U.S. World Junior Spotlight: Nick Bjugstad

Posted on November 28, 2011 by Chris Peters

Nick Bjugstad -- USAHockey.com

Nick Bjugstad — Center
Hometown: Blaine, Minn.  Birthdate: July 17, 1992
Height/Weight: 6’5″/211
Current Team: University of Minnesota (WCHA)
NHL Rights: Florida Panthers (1st Rd., 19th overall, 2010)
National Team Experience: U.S. Under-17 Select Team (2008), U.S. Under-18 Select Team (2009), U.S. National Under-18 Team (Four Nations, 2009), U.S. National Junior Team (bronze, 2011)

Nick Bjugstad has been a monster in 2011-12 for the Minnesota Golden Gophers. The 6-foot-5, 211-pound centerman has ripped his competition to shreds in his sophomore season and shows no signs of slowing. The way this kid has played has got to leave the USA Hockey brass salivating.

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Posted in American Prospects, NCAA, U.S. National Teams, USA Hockey, World Junior Championship | 2 Comments

Happy Thanksgiving from The United States of Hockey

Posted on November 24, 2011 by Chris Peters

Well, it’s that time of year when things start getting really busy. Luckily we get a few holidays to slow things down, so USofH will be taking a short Thanksgiving break.

After Thanksgiving, the lead up to the 2012 World Junior Championship kicks into high gear and we’ll have it all right here.

In order to make some room for the increase in World Junior content, the American Prospect Update will be on hiatus until after the tournament. There will still be 2012 NHL Draft prospect-related content, just not the weekly series.

Also, expect more U.S. World Junior Spotlight posts per week in the lead up to the pre-tournament camp roster being announced.

It’s that exciting time of the year for both the holidays and hockey.

Hope you and yours have a Happy Thanksgiving and we’ll see you right back here on Monday.

Cheers!

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U.S. World Junior Spotlight: Justin Faulk

Posted on November 23, 2011 by Chris Peters

Justin Faulk -- Photo: USA Hockey

Justin Faulk — Defenseman
Hometown: South St. Paul, Minn.   Birthdate: March 20, 1992
Height/Weight: 6’0″/205
Current Team: Carolina Hurricanes (NHL)
NHL Rights: Carolina Hurricanes (2nd Rd., 37th overall, 2010)
National Team Experience: U.S. Under-17 Select Team (2008), National Team Development Program (2008-10), U.S. Men’s National Under-18 Team (gold, 2010), U.S. National Junior Team (bronze, 2011)

This might be the first World Junior Spotlight I’ve posted where I didn’t believe the player had much of a chance to be part of the U.S. National Junior Team. It isn’t because Faulk isn’t good enough. It’s that he might be too good.

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Posted in American Prospects, NCAA, NHL, NTDP, U.S. National Teams, USA Hockey, World Junior Championship | 1 Comment

Sidney Crosby Returns, American Hockey Wins

Posted on November 22, 2011 by Chris Peters

I am not supposed to like Sidney Crosby. I’m not exactly part of his key demographic. I’m not a Pittsburgh Penguins fan, the 1992 Stanley Cup Finals assured that. I’m not a Canadian with the 2010 Olympics not so far in my rear view mirror. I’m not one of the thousands (and I mean thousands) of American youth hockey players wearing No. 87 in rinks from Pennsylvania to California.

While I am none of those things, I have grown to respect and ultimately like Sidney Crosby (In spite of that whole Olympic thing. That was a rough one). When you consider the way he plays the game, the things he can do on the ice and the impact he has had off of it, it’s actually quite difficult for me to dislike him.

However, Crosby has no shortage of haters (who, I’m told, gon’ hate). He’s quite possibly the most polarizing player in the National Hockey League. I’m unsure if Gretzky or Lemieux ever garnered such passionate debate back and forth among the hockey faithful.

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Posted in Grow the Game, NHL, USA Hockey, Youth Hockey | 2 Comments

College Hockey Roundup: Early Season Surprises

Posted on November 21, 2011 by Chris Peters

This has been an incredibly fun and unpredictable season so far in college hockey. There has been no shortage of surprises on the ice, which makes the rest of the year really intriguing.

In the latest edition of College Hockey Roundup, we’ll take a look at the surprising standings, Rocco Grimaldi’s injury and Northeastern getting a verbal commitment from a an eighth grader.

All that, after the jump:

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Posted in American Prospects, NCAA, NHL Draft, Youth Hockey | 4 Comments

U.S. World Junior Spotlight: Brian Ferlin

Posted on November 18, 2011 by Chris Peters

Brian Ferlin Photo: USHL via DanSallows.com

Brian Ferlin — Right Wing
Hometown: Jacksonville, Fla.    Birthdate: June 3, 1992
Height/Weight: 6’2″/205
Current Team: Cornell University (ECACH)
NHL Rights: Boston Bruins (2011, 4th Rd., 121st overall)
National Team Experience: 2009 U.S. Under-18 Select Team (Ivan Hlinka)

He wasn’t even supposed to be there. In August, that is. He literally wasn’t supposed to be part of the U.S. National Junior Evaluation Camp. It was only after Brandon Saad mysteriously turned down his invitation to attend the camp that Ferlin was added to the roster. Then a funny thing happened… Ferlin played marvelously in Lake Placid. He was one of the 28 players who made it all the way to the end of camp.

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Posted in American Prospects, Junior Hockey, NCAA, NHL, U.S. National Teams, World Junior Championship | 1 Comment

American Prospect Update: 2012 NHL CSS Preliminary Rankings Reviewed

Posted on November 17, 2011 by Chris Peters

Through the efforts of the late E.J. McGuire, NHL Central Scouting lists have become more of a public affair. It brings attention to what CSS does, but more importantly, and I believe this was a big part of E.J.’s intent, it brings attention to the players. It informs the public of who these future NHL stars are, where they play and at the very least gives us an idea of how good these kids may be.

Earlier Thursday, the NHL released Central Scouting’s preliminary rankings for the 2012 NHL Entry Draft. This set of rankings lists the top-25 Junior players for each league, while gives a letter grade to college players and ranks European players by country.

These rankings will be revised at the mid-term and then one more time in April as the final rankings. There will be a lot of movement between now and then, guaranteed. So it’s important to take these initial rankings with a grain of salt. That said, they still give us an idea where players stand in the eyes of scouts at this early stage, which is nice.

Coming up after the jump, a look at Americans ranked by Central Scouting…

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Posted in American Prospects, Junior Hockey, NCAA, NHL, NHL Draft, NTDP | 4 Comments

American Prospect Update: International Standouts

Posted on November 16, 2011 by Chris Peters

Today marks the first of not one, but TWO American Prospect Updates this week. Today, we’ll focus on the standouts from the past international break. Then come on back Thursday as NHL Central Scouting will be releasing its 2012 NHL Entry Draft preliminary rankings, in which they rank players by league (separately). There’s bound to be a few surprises, so be sure to check back Thursday for a complete rundown of where the Americans stand in their respective leagues.

Getting back to the task at hand, the international break was very kind to some prospects and not so nice to others.

For members of the U.S. National Under-18 Team, an undefeated record against some stiff competition is only going to help. For the U.S. Junior Select Team, a disappointing third-place finish creates more questions than answers.

Coming up after the jump, analysis of who helped, and who may have hurt their draft stock in international play.

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Posted in American Prospects, Junior Hockey, NHL Draft, NTDP, U.S. National Teams | 1 Comment

Recapping USA Hockey’s November International Break

Posted on November 14, 2011 by Chris Peters

Of the five teams USA Hockey sent into international tournaments last week, three won titles. So all-in-all, that’s a pretty solid week.

The U.S. Women’s National Team defeated Canada in a shootout to earn the 2011 Women’s Four Nations Cup in Nykoping, Sweden. The U.S. National Under-18 Team went 3-0-0-0 en route to the 2011 Under-18 Four Nations Cup. The U.S. National Under-17 Team dominated the competition going 3-0-0-0 to win the 2011 Under-17 Four Nations Cup. The U.S. Junior Select Team got upset by Canada East in the semis at the World Junior A Challenge, but salvaged third place with a win over Sweden. Bringing up the rear was the U.S. Men’s Select Team that couldn’t manage a win in three tries at the Deutschland Cup.

Coming up after the jump, a quick recap and a few thoughts on each tournament…

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Posted in American Prospects, Junior Hockey, NHL Draft, NTDP, U.S. National Teams, USA Hockey, Women's Hockey | 1 Comment

U.S. World Junior Spotlight: Kyle Rau

Posted on November 10, 2011 by Chris Peters

Kyle Rau -- Photo via College Hockey, Inc.

Kyle Rau — Left Wing
Hometown: Eden Prairie, Minn.     Birthdate: October 24, 1992
Height/Weight: 5’8″/172
Current Team: University of Minnesota (WCHA)
NHL Rights: Florida Panthers (2011, 3rd Rd., 91st overall)
National Team Experience: 2009 U.S. Under-18 Select Team (Ivan Hlinka)

Kyle Rau is the first player profiled in the U.S. World Junior Spotlight that was not part of the National Junior Evaluation Camp. That he was not included in the camp wasn’t much of a surprise. Even though Rau was a third-round pick of the Florida Panthers and Minnesota Mr. Hockey, he was still an under-sized, average skater.

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