BUFFALO, N.Y. — We've looked at potential U.S. National Team Development Program forwards from the '11s at USA Hockey Select 15 Camp. Now it's time to look at the defensemen.
Potential NTDP prospects for the next crop are always the biggest storyline at Select 15 Camp. This year, that means the 2011-born players.
Along with lots of USA Hockey representatives, there were throngs of USHL and CHL executives and scouts in attendance. These players will all become eligible for the next USHL Phase 1 Draft, as well as the QMJHL and OHL Drafts.
I spent Saturday and Sunday watching all of the games at Select 15 Camp. This is my first big glimpse at the '11s as they enter the ever-important 15O year.
As I mentioned in the forwards story, I'm doing things differently this time. The NTDP prospects stories are separate. But later this week, I will also have standouts from the camp. Those will be players I don't consider potential NTDP prospects now (prove me wrong, guys) but still had great showings.
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 in.
Max Aldrich
Holy Family High School, 1/25/2011, D, left shot, 5-11/153
Hometown: Chanhassen, Minn.
Final stat line: Two assists in five gamesÂ
Aldrich looked the part of a high-end defenseman at this age. He's a good skater, and when he rushed pucks, he was shifty, zipping through forecheckers. When defending, he had a fantastic stick. On one sequence in Sunday's game, he made two stick plays to free up pucks in his own zone before hitting forward Chris Welby (Westwood, Mass.) for a breakaway.
Sam Archibald
Mount St. Charles, 2/2/2011, D, right shot, 6-0/173
Hometown: Canton, Mass.
Final stat line: Two goals and six points in five games
One of the biggest things I wanted to see in this camp was how Archibald's offensive game did against the other top players from his birth year. Well, Archibald was one of the best offensive defensemen at camp. He jumped into the transition game and often acted as another forward. When he had the puck at the offensive blue line, he was mobile and elusive while also being calm and making the right play to get the puck down low.
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Emmet Aufiero
Belmont Hill, 1/12/2011, D, right shot, 5-11/155
Hometown: Winchester, Mass.
Final stat line: One assist in five games
Aufiero didn't pop offensively at camp. He moved pucks well, for sure, but he wasn't a dynamic offensive threat — and that's fine because of how good he was defensively. He was a shutdown defender for the most part, keeping great gaps, utilizing his good stick and playing physical, even when going up against much bigger players. He played with a mean streak, which is always a green flag in a defenseman. To stay on the NTDP's radar, Aufiero will have to put up some points in prep this winter, which he should have no issue doing. But he looked like a steady, intelligent, reliable defender at camp.
Alexander Bobrov
Boston Junior Eagles, 1/26/2011, D, left shot, 5-11/172
Hometown: Milton, Mass.
Final stat line: Two assists in five gamesÂ
Bobrov's stock soared at camp. His stick and physicality made him so effective when defending the rush and when the other team was cycling. But he was also a calm puck-mover, doing a good job at cutting back and regrouping if a first pass didn't immediately show itself. And he had no issue joining the rush. He went from being one of the better '11 defensemen in Massachusetts to being on NTDP watch.
Ethan Nelsen
Mount St. Charles, 3/31/2011, D, left shot, 6-0/203
Hometown: Dix Hills, N.Y.
Final stat line: Two goals and three points in five games
Nelsen was a reliable, two-way defenseman in my viewings. He made intelligent decisions on when to step up when defending the rush in the neutral zone and high in his own end. He was able to read opposing teams' passes to close gaps on forwards. He also jumped into the offense and made clean zone exits and entries. He had 23 goals and 39 points in 59 games for Mount's 14U team this past season.
Cameron Pelle
Pittsburgh Penguins Elite, 1/27/2011, D, right shot, 5-10/152
Hometown: Wexford, Pa.
Final stat line: Four assists in five games
Pelle was the definition of a two-way force. His shiftiness and hands made him so difficult to defend and force into bad areas, because he consistently stickhandled and used his fleet feet to get to space. He also picked his spots well in joining the offense and driving the net. In his own zone, he was physical and made smart stick checks to break up plays. Have fun reading these numbers: 30 goals and 103 points in 63 games at the 14U level this past winter.
READ MORE: 15 potential USNTDP forward prospects from Select 15 Camp
Nash Springer
Dallas Stars Elite, 8/14/2011, D, right shot, 5-11/164
Hometown: McKinney, Texas
Final stat line: Two assists in five games
Springer showed himself as a strong, two-way defenseman. He moved pucks reliably (especially on first passes out of his zone) and created offense. On defense, he maintained great gaps and stepped up to make hits, separating opposing players from the puck. He had a great stick, too.
