5 things learned at 2023 USA Hockey All-American Game

PLYMOUTH, Mich. -- William Smith of the USA Hockey National Team Development Program Under-18 team was named Most Valuable Player at the 2023 USA Hockey BioSteel All-American Game at USA Hockey Arena on Monday.

The game featured skaters and goalies from the NTDP Under-18 team and United States Hockey League.
Smith, a center who is No. 3 in NHL Central Scouting's midterm ranking of North American skaters presented by BioSteel, had two goals, an assist and a plus-3 rating for Team Blue in a 6-3 win against Team White.
"I think instead of pressure, I looked at this as more of an opportunity," said Smith, the highest-ranked player participating in the game. "I mean, you see how many people were here. You try not to look at the rankings and spend too much attention on the media, but you always want to catch the guy in front of you."
Smith (6 feet, 181 pounds) scored on a penalty shot 4:01 into the third period for a 5-2 lead.
"I knew I was going low glove the entire way," Smith said. "Our backup goalie (Carsen Musser, NTDP U-18) told me to get some speed since it's harder for the goalie, so I was like 'All right,' and a couple of guys called low glove."
NTDP defenseman Zeev Buium and forward Nick Vantassell of Green Bay each had a goal and an assist, and defenseman Joe Palodichuk of Fargo had two assists for Team White.
Here are five things learned from the game:

Continuing tradition of excellence

Smith was one of five NTDP players in the game who could hear their names called in the first round of the 2023 Upper Deck NHL Draft.
He was the center on the top line for Blue with left wing Gabriel Perreault and Ryan Leonard, a trio that's a fixture with the NTDP this season.
"The program is a pretty special place to grow and develop," Smith said. "We're competing against the best guys in the country every single day of the year, so that's what kind of drives us, makes us the best of the best. I mean, everyone's still trying to climb those rankings and catch the guys in front of you."
Smith, Leonard (No. 4 in Central Scouting's midterm list of North American skaters) and Perreault (No. 15), plus left wing Oliver Moore (No. 6) and center Danny Nelson (No. 22) -- who both also played in the game -- are projected to be chosen in the first round. Moore had a goal and four shots on goal for White.
There were 14 NTDP players chosen in the 2022 NHL Draft, including six in the first round (Logan Cooley, No. 3, Arizona Coyotes; Cutter Gauthier, No. 5, Philadelphia Flyers; Frank Nazar III, No. 13, Chicago Blackhawks; Rutger McGroarty, No. 14, Winnipeg Jets; Jimmy Snuggerud, No. 23, St. Louis Blues; Isaac Howard, No. 31, Tampa Bay Lightning).

Like father, like son

Four players in the All-American Game have fathers who played in the NHL.
Perreault, the son of former forward Yanic Perreault, had three shots on goal. Committed to Boston College for next season, he leads the NTDP with 30 goals, 64 points and six game-winning goals, and is tied for the team lead with eight power-play goals in 35 games.
"My dad taught me pretty much everything I know," Perreault said. "He was my coach growing up and for six years on Chicago Mission AAA. I remember him always telling us to make plays. I think growing up, I wasn't the biggest guy, so I had to learn to create plays, create offense."
NTDP left wing Beckett Hendrickson, who has committed to the University of Minnesota for 2024-25, is No. 94 on the midterm list. The son of former forward Darby Hendrickson has 19 points (eight goals, 11 assists) in 24 games playing on the third line with the NTDP this season.
Fargo center Cole Knuble, the son of former forward Mike Knuble, will attend Notre Dame in 2023-24 and is ranked No. 125. He has 32 points (15 goals, 17 assists) in 27 games this season, his second with Fargo.
Dubuque defenseman Lucas St. Louis, who is committed to Harvard for 2023-24, is No. 166. The son of former forward and current Montreal Canadiens coach Martin St. Louis has 12 points (two goals, 10 assists) in 28 games in his first full season with Dubuque.

Youngstown quartet

Youngstown had four players in the All-American Game, including NHL Central Scouting's highest-rated non-NTDP skater, right wing William Whitelaw (No. 55).
Whitelaw and forward Brandon Svoboda (No. 69) played for Team Blue. Defenseman Andrew Strathmann (No. 67) and goalie Jacob Fowler (No. 7 on Central Scouting's midterm list of North American goalies) played for Team White.
Whitelaw (5-9, 173), who committed to the University of Wisconsin for 2023-24, is fourth among USHL rookies with 24 points (12 goals, 12 assists), second with six power-play goals and first with 113 shots on goal in 30 games. Fowler (No. 7 in Central Scouting's midterm ranking of North American goalies), who is committed to Boston College for 2023-24, made 12 saves on 13 shots for White.
"I like to shoot the puck and make plays," Whitelaw said. "I think that my 200-foot game is evolving right now. I know I need to continue to build on that. I think that I'm very good making plays off the rush, getting a quick shot that surprises the goalie, and setting up my teammates."

Lessons learned

NTDP goalie Trey Augustine, No. 3 in the Central Scouting goalie rankings, was the highest-rated player at his position in the game.
He made five saves on six shots for Blue.
Augustine (6-1, 181) went 4-1 with a 2.85 goals-against average and an .890 save percentage in six games to help the United States win the bronze medal at the 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship this month. He said he learned a lot from the experience as a 17-year-old participant.
"You get a feel for what it's like," he said. "It's a long tournament, it's a hard tournament, and you just can't take any games off. Every line, every player, has special talent, special abilities, so you have to kind of take a one-play-a-time mindset. At any given point, you can have an effect on the game, but you just never know when it's going to happen."
Committed to Michigan State University for next season, Augustine has not lost a game in regulation with the NTDP U-18 team this season (12-0-2, 2.10 GAA, .930 save percentage).

Buium enjoys spotlight

Buium (5-11, 177) isn't eligible until the 2024 draft but was glad for the experience at the All-American Game after having a goal and an assist.
"I think I wanted to show that I could hang with these guys and play with these guys," Buium said. "I wasn't thinking too much about the draft. Obviously, it's in the back of my mind, but I think I just wanted to go out there, have fun and play my game."
The 17-year-old has 18 points (one goal, 17 assists) in 34 games and is committed to the University of Denver for the 2023-24 season. His older brother, Shai Buium, is a Detroit Red Wings defenseman prospect.
"I'm an offensive defenseman who likes to join the rush, get in the play," Zeev said. "I think I've improved my defensive game a lot, especially from last year, and I want to become a two-way defenseman ... I think that's where I'm heading."