NHL Draft: Ranking the Top 15 American Eligibles — Part II (9-15)

Posted on June 22, 2011 by Chris Peters

Previously on The United States of Hockey… I unveiled the first eight players listed on my list of the Top 15 Americans eligible for the 2011 NHL Entry Draft. Now it’s time for the conclusion.

Some of my choices for the second half might be a little bit off the beaten path, but that’s because I think in an unpredictable year, sometimes you just have to go with your gut. There’s still a ton of value, but I’ve had a hard time determining just who’s more valuable than who.

So instead of stalling any further, here’s a look at the last six players on my list and a few honorable mentions for good measure.

Continue reading →

Posted in American Prospects, Junior Hockey, NCAA, NHL Draft, NTDP | 1 Comment

NHL Draft: Ranking the Top 15 Eligible Americans — Part I (1-8)

Posted on June 21, 2011 by Chris Peters

It’s that time of year when everyone puts out their rankings and we get a feel for where some of these players will land. Only this year, it’s a little different. Outside of Ryan Nugent-Hopkins being the consensus number one pick, there’s uncertainty throughout the draft. The order is going to be unpredictable.

Since this blog focuses on the American side of the game, I decided to put together a quick American-only ranking.

This year isn’t thought to be as strong for Americans as year’s past. To be honest, it’s just that kind of draft. From top to bottom, there’s a lot more question marks than sure things. Scouting staffs had their work cut out for them this year, as it will be quite a challenge to make the right calls as the draft wears on.

The good news about this draft, however, is that there are a lot of kids with a ton of upside that are only beginning to realize their potential. There aren’t a lot of players that have proven to be NHL-ready, which for most teams should be just fine. After all, the NHL Draft has always been more about what’s to come a few years down the line, than the here and now, unless you own the first few picks.

So moving right along, here is Part I of my Top 15 Americans available in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft.

Continue reading →

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

NHL Draft: The Players I’ll be Watching Closely in St. Paul

Posted on June 20, 2011 by Chris Peters

The National Hockey League Entry Draft has gotten bigger every year in its coverage and fan interest. Nowadays, it seems like everyone wants to know everything about prospects. Which is great. It’s showing that hockey fans don’t just want to know about the NHL, they want to look beyond. They want to know more about the game’s development systems and Junior leagues. Mostly, they still just want to know which kid their NHL team should pick, but the draft at least expands a hockey fan’s horizons a bit.

Needless to say, it’s a great development in the evolution of hockey fans in the United States. Why do you think there are now approximately 10,051 a bunch of Draft guides on the market right now? It’s hot info.

If you’ve followed this blog for any extended period of time, you know I’ve tried to bring as much news about American prospects as possible to the forefront. As I will be attending the Draft in St. Paul Friday and Saturday, this entire week will be dedicated to Draft coverage.

To kick off this week’s Draft-centered content, I take a look at the players that I will be watching with the greatest interest this weekend. Check it out, after the jump.

Continue reading →

Posted in American Prospects, Junior Hockey, NCAA, NHL Draft, NTDP | Comments Off on NHL Draft: The Players I’ll be Watching Closely in St. Paul

Raw Numbers: USA Hockey Surpasses 500,000 Registered Players in 2010-11

Posted on June 17, 2011 by Chris Peters

USA Hockey recently unveiled its registration numbers for the 2010-11 season. Let’s just say it was good news for hockey in the United States.

During the 2010-11 campaign, USA Hockey had 500,579 hockey players registered throughout the country. It is the first time in USA Hockey’s history that the organization has eclipsed the 500,000-player mark.

In addition to surpassing a major milestone, USA Hockey’s player membership spiked by nearly 5.5%. There are 25,987 more players this year than there were last. It is the largest increase in membership since USA Hockey’s registration ballooned from 303,611 in 1993-94 to 350,077 in 1994-95 (15.3% jump).

Perhaps the most encouraging numbers produced by USA Hockey was that it saw its largest gains in the 6 & Under category. There were 5,446 more 6 & Under players in 2010-11 than there were in 2009-10, an 11.1% increase. Retention is always hard, but getting a higher volume of kids involved in the game at an earlier age is a great head start.

In addition to tremendous growth at the 6 & Under level, the 7- and 8-year-old group also picked up some steam in 2010-11 as its membership increased by 7.7%.

Adult hockey membership has been on the climb across the country as well. This past hockey season was no different. Adult hockey membership spiked by 10.9% nationally thanks to 14,712 additional players signing up in 2010-11.

Another piece of encouraging news was the fact that girls’ and women’s hockey had a nice growth spurt in 2010-11 as well. Female membership was up by 6.49% overall. The girls’ 8 & Under (+10.4%) and 6 & Under (+14.6%) groups were big contributors to the growth as well.

Looking at USA Hockey’s state-by-state numbers there is a lot more to get excited about. Coming up after the jump, a look at some of the highlights including a surprise in Michigan, the Stanley Cup Effect in Illinois, Pennsylvania’s hockey boom and more.

Continue reading →

Posted in Grow the Game, NHL, USA Hockey, Youth Hockey | 8 Comments

Tim Thomas: American Hockey Hero

Posted on June 16, 2011 by Chris Peters

Minutes before NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman handed Boston Bruins captain Zdeno Chara the Stanley Cup, the commish invited Tim Thomas to accept the Conn Smythe Trophy. For just the second time in NHL history, an American was named the MVP of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

His playoff run was one for the ages.

Shawn P. Roarke of NHL.com explains the numbers behind Thomas’s historic run:

Thomas, at 37 the oldest player to win the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP, set NHL records for most saves in one playoff year (798), most shots faced in one playoff year (849) and most saves in a Stanley Cup Final (238). He also became the first goalie to post a shutout on the road in Game 7 of the Final.

In the Final, Thomas posted a 1.15 goals-against average and a .967 save percentage, the lowest total in each category in the modern era among goaltenders with at least five appearances.

The legend grows.

Continue reading →

Posted in NHL, USA Hockey | 1 Comment

The Stanley Cup Effect: When the Local Team Wins, So Does Amateur Hockey (UPDATED)

Posted on June 15, 2011 by Chris Peters

The best trophy in all of sport will be awarded in Vancouver, B.C., tonight. For the players who hoist the Stanley Cup, a dream is realized and immortality is gained. There’s also a lot to gain for the local hockey communities of each team as well.

When the local team wins the Stanley Cup, there’s a buzz about hockey. The excitement surrounding the team leads to excitement surrounding the game. All of the sudden, people want to like hockey. They want to become fans. They’re hooked.

Since the Cup will go to one of two already hockey-adoring cities, the impact may not be as profound in Vancouver or Boston as some of the previous Cup-winning cities. Nonetheless, it gives hockey a boost in the public eye and perhaps some local folks who haven’t warmed up to the game start looking at it a little differently.

There are very easy indicators of the Stanley Cup’s impact on a city. You can easily look at season ticket sales, which would undoubtedly go up. We’ll probably see better television ratings in the local markets during the regular season next year, and so on.

However, if you read this blog regularly, you know that I prefer to talk in terms of how the NHL has helped grow the game in the United States from a hockey membership standpoint. To me, that tells us just how influential the local NHL team is becoming. And when you have that big silver chalice floating around your city, that’s as influential as it gets.

In most cases, a state’s hockey membership spiked after the Stanley Cup was won by the NHL team in that state. Coming up after a jump, a look at the most notable instances of The Stanley Cup Effect in the last 20 years.

Continue reading →

Posted in Grow the Game, NHL, USA Hockey, Youth Hockey | Comments Off on The Stanley Cup Effect: When the Local Team Wins, So Does Amateur Hockey (UPDATED)

Decision is In: Body Checking Delayed to Bantam Age Level

Posted on June 13, 2011 by Chris Peters

The hottest topic since USA Hockey’s winter meetings in January was what USA Hockey calls its Progressive Checking Skills Development Program. The program is highlighted by increased body contact at all age levels of hockey, but the part that has raised a big hullabaloo was the fact that body checking would not be allowed until the Bantam age level.

At Saturday morning’s Board of Directors Meetings, the Progressive Checking Skills Development Program, also known as Rule 94b, passed with 88% approval. Beginning in the 2011-12 season, full body checking will be prohibited at the Pee Wee level.

The rule also covers tightening the standards of play for intimidating hits at the legal checking age-levels (Bantam and above). In addition, USA Hockey passed rules that “prohibit any check that comes in contact with the head or neck,” at all levels of amateur hockey in the U.S.

Continue reading →

Posted in USA Hockey, Youth Hockey | Comments Off on Decision is In: Body Checking Delayed to Bantam Age Level

2012 WJC: U.S. National Junior Evaluation Camp Roster: Forwards, Part II

Posted on June 10, 2011 by Chris Peters

Having already taken a look at the defensemen and the draft-eligible forwards invited to the National Junior Evaluation Camp, it’s time to close this thing out.

Of the 26 forwards invited to camp, 12 have already been drafted by NHL teams. Of those 12, five were first-round selections in 2010, while four were taken in the second round.

Also out of this group, four players are returning from the 2010 bronze-medal winning U.S. National Junior Team.

There’s a lot of talent among these remaining forwards and plenty of favorites to earn a spot on the U.S. roster. Learn more about them after the jump.

Continue reading →

Posted in American Prospects, Junior Hockey, NCAA, NHL, NHL Draft, NTDP, U.S. National Teams, USA Hockey, World Junior Championship | Comments Off on 2012 WJC: U.S. National Junior Evaluation Camp Roster: Forwards, Part II

2012 WJC: U.S. National Junior Evaluation Camp Roster — 2011 Draft-Eligible Forwards

Posted on June 10, 2011 by Chris Peters

Thursday morning, USA Hockey announced the 4o skaters invited to participate in the 2011 U.S. National Junior Evaluation Camp in Lake Placid, N.Y., this August. The camp features candidates vying to earn a roster spot on the 2012 U.S. National Junior Team. The camp is simply an early step in the official evaluation process, but it’s an important one.

Yesterday, we profiled each of the 14 defensemen invited to camp. Today, we’ll fill you in on all 26 forwards invited to camp in two parts. Part II is coming up later Friday afternoon.

In Part I, we’ll focus on the forwards that are eligible for the 2011 Draft. Earning an invite to this camp won’t necessarily boost draft stock a great deal, but it certainly doesn’t hurt.

The 1992 birth class was known for being deep, particularly on defense. However, the class as a whole is one of the deepest groups of American prospects in some time. This U.S. National Junior Team, as astutely mentioned by Chris Dilks on Western College Hockey Blog, will rely heavily on players from that birth year.

The 1993 birth year may not be nearly as deep as the 1992s, however the top end of the class is elite. While the roster will rely heavily on 19-year-olds at the forward position, there are going to be at least two or three from the 1993 class that will need to come in and make an impact offensively, while also gaining valuable experience for the 2013 World Juniors.

Coming up after the jump, complete analysis of each of the draft-eligible forwards invited to the National Junior Evaluation Camp.

Continue reading →

Posted in American Prospects, Junior Hockey, NCAA, NHL, NHL Draft, NTDP, U.S. National Teams, USA Hockey, World Junior Championship | Comments Off on 2012 WJC: U.S. National Junior Evaluation Camp Roster — 2011 Draft-Eligible Forwards

2012 WJC: U.S. National Junior Evaluation Camp Roster — Defensemen

Posted on June 9, 2011 by Chris Peters

It might be more than six months away, but the first step towards the 2012 IIHF World Junior Championship was taken earlier Thursday. USA Hockey unveiled the 40 skaters that have been invited to the 2011 U.S. National Junior Evaluation Camp. The camp takes place at the Olympic Center in Lake Placid, N.Y., August 6-11.

In addition to a series of practices and scrimmages, Finland and Sweden will bring select teams full of WJC candidates to compete against the U.S. Before the camp is narrowed down, a pair of U.S. split squads will take on either Finland or Sweden. After the initial cuts are made, the remaining American players will take part in three games, one against Finland and two against Sweden.

Keep in mind, there are often players that emerge later in the selection process that were not in camp. While only 40 skaters are invited to camp, there’s a larger list from which players will be evaluated throughout the season. Jamie Oleksiak came out of virtually nowhere last year to earn a spot in the pre-tournament camp in December, though he was ultimately cut. He’ll have another crack at it this year, as we take a look at each of the 14 defensemen invited.

Continue reading →

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