BUFFALO, N.Y. — Of USA Hockey's three player development camps, the top talent is at Select 15 Camp. That's because it's before the best of the 15s have tried out for — and even made — the U.S. National Team Development Program.
Once players make the NTDP, they don't go to Select 16 or 17 Camp, whereas everyone is at 15s.
This year, the '11s were under the microscope. Countless CHL and USHL team executives and scouts were in the stands watching games, along with a handful of college hockey coaches.
It's a big next 12 months for the '11s. They will be watched for the USHL Phase 1 Draft, QMJHL Draft and OHL Draft.
But they will also be watched for the NTDP.
I was at Select 15 Camp on Saturday and Sunday, watching all of the games. I always love the event because, except for a handful of New England natives, I don't know much about the '11s, so it's a great first impression.
We're going to do things a bit different this time around. This story will cover the forwards who I feel are potential NTDP candidates a year from now. Later this week, I'll also have a story on defensemen who are potential NTDP candidates.
But many players aren't quite NTDP candidates in my eyes yet still stood out. Those players will have stories later in the week. Players mentioned in this and the aforementioned defensemen story won't be in those. Obviously, they were standouts, too. But a lot of what I would say would be repetitive — and that would be a big ol' waste of your time.
When I picked out 10 potential NTDP candidates from Select 15 Camp last year, I went 7-for-10 in players who went to Evaluation Camp a year later. Of those seven, five made it. So, I figured this year I would expand my projections.
Let's dive into the forwards.
Cooper Anderson
Oakland Junior Grizzlies, 1/4/2011, F, left shot, 6-0/168
Hometown: Howell, Mich.
Final stat line: Three goals and five points in five gamesÂ
Anderson's play-driving abilities stood out. He was confident in his trips through the neutral zone and into the offensive end with good skating and his head up, so he could navigate through — and past — coverage. When entering the offensive zone, he made smart reads on when to shoot and when to pass.
Cameron Cline
Pittsburgh Pens Elite, 5/2/2011, F, right shot, 6-3/179
Hometown: Sewickley, Pa.
Final stat line: Four goals and seven points in five games
Like any 6-foot-3 forward going up against fellow 15-year-olds, Cline was a force. In Saturday's game, he laid a huge hit that freed the puck up and led to him scoring on a snipe. For someone at that size and at this age, he skated well and made strong passes under pressure. If he continues to become more comfortable in his frame over the next year, he should be someone the NTDP is looking at.
Mason Dalbec
Buffalo High School (Minn.), 1/6/2011, F, right shot, 5-10/160
Hometown: Buffalo, Minn.
Final stat line: Three goals and 10 points in five gamesÂ
Dalbec's skill and hands made him such an offensive threat. His hands led to him dangling to space and making a phenomenal pass that led to Owen Hayman's goal on Sunday. Dalbec potted a goal of his own in Sunday's game when he messed with the goalie's angle by stickhandling an extra time and sniping one. His performance at camp alone should put him on the NTDP watch for this coming season.
READ MORE: How the NCAA’s new age-based eligibility model will impact prep
Charles Fox
Mount St. Charles, 3/24/2011, F, left shot, 6-1/165
Hometown: Austin, Texas
Final stat line: Four goals and nine points in five games
Fox's size, speed and compete made him effective every shift. He was physical, especially when getting to the front of the net. In Saturday's game, his dogged work above the crease led to a teammate's goal bouncing off a defender and past the goalie, who never saw it. In Sunday's game, he got a loose puck around the half wall, skated without hesitation into the slot and sniped a goal. He had 95 points in 59 games for Mount's 14U team this past winter.
Grady Hurley
Buffalo Junior Sabres, 3/29/2011, F, left shot, 5-9/148
Hometown: Amherst, N.Y.
Final stat line: One goal and four points in five gamesÂ
Hurley showed well as a two-way forward. He drove play and created offense that way. But he was just as adept at being physical, finishing hits and winning wall battles. Whether the puck was on his stick or not, he fought hard to get to the netfront. He projects as someone who could thrive playing anywhere in a lineup.
Jackson Liao
Shattuck-St. Mary's, 1/11/2011, F, right shot, 5-9/159
Hometown: Wellesley, Mass.
Final stat line: One goal and four points in five gamesÂ
Liao has long been one of the most highly touted '11s in the United States. At camp, his ability to play at high speeds and still dangle, drive play and get to scoring areas was impressive. He has such high speed, and his hands keep up with it so well, enabling him to be highly effective at creating offense. He was fantastic off the cycle, too. Despite being from Massachusetts, he is slated to return to Shattuck this fall.
Jace Magner
East Grand Forks High School, 12/28/2011, F, left shot, 5-8/154
Hometown: East Grand Forks, Minn.
Final stat line:
Magner was a problem for the other team in Saturday's game. His wicked release was on display when he sniped a goal. He also had phenomenal hands, as he always found ways to dangle in and around defenders. His vision was great, too, finding passing lanes that weren't obvious in the offensive zone. Even on the penalty kill, he was a problem, forechecking the hell out of opposing defensemen trying to break the puck out. What also makes Magner so intriguing is he's four days from being a '12, and he's already 5-foot-8.
He had 61 goals and 128 points in 47 games for East Grand Forks' top bantam team this past winter.
Arjun Mangadu
Mount St. Charles, 5/14/2011, F, left shot, 5-11/159
Hometown: Livermore, Calif.
Final stat line: Three goals and seven points in five gamesÂ
What stuck out with Mangadu was his ability to be a do-it-all center. While he drove play, he also won his board battles, was active in helping his defensemen and was on the right side of pucks. Sure, he has a great shot and showcased nice vision around the opposing net. But his ability to do everything will be what catapults him onto better teams.
READ MORE: 17 uncommitted standouts from USA Hockey Select 17 Camp
Robbie McCann
Mount St. Charles, 6/28/11, F, right shot, 5-9/154
Hometown: Worcester, Mass.
Final stat line: Three goals and nine points in five games
McCann was on fire in Sunday's game. His shot is elite, as he scored on two textbook snipes — one from a horrible angle, the other off a 2-on-1. The other thing about McCann is that he's such an effective playdriver because he's always playing the game as fast as possible. His speed and his compete made him such a force every time he hit the ice.
Owen Moulton
Shattuck-St. Mary's, 1/11/2011, F, right shot, 5-9/145
Hometown: Shakopee, Minn.
Final stat line: Four goals and eight points in five games
Moulton was the big name hockey people were pointing to when I asked, "So, who is the can't-miss kid?" I quickly realized why. His high IQ was obvious. In Saturday's game, he was slamming his stick for the puck on a power play. He got the puck just outside of the corner and with what looked like no passing lane to anywhere near the net. He drifted out of the corner a bit, looked towards the point and fired a strike to the far post for defenseman Connor King to score on. Moulton's skating, hands and IQ made him a threat to do something literally every time he touched the puck. He had 135 points in 58 games for Shattuck's 14U team this past winter.
Colton Nash
Minnetonka, 8/6/2011, F, left shot, 5-8/155
Hometown: Shorewood, Minn.
Final stat line: Six goals and seven points in five games
Nash may have been the best player I saw over two days. On Saturday, he was dominant. He has a wicked wrister that he can get off quick, hard and accurately. He was so dynamic offensively, holding onto pucks and showcasing great vision when hitting teammates with passes most players wouldn't pick up on. He also read plays correctly and positioned himself well in the offensive zone to cut off breakouts. He had 70 goals and 150 points in 53 games for Minnetonka's bantam team this winter.
Max Prudovsky
Dexter Southfield, 7/29/2011, F, left shot, 5-10/160
Hometown: Newton, Mass.
Final stat line: Two goals and six points in five gamesÂ
Prudovsky has been regarded as the top '11 forward in Massachusetts, but I was curious to see how he'd stack up against the rest of the country. His playmaking, IQ and shot were high-end for the camp, and his good skating allowed him to get into scoring areas and backcheck. Coming out of camp, Prudovsky is safely at least a top-five '11 forward for me. It's also funny — because he was playing in prep all winter, I always just assumed he was undersized. Then at this event, he looks bigger because he's with kids his own age. So yeah — he's not undersized.
Patrick Taylor
Seacoast Performance Academy, 2/1/2011, F, left shot, 5-8/144
Hometown: Salisbury, Mass.
Final stat line: Three goals and eight points in five games
The offensive upside is real with Taylor. He's a fantastic skater with speed and an effortless stride. His great hands make him such an effective puck-carrier, too. One big thing I noticed with his game was how often that speed helped him get back to steal pucks from opposing players. Taylor would be a few strides behind and then, all of a sudden, pickpocket an opposing forward. He had 66 goals and 119 points for SPA's 14U team this past winter.
Carter Watson
Dexter Southfield, 2/28/2011, F, right shot, 5-10/189
Hometown: Bridgewater, Mass.
Final stat line: Two goals and three points in five gamesÂ
Entering this camp, I had Watson as a borderline NTDP candidate. Leaving camp, I feel that Watson should absolutely be in NTDP territory. His poise with the puck and ability to slow the game down and dictate the pace was impressive and high-end for the camp. In Sunday's game, he sniped a shot from the slot with a quick release. He's strong enough to protect pucks effectively, too.
READ MORE: 7 potential NTDP defensemen from Select 15 Camp
Chris Welby
St. Sebastian's, 3/14/2011, F, right shot, 6-0/195
Hometown: Westwood, Mass.
Final stat line: Six goals and seven points in five gamesÂ
Welby looked like a totally different player at camp — and that's a good thing. The ability to take defenses by surprise, get to scoring areas and score at a high rate was there. He was able to get off his wicked shot and stun goalies, too. But he was different in that he played with an edge. He always finished hits and got into it with opposing players. He fought to get into inside ice. He hustled back on the backcheck. He has a skill set that wasn't easy to come by at camp this weekend.
