A Look At The All-American Prospects Game Roster
In just three short weeks, some of the top US-born junior hockey players will converge on Buffalo to participate in the CCM/USA Hockey All-American Prospects Game. This will be the third All-American Prospects Game in history and the second such event to be held in Buffalo, with last year’s game held in Pittsburgh at Consol Energy Center.
The game will be held at the First Niagara Center on Thursday, September 25 with puck drop set for 7 p.m. It will feature plenty of American-born 2015 NHL draft hopefuls, including top-ranked prospect Jack Eichel.
Here’s a closer look at the roster for the upcoming All-American Prospects Game. As it stands right now, the roster holds 42 players, 27 of whom will play in the United States Hockey League (USHL) for the 2014-2015 season. There are also seven players who will be in the Canadian Hockey League, with three WHLers, three QMJHLers and one OHLer. Three high school players, three college players and two NAHLers complete the roster.
Sixteen of the players on the roster for the All-American Prospects Game will play on the U.S. National Under-18 Team for the upcoming season.
Jack Eichel is the oldest player on the roster (born 10/28/96). Naturally, he’ll be one of the players everyone has their eye on. The Boston University freshman spent last season with the U.S. National Under-18 team, where he put up 20 goals and 25 assists for 45 points in just 24 games. He turns 18 next month and is being lauded as one of the top two picks in the 2015 NHL draft, along with Connor McDavid. For the record, McDavid is Canadian-born so he won’t be at the All-American Prospects Game, but you can still catch him in Buffalo when the Erie Otters come to town a week prior to the AAPG.
The youngest player on the roster? Forward Troy Terry of the U.S. National Under-18 Team. The 16-year-old spent last season with the Colorado Thunderbirds U16 team, where he put up 41 points in 31 games. He also appeared in one game with the USHL’s Indiana Ice and will join the U.S. National U-18 team for the upcoming season. Terry has a future college commitment to the University of Denver.
Other highlights on the roster for the upcoming All-American Prospects Game include several players from the Canadian Hockey Leagues.
From the QMJHL, there’s forwards Cameron Askew (’97, Moncton), Connor Moynihan (’97, Halifax) and Dennis Yan (’97, Shawinigan). Yan will be making his QMJHL debut after spending last season with the U.S. National U-17 team. Moynihan returns for his sophomore season with Halifax, while Askew joins Moncton after spending last year with Drummondville.
Coming from the WHL will be forwards Alec Baer (’97, Vancouver) and Paul Bittner (’96, Portland) and defenseman Brandon Carlo (’96, Tri-City). Baer will join the Giants for his second full season in the WHL, while this coming season will be Bittner’s third with the Winterhawks. It will also be Carlo’s second full season with the Americans.
The lone OHL rep will be defenseman Doug Blaisdell (’97, Kitchener). He spent last season with the Rangers, putting up 19 penalty minutes, three points and a minus-20 in 49 games.
Youngstown, NY native Joseph Cecconi will participate in the All-American Prospects Game. The University of Michigan commit will spend this upcoming season with the Muskegon Lumberjacks of the USHL.
Below, find the full roster for the CCM/USA Hockey All-American Prospects Game:
FORWARDS
Cameron Askew — Karch Bachman — Alec Baer — Paul Bittner — Brock Boeser — Jeremy Bracco — Kyle Connor — Taggart Corriveau — Jack Eichel — Christian Fischer — Mike Floodstrand — Erik Foley — Brent Gates — Jordan Greenway — Tanner Laczynski — Connor Moynihan — Tom Novak — Chase Pearson — Jack Roslovic — Ryan Smith — Troy Terry — Brendan Warren — Colin White — Dennis Yan
DEFENSEMEN
Doug Blaisdell — Nick Boka — Brandon Carlo — Joseph Cecconi — Tory Dello — Christian Evers — Casey Fitzgerald — Grant Gabriele — Noah Hanifin — Caleb Jones — Jack McNeely — Steven Ruggiero — Zach Werenski — Spenser Young
GOALTENDERS
Ryan Bednard — Mike Lackey — Ryan Larkin — Luke Opilka
Former Buffalo Sabres forward Mike Grier and former NHLer and current broadcast analyst Eddie Olczyk will act as coaches for the games. The roster hasn’t been formally split into teams yet, but this information should be coming as the All-American Prospects Game grows closer.
Tickets for the CCM/USA Hockey All-American Prospects Game can be purchased here and range from $7 to $10 before fees and taxes.