot that he can deploy with ease off the rush. He makes a lot of sense for a Division 1 program. Ciardiello is slated to be a senior next season at Avon.

Max Donatelli

Neponset Valley River Rats, 6/15/2007, F, left shot, 5-10/165
Hometown: Barrington, R.I. 

As the main guy at St. George's this winter, Donatelli upped his production from 40 points in his sophomore and junior years to 50 as a senior. He's a crafty, skilled left wing who will continue to be on Division 1 radars. He will make an effective winger in junior hockey next season.

Vinnie D'Urso

Neponset Valley River Rats, 3/7/2008, G, catches left, 6-0/190
Hometown: Andover, Mass. 

D'Urso was a standout goalie as a sophomore, but was even better as a junior with a staggering 1.99 GAA and a .939 save percentage. He's extremely athletic and seems to get in position for every shot. Colleges often wait to commit goalies, but D'Urso is a solid college hockey goaltending prospect.

Ethan Gingeleskie

Northern CT Nor'Easter, 6/2/2009, F, right shot, 5-11/165
Hometown: West Hartford, Conn. 

Gingeleskie dealt with injuries all season. But when he was on the ice, he was consistently a standout with 11 goals and 18 points in 14 games. Against Dexter Southfield, Gingeleskie exploded for two goals in the first period, leading his team to a 4-2 upset win. His hands help make him such a difference-maker. He just finished his sophomore year, which means Division 1 schools can offer him on Aug. 1.

Dylan Hall

Yale Junior Bulldogs, 4/26/2007, D, left shot, 6-3/185
Hometown: Glastonbury, Conn. 

A late-bloomer, Hall is someone whose stock rose quite a bit this winter, leading Frederick Gunn in points with 30 in 26 games. He's a two-way defenseman in every sense of the word, moving pucks reliably to create offense, while being hard to play against in his own zone. Nationals should give him another chance to get looks for college. He's slated to play for the BCHL's Nanaimo Clippers next season.

READ MORE: Top boys prep hockey performers from the season

Grover Henderson

Northern CT Nor'Easter, 10/16/2007, F, right shot, 6-4/220
Hometown: Chicago 

Henderson turned heads throughout the NEPSAC playoffs. He has all the traits of a power forward. He doesn't shy away from contact, showing no issue with chipping pucks in deep and driving defensemen through the end wall. At his size, his first three steps generate good speed, which puts defenders on their heels. He just wrapped up his junior year at Avon Old Farms. No junior teams hold his rights.

Phin Howard

Neponset Valley River Rats, 1/30/2008, D, right shot, 5-10/160
Hometown: Newton, Mass. 

Howard had four goals and 23 points in 27 games for St. Mark's this past winter. He's a solid puck-moving defenseman and skater who just wrapped up his junior season and should make strides next winter, where he's slated to be a senior at St. Mark's. He was recently affiliated with the QMJHL's Rimouski Océanic.

Lucas Husted-Edwards

Yale Junior Bulldogs, 1/25/2007, F, right shot, 6-1/187
Hometown: Trumbull, Conn. 

Husted-Edwards is coming off a good senior year with 17 goals and 38 points in 24 games. He plays such a gritty, power-forward game. He has quick feet to get on top of defenders quickly and is hard on the forecheck. And his hard-nosed style makes him a great candidate to get to high-danger areas.

Ty Hymovitz

Boston Junior Eagles, 2/13/2008, F, right shot, 6-1/196
Hometown: Needham, Mass. 

Hymovitz is an intriguing two-way center. He tallied 12 goals and 28 points in 24 games for Thayer this winter. He has a high IQ and can play in any situation. In his own zone, he leads his line to defend from the inside and has no problem blocking shots and getting in passing lanes. The QMJHL's Newfoundland Regiment and USHL's Dubuque Fighting Saints have his rights.

Keegan Kazan

Mid Fairfield, 11/15/2008, F, right shot, 5-9/173
Hometown: Wilton, Conn. 

Kazan has a wicked shot and can get into high-danger areas to let it rip. He led Brunswick in goals (18) and points (44) in 31 games this winter. A strong showing at nationals would be a nice way to end an extremely strong season. He's a junior, so he should be poised for an even bigger senior year with Brunswick. He should get some Division 1 and 3 attention, as well as junior teams looking to snag his rights for when he graduates.

READ MORE: Predicting the 2026-27 U.S. National Team Development Program U17 team

Andrew Martin

Neponset Valley River Rats, 8/16/2008, F, left shot, 6-3/194
Hometown: Wakefield, Mass. 

Martin had a down season in prep with seven goals and 13 points in 19 games, but was also on Brooks, which was one of the worst and low-scoring teams in prep. He was dynamic and dominant at times in the fall, and with his physical tools, he makes for an intriguing prospect to track over the next 12 months.

Andrew Migliore

Mid Fairfield, 4/6/2007, F, left shot, 5-9/165
Hometown: Brooklyn, N.Y. 

Migliore is a fantastic skater who handles pucks so well at high rates of speed. Add in his skill, and it's a deadly combo for a dynamic left wing. On a six-win Trinity-Pawling team, Migliore had 15 goals and 45 points in 24 games. He projects to be an effective player in junior hockey next season.

Evan Nee

Boston Junior Eagles, 8/12/2007, F, left shot, 5-10/180
Hometown: Arlington, Mass. 

Fresh off a 60-point senior year, Nee's stock is high. The high-compete, speedy wing generates offense by driving hard into high-danger areas and has high skill in tight areas. He's been getting Division 1 attention of late. He's slated to be with the QMJHL's Halifax Mooseheads next season, and if he keeps up his high level of play, he should turn that attention into offers.

Tommy Saulnier

Boston Junior Eagles, 2/15/2008, G, catches left, 6-0/165
Hometown: Medfield, Mass. 

St. Sebastian's finished as the No. 4 seed in the Elite 8 mainly because of Saulnier's play this season. His .943 save percentage was tied for second in prep, while his 1.80 was third. One of the most important stats for a goalie is shots faced, and Saulnier has faced a lot of shots over the last two seasons, and is still slated for one more next winter with the Arrows. He's playing himself into Division 1 attention.

Luke Walkauskas

Northern CT Nor'Easter, 12/23/2007, F, left shot, 5-10/154
Hometown: Pittsburgh, Penn. 

In our Top Performers of the boys prep season, Walkauskas won Housatonic skater of the year with 20 goals and 50 points in 31 games. His ability to create offensively and get to high-danger areas makes him an intriguing prospect. He just wrapped up his senior year and has QMJHL and USHL interest.

READ MORE: 13 uncommitted prospects who boosted stock during NEPSAC playoffs

Patrick Woods

Boston Junior Eagles, 7/5/2007, F, right shot, 6-1/170
Hometown: Charlestown, Mass. 

Woods had a strong senior year with 19 goals and 39 points. The 6-foot-1 center can play anywhere and has a high compete, and doesn't shy away from physicality. He projects as a bottom-six center in junior hockey, as well as the Division 1 or Division 3 level.

Max Yakub

Northern CT Nor'Easter, 7/16/2009, D, left shot, 5-10/185
Hometown: Manalapan, N.J. 

In his first prep season, Yakub was outstanding with five goals and 22 points in 28 games. A strong skater, he's a true two-way defender. In his own zone, he has an active stick and uses his good skating to get on top of forwards and shut plays down. He can run power plays at the other end and is a creative puck-mover. He is a great Division 1 candidate.