Many of the top American, 2003-born forwards converged on the Northtown Center in Amherst, N.Y., earlier this month for a chance to showcase their talent at the 2019 USA Hockey Select 16 Player Development Camp.
The camp was used as a selection tool by USA Hockey to determine who would make the team that will compete in the Under-17 Five Nations Tournament.
One local player, Cushing center Billy Norcross (Lynn, Mass.), was named to the U.S. Under-17 Men's Select Team that will compete at the Five Nations Tournament this August in Germany.
Below is a look at the top forwards from the 2019 USA Hockey Select 16 Player Development Camp:
Top Forwards
1. Bennett Schimek
#13 Navy, Gentry 16U, 4/15/03, Right Shot, 5-10/170
NCAA Commit: Miami
Schimek led the camp in scoring and left no doubt as to who the top forward was here in Amherst. He’s smart, has terrific vision, and knows where to go to get to pucks and get open for teammates to find him. He’s quick, sneaky and hard to defend. He made a ton of plays, including some where he showed great patience with the puck. He waited for the goalie to go down and slipped around him to easily slide the puck into the back of the net on one of his goals. He pulled up, waited for a defender to bite and hit a wide open trailer for a golden opportunity in the All-Star Game.
2. Tyler Haskins
#16 Forest, Chicago Mission 16U, 7/7/03, Left Shot, 6-0/153
NCAA Commit: Michigan
Haskins has all the makings of a NHL player someday. He’s a power forward who combines size, strength and skill. He plays with a purpose, drives the net, and is relentless on the forecheck. He’s hard to play against and difficult to knock off his feet. He wins a lot of puck battles and scored on a regular basis here at camp. With the intensity picked up in the All-Star Game, his ability to be heavy on pucks continued to stand out.
3. Kenny Connors
#11 Royal, Mount Saint Charles 16U, 3/10/03, Left Shot, 5-11.75/185
NCAA Commit: UMass
Connors’ game has really taken off over the last 12 months. He does a good job of using his size and strength to drive the net, get to pucks and win battles, be heavy and then protect those pucks from opposing defenders. He has a quick release on his hard shot. While he’s not as flashy as some other forwards, he’s effective and knows the type of player he is.
4. Davis Burnside
#10 Black, Tri-City Storm, 9/22/03, Right Shot, 5-9.75/167
NCAA Commit: Ohio State
Burnside made a consistent impact in the offensive zone. He has a hard shot and is heavy on pucks, two of his calling cards. However, he showed more of an ability to make plays. He saw the ice well and displayed nifty hands and agility to maneuver in small areas.
5. Matt Argentina
#15 Columbia, Waterloo Black Hawks, 1/16/03, Right Shot, 5-10.25/180
NCAA Commit: Notre Dame
Argentina was really good here. He drove the net, was heavy on pucks, and scored a couple of big time goals on Thursday. He scored another nice goal on the power play during Saturday’s All-Star Game. He skates well and is strong on his skates.
6. Gleb Veremyev
#15 Black, NJ Rockets 16U, 6/28/03, Left Shot, 6-2.75/190
Veremyev has good size, protects pucks, and creates space for his teammates due to his large frame. He made several nice passes to teammates after drawing the defense to him then using his reach to get around those opposing defenders. He made a couple of big hits and scored a really nice goal off a hard wrist shot. As a big winger, his skating will need to continue to get better, but there’s a lot of upside. He’s back on the market after de-committing from Western Michigan.
7. David Hymovitch
#16 White, Phoenix Jr. Coyotes 16U, 8/14/03, Right Shot, 5-9.75/155
Hymovitch saw his stock soar here, perhaps more so than any other forward at camp. He has a good shot, puck skills, and was crafty in small areas. His release on his wrist shot is deceptive and he can pick his spots. He also made a nice play for an assist in the All-Star Game.
8. Jackson Blake
#14 Navy, Eden Prairie HS, 8/3/03, Right Shot, 5-6.5/131
NCAA Commit: North Dakota
Blake keeps his feet moving and can stickhandle in a phone booth. His agility and hands allow him to be extremely effective in small areas. He plays with a chip on his shoulder and wasn’t afraid to go to the greasy areas here.
9. Griffin Jurecki
#15 Navy, Little Caesars 18U, 5/3/03, Left Shot, 5-9/158
Jurecki is a fun player to watch as he gives it all his each shift. While he produced offensively here, his future probably is as a bottom six, energy forward. And, that’s not an insult. He’s incredible good in that role. He’s fast, which allowed him to make an impact on the rush at the camp. He was all over pucks and was impactful as the F1. He blocked shots, including one in the All-Star Game, which he turned into a breakaway bid. His vision and shot release are two areas of his offensive skill set that could use some improvement.
10. Jack Silich
#15 Forest, Junior Bruins, 6/20/03, Right Shot, 5-8.25/177
NCAA Commit: Quinnipiac
Silich is a physically mature forward who is dangerous when the puck on his stick. He has a really hard shot and is tough to knock off pucks. He’s reportedly leaving the Chicago Mission for the Junior Bruins in USPHL NCDC.
11. Samuel Lipkin
#19 Forest, Chicago Steel, 1/3/03, Left Shot, 6-0.75/180
Lipkin is a little inconsistent still, but he has the physical tools to explode offensively. He’s tall and has a good reach, which allows him to uncork a deceptive wrist shot. In the All-Star Game, he took his game to a whole new level by driving the net, lowering his shoulder and forcing his way to the scoring areas, and being quicker than previously thought.
12. Ryan Humphrey
#12 White, Honeybaked 16U, 4/8/03, Left Shot, 5-9.5/169
Humphrey had a really strong finish to the week. He scored a couple of goals in the All-Star Game, one on a rebound and one on a nice shot from the high slot. He has a really good shot with pinpoint accuracy. He’s heavy on pucks and his game is trending upwards.
13. Daniel Sambuco
#18 Gold, Gunnery, 6/10/03, Left Shot, 5-11/192
NCAA Commit: Providence
Sambuco is a fun player to watch as he goes a thousand miles per hour and plays hard. He’s all over the ice and is an explosive power forward. He had a huge hit as the F1 to break up a breakout bid. He’s heavy on pucks and recorded a nice assist by wheeling past an opposing defender before sending it out front for a tap in goal. Some of his habits need work, like stopping and starting instead of circling, but there’s a lot to like. His style of play will fit in nicely at Providence.
14. Billy Norcross
#19 Navy, Cushing, 3/16/03, Right Shot, 5-11.25/167
This was a coming out party of sense for Norcross, who played a limited role over the past two winters for Cushing. He was very effective below the dots, heavy on pucks, hard to knock off pucks, and made some plays to facilitate offensive chances after winning wall battles.
15. Matt McGroarty
#10 Royal, Brunswick, 1/30/03, Right Shot, 5-10/159
NCAA Commit: Quinnipiac
McGroarty plays the game the right way. He’s a 200-foot player, competes hard in all three zones, and scores. He’s smart, sees the ice well, and can make plays to his teammates. He goes to the net and pursues pucks. He’ll really fit in well in Quinnipiac’s style.
16. JP Turner
#11 Columbia, Avon Old Farms, 1/31/03, Right Shot, 5-10.25/186
NCAA Commit: New Hampshire
Turner plays hard, competes, and is heavy on pucks. His strength is dominating physically below the dots. He throws his weight around and he wins a lot of battles for loose pucks. He has a hard shot and goes to the net to screen the goalie or tip shots. He scored a great goal in the All-Star Game, letting one rip just under the bar. His feet are his weakness, but they are getting better and aren’t as much of a detriment as some observers, including this one, previously believed.
17. Vincent Salice
#14 Forest, Undecided, 2/28/03, Left Shot, 5-4.5/146
NCAA Commit: Ohio State
Salice is a gifted offensive player with quickness and puck skills. He has speed to separate from opposing defenders and the shiftiness to make plays in small areas. He has a quick stick and forces turnovers with his compete and quickness when it comes to hunting pucks. There are a few small details in his game that could improve going forward.
18. Jack Musa
#19 Royal, Trinity-Pawling, 6/22/03, Left Shot, 5-6/128
Musa had a really good start to the camp and kept it going for the most part. He skates well and can make plays on the rush as well as in zone sequences. He has good vision and made a couple of nice passes while also going to the greasy areas to get off good looks on shots. He has a bulldog mentality and plays bigger than his size.
19. Tim Delay
#12 Red, St. Sebastian’s, 6/16/03, Right Shot, 6-0.25/162
NCAA Commit: Boston College
Delay used his speed to his advantage early in the week. He’s an elite skater who can make things happen on the rush. His ability to beat defenders wide and separate before getting off shots or dishing it to open teammates allowed him to produce. If he can get heavier on pucks and continue getting better in regards to seeing the ice, he’ll be more effective when the pace picks up.
20. Jak Vaarwerk
#12 Grey, Buffalo Jr. Sabres 16U, 6/13/03, Left Shot, 5-9.25/163
Vaarwerk is smart and effective in all three zones. He sees the ice well and hunts pucks before finding open teammates.
21. Owen McLaughlin
#18 Navy, Valley Forge 16U, 3/25/03, Left Shot, 5-10.25/136
McLaughlin was another under the radar player coming into this camp, having played for Valley Forge and Hill School. He had a breakaway goal on Friday and showed nice touch on his passes, including for an assist in the All-Star Game. He has skill and skates well.
22. Oliver Flynn
#17 White, Loomis Chaffee, 6/13/03, Left Shot, 5-11.75/164
Flynn had a good week that helped him put himself further on the radar after coming onto the scene following a strong New England District Camp back in March at the New England Sports Village. He has a hard shot and has the reach and skating to protect pucks.
23. Riley Brueck
#11 White, Oakland Jr. Grizzlies 16U, 5/7/03, Left Shot, 6-0/167
Brueck might not be as flashy as other players, but he has good size, skates well, and has better touch than given credit for. He is heavy and plays hard throughout all 200 feet. He scored a nice goal by waiting the goaltender out and slipping it in right inside the post. He scored another goal by driving to the net. His vision and offensive instincts are one area of his game that could continue to get better.
24. Paul Minnehan
#18 Grey, Undecided, 4/9/03, Left Shot, 6-0.75/161
Minnehan is one of those players who looks the part with his size. He can get up and down the sheet and he just finds a way to get on the score sheet.
25. Culin Wilson
#14 Gold, Dexter, 3/12/03, Left Shot, 5-11/180
Wilson is heavy on pucks and has a hard shot. He sees the ice well and makes some nice looks from the walls and down low after winning puck battles. His skating and ability to play at such a high pace caught up to him at times in this up-and-down style at national camp.
26. Nick Roukounakis
#17 Grey, Thayer, 9/8/03, Left Shot, 6-1/227
NCAA Commit: Boston University
Roukounakis has a hard shot, is tough to defend, especially below the dots, and is heavy on pucks. He’s stronger and bigger, which allows him to protect pucks and win a lot of battles. This kind of up-and-down action isn’t where he’s best suited, which is probably why he didn’t produce as much as he sometimes does.
27. Paul Davey
#12 Kelly, Avon Old Farms, 1/11/03, Right Shot, 6-0.5/164
NCAA Commit: Boston College
Davey has plenty of size and talent. His physical tools allow him to make some highlight reel passes, protect pucks with his long arms, and get off good shots. If he can be more engaged away from the puck and be more of a consistent threat each shift, his stock will rise further.
28. Luke Buss
#17 Columbia, Shattuck St. Mary’s 16U, 2/14/03, Right Shot, 5-8.25/156
Buss was one of the pleasant surprises of the camp. He’s strong on his skates and protects pucks. He drove the net, has a good shot, and made a couple of nice passes. Being more assertive on a more consistent basis will help his game blossom further.
29. Shawn O’Donnell
#17 Gold, Pittsburgh Penguins Elite 16U, 6/21/03, Left Shot, 5-9.75/167
O’Donnell will need to continue to keep improving his skating, but he’s a gamer. He gets a lot of chances and plays hard each shift. He’s strong on pucks and not afraid to mix it up physically. His skill and vision are both better than he’s given credit for.
30. Dominic Rivelli
#10 Gold, Chicago Mission 16U, 8/1/03, Right Shot, 5-8.5/162
NCAA Commit: Miami
Rivelli is quick and skilled. If he can bulk up and be more of a force in between the circles, he’ll continue to grow as a prospect.
Honorable Mention (Alphabetical Order)
Zachary Aben
#16 Royal, Mount Saint Charles 16U, 12/12/03, Left Shot, 5-8.75/162
Aben banged home a centering feed for a goal on an odd man rush during Thursday’s game. He’ll be joining Mount Saint Charles this upcoming season.
Anthony Agostinelli
#19 Gold, Buffalo Jr. Sabres 16U, 1/7/03, Right Shot, 5-10/159
Agostinelli can pull off a highlight reel goal, as he did on Friday, but he has to learn to use his teammates and be more engaged away from the puck. His stick, skating and how strong he is on pucks are three traits that will carry him a long way if he can improve the other aspects of his game.
Carter Batchelder
#16 Red, Eden Prairie HS, 2/25/03, Left Shot, 5-9.25/171
NCAA Commit: Colorado College
Batchelder has speed and can make plays, but needs to play less on the perimeter.
Cam Bergeman
#12 Royal, North Jersey Avalanche 16U, 2/11/03, Left Shot, 5-6/137
Bergeman made it to the All-Star Game thanks to a solid week offensively. He’s gained a step and made some plays. If he can be more assertive and play less on the perimeter on a more consistent basis, his game will take off further.
Jake Bongo
#15 Red, Selects Academy 16U, 2/4/03, Right Shot, 5-7.25/132
Bongo pursues pucks and plays between the dots, despite not being the biggest of players.
Jackson Borst
#19 White, Edina HS, 2/7/03, Right Shot, 6-0.75/168
Borst has size, a good shot, and can control play down low. He wasn’t as good this week as expected following an appearance in NTDP Evaluation Camp. A season playing fourth line for a very deep Edina team might have staggered his development some. There’s still a lot of upside in his physical tools.
Matthew Brille
#16 Gold, NJ Rockets 16U, 1/2/03, Right Shot, 5-7.25/159
Brille has a good net front presence and is above average when it comes to cycling and playing below the dots. He made a good look to the middle after winning a battle along the right wing wall. His skating and ability to play at pace are both areas of his game he can work on.
Evan Brown
#17 Kelly, NJ Rockets 16U, 10/14/03, Right Shot, 5-5.5/134
Brown competes hard and has a high motor.
Davis Codd
#10 White, Saginaw Spirit, 8/19/03, Right Shot, 5-8/159
Codd is a good player who impressed all season long, but he didn’t bring it to the level he’s capable of during this camp. When he’s at his best, he’s hunting pucks, competing for in the corners, and playing with an edge. He can create offense when he’s playing his game.
Matt Copponi
#15 White, Undecided, 6/4/03, Right Shot, 5-9/140
Copponi works hard and is able to hunt pucks before finding open teammates. He's a versatile forward, who can excel in any situation. He had a really good start to the camp.
Paul DeSaro
#11 Red, Selects Academy 16U, 9/16/03, Right Shot, 5-7/172
DeSaro scores by going around the dirty areas and having a knack for the puck.
Ben Doran
#18 Red, NJ Rockets 16U, 2/27/03, Left Shot, 5-9.25/169
Doran skates and competes well while having touch on his passes. He also had a nice high finish for a goal. His offensive instincts are an area of his game that could improve in order to keep him developing upward over the next few years.
Henry Dotterer
#14 White, Rochester Coalition 16U, 9/15/03, Left Shot, 5-7.5/165
Dotterer has good wheels and will be with Rochester Coalition this upcoming season.
Copeland Fricker
#13 Kelly, Selects Academy 16U, 8/20/03, Right Shot, 5-6.75/147
Fricker has strong compete and will to get to pucks. When he’s going hard, being relentless on the forecheck and keeping things simple, he’s at his best.
Wes Griffin
#14 Columbia, Undecided, 2/16/03, Right Shot, 5-10.75/187
Griffin was noticeable a few times. He made a couple of hard hits, skated well, and scored a goal in game action this observer saw.
Arvega Hovsepyan
#18 Royal, Shattuck St. Mary’s 16U, 4/2/03, Right Shot, 5-7.75/182
Hovsepyan has above average hands and is gritty enough to go into the dirty areas and keep his feet moving.
Bryce Howard
#18 Kelly, Compuware 16U, 10/29/03, Left Shot, 5-6.5/165
Howard has good wheels, got to pucks quickly, and showed he had a knack for the puck and the net.
Eric Kaczynski
#14 Black, LI Gulls 16U, 10/1/03, Left Shot, 6-1/171
Kaczynski has size and reach to be a solid bottom six winger.
Tyler Kopf
#13 Grey, North Jersey Avalanche 16U, 4/22/03, Left Shot, 5-10.5/167
Kopf is heavy on pucks and has a hard shot. If his skating can improve further, he’ll gain more interest from college coaches. He’s somewhat similar to North Jersey Avalanche product Christian Sarlo, an RPI commit currently playing for the Chicago Steel.
Jack Kurrle
#13 Forest, Selects Academy 16U, 1/28/03, Left Shot, 5-11.75/166
NCAA Commit: Vermont
Kurrle had a solid week, but got hurt early in the Thursday game. Hoping for a speedy recovery for the Catamount commit.
Noah Laba
#14 Royal, Oakland Jr. Grizzlies 16U, 4/8/03, Right Shot, 6-0.25/173
Laba is probably a bottom six forward going forward, but he plays the game with jam. He’s heavy on pucks, blocks shots, and competes for everything he gets.
Clint Levens
#13 Columbia, Florida Alliance 16U, 6/19/03, Right Shot, 6-0.75/172
Levens is a physical forward who throws his weight around a lot. He disrupts the opposition’s breakout and has better hands than given credit for.
Connor Mahony
#10 Red, Blake HS, 2/14/03, Right Shot, 5-5.75/163
Mahony was very effective on the rush, whether it be dishing the puck off or shooting it himself. If he can get harder on pucks as he bulks up, he could earn a college commit.
Jared Mangan
#17 Navy, Trinity-Pawling, 4/8/03, Left Shot, 5-8.75/140
Mangan skates well and had a fairly productive week here. He’ll be a good addition for Bobby Ferraris at the prep school level.
CJ Monturio
#10 Forest, Thayer, 2/21/03, Right Shot, 5-10/161
Monturio was injured early in the week and is expected to miss a few months. Hopefully he'll be recovered in time for the prep school season.
PJ Neal
#10 Kelly, Avon Old Farms, 2/12/03, Left Shot, 5-6.25/172
Neal is gritty, brings energy, goes to the net, and can shoot it. His vision and skating are both areas that could use improvement as he enters his third season of prep hockey.
Connor Pelc
#16 Columbia, Buffalo Jr. Sabres 16U, 4/28/03, Right Shot, 6-1/195
Pelc has good size, uses his strength to win battles, and his reach to protect pucks. He has a hard shot and can produce, but his offensive instincts could improve some.
Brandon Reller
#17 Forest, Maple Grove HS, 5/12/03, Left Shot, 6-2.25/194
Reller needs to improve his skating, but his size and potential are intriguing.
William Renfrew
#12 Columbia, Little Caesars 16U, 8/14/03, Left Shot, 5-9.5/164
Renfrew is a bottom six forward who does a lot of the little things. He’s on the right side of the puck and he blocks shots. He also showed a couple of glimpses of offensive skill during Thursday’s game.
Max Resnick
#15 Grey, Florida Alliance 16U, 9/14/03, Right Shot, 5-9.75/167
Resnick is a player to keep an eye on with his compete and skating. He’s still a ways away from being a USHL player.
Nick Ring
#14 Grey, Boston Advantage 16U, 10/26/03, Right Shot, 5-8.25/151
NCAA Commit: New Hampshire
Ring had a really good game on Friday, scoring a backhand goal right under the crossbar. He skates well and made a nice block on the penalty kill.
Michael Salandra
#13 Gold, North Jersey Avalanche 16U, 6/13/03, Right Shot, 5-6.5/143
Salandra is quick and slick with the pucks due to his agility and above average hands. He showed he wasn’t afraid to go to the net and poke around for loose rebounds.
Conner Schneider
#11 Navy, Shattuck St. Mary’s 16U, 8/17/03, Left Shot, 5-8.75/179
Schneider has a high compete, skates fairly well, and forechecks with authority. However, his offensive upside is limited.
Eddie Shepler
#10 Grey, Honeybaked 16U, 2/5/03, Right Shot, 5-9.25/177
Shepler showed more offensive upside here than he sometimes does. He scored a nice power play goal on Thursday and went to the doorstep for a goal Friday. He works hard and is heavy on pucks.
Max Strand
#15 Royal, Roseau HS, 9/3/03, Right Shot, 5-8.25/173
Strand did a good job of driving the net and playing with a purpose, despite not being the biggest in stature. If he can keep his feet moving on a more consistent basis, he’ll improve his stock further.
Frank Tafelski
#19 Red, Honeybaked 16U, 1/28/03, Right Shot, 5-10/153
