Ranking goaltenders at an event like the USA Hockey Select 17 Player Development Camp often proves quite difficult.
The exercise is inherently subjective, some teams are better than others, and glorified pond hockey isn’t exactly conducive to standing out when you’re a goaltender.
Despite that, Dustin Wolf of the WHL's Everett Silvertips and Scituate, Mass., native Derek Mullahy of Dexter School were both selected to represent the United States at the 2018 Hlinka-Gretzky Cup. Their inclusion comes after 20 netminders performed at the Selects 17s, a showcase of top 2001-born prospects in the U.S building up to the 2019 NHL Draft in Vancouver.
The following rankings – based on personal observations and analysis – are of the top 13 goalies who were on display at the Northtown Center in Amherst, N.Y. Six of the players listed below are either from New England or are committed to colleges in the region.
1. Dustin Wolf
#1 Red, Everett Silvertips, 4/16/01, Catches Left, 5-11.75/156
The Tustin, Calif., native is a little on the smaller side for a modern-era goaltender, but he’s stellar. With his junior experience in the Western Hockey League (WHL), he gives the U.S. the best chance to win at next month’s Hlinka-Gretzky Cup. He has solid fundamentals, skates well, and squares up to shooters at the top of the crease. He doesn’t move around too much and routinely tracks pucks. His compete level in the crease is high.
2. Jack Williams
#30 Forest, St. Louis AAA Blues 16U, 6/20/01, Catches Left, 6-3.25/174
NCAA Commit: Michigan State
Williams, from St. Louis, Mo., projects as a very solid prospect. He has good size, keeps quiet in the crease, and stays atop the blue paint. He made a couple of nice glove saves and is usually in good position, meaning he’s rarely forced to make a big save. He showed the ability to move well laterally, making a few post-to-post saves. He’s expected to head to the NAHL next season with the St. Louis Jr. Blues.
3. Dominic Basse
#1 Forest, Team Maryland 16U, 4/22/01, Catches Left, 6-5.5/179
NCAA Commit: Colorado College
Basse, the biggest goaltender here, is headed to Selects Academy at South Kent to play for the program’s 18U team. He covers a ton of net and had a couple of great games early in the week.
4. Logan Stein
#1 Orange, Oakland Jr. Grizzlies 16U, 4/26/01, Catches Left, 6-2/204
NCAA Commit: Ferris State
Stein, who is from Georgia, has good size, quickness, and tracks pucks well. At times, he has a little bit too much noise in the crease. Earning a commitment to Ferris State in December, he has made the Waterloo Blackhawks' 30-man roster for the 2018-19 season.
5. Joe Sharib
#30 Columbia, Cushing, 8/16/01, Catches Left, 5-10.75/174
NCAA Commit: Union
Sharib was really good early in the week. He’s also on the smaller side, but he’s athletic and made some head-turning saves. He's from Natick, Mass., and will return in 2018-19 for a third season of prep hockey at Cushing.
6. Derek Mullahy
#1 Gold, Dexter, 3/20/01, Catches Left, 6-0/178
NCAA Commit: Harvard
Mullahy got better as the week went along, earning a roster spot for the U.S. Under-18 Men’s Select Team that will compete at the Hlinka-Gretzky Cup in August. He's of average size, but is extremely athletic and can make some acrobatic saves. The Scituate, Mass., native has strong fundamentals.
7. Alex Aslanidis
#1 Columbia, Avon Old Farms, 1/20/01, Catches Left, 6-5/230
NCAA Commit: Providence
The Moorestown, N.J., native was solid here. A big goaltender, he takes up a lot of the net and skates well. Committed to the Friars, he’s scheduled to be back at Avon Old Farms for a second season after previously playing for the Philadelphia Jr. Flyers.
8. Ethan Haider
#30 Orange, Maple Grove HS, 9/4/01, Catches Left, 6-2.25/207
NCAA Commit: Clarkson
Haider is a big goaltender out of Minnesota high school hockey. He has good size and keeps things pretty simple in the crease. He made some nice saves here and was rewarded with a commitment to Clarkson University following the event.
9. Jacob Zacharewicz
#30 White, PAL Islanders 16U, 2/11/01, Catches Left, 6-1.5/198
Zacharewicz, from Riverhead, N.Y., has good size and athleticism. He covers a lot of the net, tracks pucks, and reads plays well. This was a good week for him. Don’t be surprised if this showing helps him earn a college commitment in the not-too-distant future.
10. Josh Langford
#30 Black, Dallas Stars 16U, 7/27/01, Catches Left, 6-5/178
NCAA Commit: Maine
Langford is another big goaltender from Texas, but he struggled some here. Despite his mediocre week, he still projects as a solid prospect. Committed to the Black Bears, he’s undecided on where he’ll play in 2018-19.
11. Kyle Chauvette
#1 Grey, NH Jr. Monarchs 16U, 10/5/01, Catches Left, 5-10.25/138
From Goffstown, N.H., Chauvette represented the U.S. at last summer’s Five Nations Tournament. He’s undersized for a goaltender, but makes saves to keep his team in it. Chauvette, who's quick and athletic, is Loomis Chaffee-bound in the fall.
12. Nathanial Bradbury
#30 Red, Grand Forks Red River HS, 4/10/01, Catches Left, 5-10.5/170
Bradbury put up solid numbers at the Select 17s on a very good team. He has decent size and kept pucks out of his net for the most part. The Grand Forks, N.D., native can’t be faulted for having good support from his teammates.
13. Rico DiMatteo
#1 Kelly, Northwood School, 1/23/01, Catches Left, 6-2.5/158
DiMatteo, from Brasher Falls, N.Y., had an up-and-down week at Select 17s. He has good size and had a few solid games, but also took a few on the chin. After playing for St. Lawrence Central High School, he made the move to Northwood this past season. He’s scheduled to play in the CCHL with the Cornwall Colts for this upcoming season.
