2017 NHL Draft hopefuls in spotlight

The next generation of United States-born NHL hopefuls will be in the spotlight at the 2016 USA Hockey All-American Prospects Game at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia on Thursday.
The event will feature 42 of the top U.S.-born players eligible for the 2017 NHL Draft who were picked by USA Hockey in conjunction with NHL Central Scouting.

"This event provides some of the best U.S. players eligible for next year's NHL draft the opportunity to showcase their talent on a national stage," said Jim Johannson, USA Hockey assistant executive director of hockey operations.
The teams will be coached by Hockey Hall of Fame member Mark Howe and United States Hockey Hall of Fame member John Leclair.
Among the players taking part in the game are four who received invitations to USA Hockey's National Junior Evaluation Camp in Plymouth, Michigan, in August: Goaltender Jake Oettinger, defenseman Luke Martin and forwards Kailer Yamamoto and Casey Mittelstadt.
The camp is the first step in picking the roster that will play for the U.S. at the 2017 IIHF World Junior Championship.
Martin, 18, Yamamoto, 17, and Mittlestadt, 17, will play for Team Howe. Oettinger, 17, will play for Team Leclair.
Martin (6-foot-2, 207 pounds), a freshman at the University of Michigan, spent two seasons with USA Hockey's National Team Development Program. With the NTDP Under-18 team last season, he had four goals and 16 assists in 63 games.
"He's a dynamic player that brings energy along with his skills and smarts," Director of NHL Central Scouting Dan Marr said. "Right now he's one of the few players that I would say is a pretty complete package."
Yamamoto (5-7, 153) led Spokane of the Western Hockey League last season with 71 points (19 goals, 52 assists) in 57 games, and helped the U.S. win the bronze medal at the 2016 IIHF World Under-18 Championship with seven goals in seven games, tied for the tournament lead.
"He's always a dominant player when he's on the ice, and he's capable of being a game changer," Marr said.
Mittelstadt (6-0, 201) will be a senior at Eden Prairie (Minn.) High School, and also will play for Green Bay of the United States Hockey League before and after the high school season. He had 59 points (22 goals, 37 assists) in 25 games with Eden Prairie last season.
"He's quick and fast with or without the puck," Central Scouting's Greg Rajanen said. "He's got very good puck skills and a high-end compete level."
Oettinger (6-4, 203), a freshman at Boston University, spent the past two seasons with the NTDP. With the NTDP U-18 team last season, he went 25-8-1 with a 2.38 goals-against average and .908 save percentage in 37 games.
"There's a lot to like about his game," Central Scouting's Al Jensen said. "He's a big goalie. Covers a lot of the net. His positional play is very good. He's got a phenomenal butterfly, great rebound control. He's got that NHL net presence when you look at him."
Also playing in the game are three players from the Philadelphia region: Defenseman Josh Maniscalco of the NTDP U-18 from Perkiomenville, Pennsylvania; forward Evan Barratt of the NTDP U-18 from Morrisville, Pa.; and goaltender Cayden Primeau of Lincoln of the United States Hockey League from Voorhees, New Jersey. Primeau is the son of former Philadelphia Flyers captain Keith Primeau.
ALL-AMERICAN PROSPECTS GAME ROSTERS
TEAM HOWE
GOALTENDERS:Keith Petruzzelli, Muskegon, USHL; Adam Scheel, USA U-18, USHL
DEFENSEMEN: David Farrance, USA U-18, USHL; Max Gildon, USA U-18, USHL; Josh Maniscalco, USA U-18, USHL; Luke Martin, Michigan, BIG10; Thomas Miller, USA U-18, USHL; Ben Mirageas, Bloomington, USHL; Clayton Phillips, Fargo, USHL
FORWARDS: Logan Cockerill, USA U-18, USHL; Cole Coskey, Saginaw, OHL; Patrick Khodorenko, Michigan State, BIG10; Mick Messner, Madison, USHL; Matt Miller, Victory Honda U18, USMAAAE; Casey Mittelstadt, Eden Prairie, HIGH-MN; RJ Murphy, Dubuque, USHL; Joshua Norris, USA U-18, USHL; Michael Pastujov, USA U-18, USHL; Scott Reedy, USA U-18, USHL; Jason Robertson, Kingston, OHL; Kailer Yamamoto, Spokane, WHL
TEAM LECLAIR
GOALTENDERS: Jake Oettinger, Boston University, H-EAST; Cayden Primeau, Lincoln, USHL
DEFENSEMEN: Michael Anderson, Waterloo, USHL; Ronald Brickey, Muskegon, USHL; Philip Kemp, USA U-18, USHL; Nate Knoepke, USA U-18, USHL; Tyler Inamoto, USA U-18, USHL; Jack Rathbone, Dexter School, HIGH-MA; Reilly Walsh, Chicago, USHL
FORWARDS: Evan Barratt, USA U-18, USHL; Alexander Chmelevski, Ottawa, OHL; Sean Dhooghe, USA U-18, USHL; Logan Hutsko, USA U-18, USHL; Mark Kastelic, Calgary, WHL; Ivan Lodnia, Erie, OHL; Kyle MacLean, Oshawa, OHL; Brannon McManus, Omaha, USHL; Grant Mismash, USA U-18, USHL; Ryan Poehling, St. Cloud State, NCHC; Austin Pratt, Red Deer, WHL; Jacob Tortora, USA U-18, USHL