PLYMOUTH, Mich. -- Five players among the top 22 on
NHL Central Scouting's midterm ranking of North American skaters presented by BioSteel
will be among the 45 participating in the 2023 USA Hockey BioSteel All-American Game at USA Hockey Arena on Monday (4 p.m. ET; NHLN).
All-American Game showcases top U.S. talent for 2023 NHL Draft
NTDP forwards Smith, Leonard, Moore, possible 1st-round picks, among 45 players that will play in event
The game, which includes 44 players eligible for the 2023 Upper Deck NHL Draft in Bridgestone Arena on June 28-29, will feature skaters and goalies from the USA Hockey National Team Development Program Under-18 team and the United States Hockey League.
All players were selected by USA Hockey in conjunction with NHL Central Scouting.
"The All-American Game has an impressive list of prospects and NHL personnel are looking forward to another exciting and competitive game," vice president of NHL Central Scouting Dan Marr said. "A new format was introduced in 2022 when the blended teams were comprised of NTDP Under-18 prospects and the top USHL prospects and many felt it was one of the best prospects games ever."
William Smith (6-foot, 178 pounds), a right-shot center from the NTDP U-18 team, is No. 3 on Central Scouting's list. He'll be joined in the game by NTDP forwards Ryan Leonard (No. 4), Oliver Moore (No. 6), Gabriel Perreault (No. 15), and Danny Nelson (No. 22). Smith, Leonard, and Perreault each will play forward for Team Blue. Moore and Nelson will play for Team White.
Smith is second on the NTDP with 59 points (22 goals, 37 assists) in 31 games and first with an average of 1.90 points per game. Leonard (5-11, 190), a right wing, is tied for second with Smith in goals (22) and is third in points (43) in 29 games. Moore (5-11, 188), a center, is fourth with 41 points (18 goals, 23 assists) in 32 games.
Perreault (5-11, 165) leads the NTDP with 30 goals and 64 points in 34 games. Nelson (6-3, 202) has 26 points (11 goals, 15 assists) in 33 games.
The top-rated USHL player participating in the game will be Youngstown right wing William Whitelaw (5-9, 173), who is No. 55 among North American skaters. Whitelaw, committed to play at the University of Wisconsin next season, is second on Youngstown with 24 points (12 goals, 12 assists) in 28 games. He'll play for Team Blue.
"Unfortunately, two top USHL prospects, defenseman Gavin McCarthy (No. 39, Muskegon) and right wing Michael DeAngelo (No. 56, Green Bay), are injured and will not participate," Marr said. "But there still is a depth of talent on both rosters for this priority scouting event."
Also notably from the USHL is Youngstown defenseman Andrew Strathmann (No. 67; 5-10, 190), who has 20 points (one goal, 19 assists) in 22 games and leads USHL defensemen with 11 power-play assists; he's committed to play at the University of North Dakota next season. He'll play for Team White at the prospects game.
NTDP goalie Trey Augustine (6-1, 183), No. 3 in Central Scouting's midterm ranking of North American goalies, is the highest-ranked player at his position in the game. Augustine, who's committed to Michigan State University next season, is 12-0-2 with a 2.10 goals-against average, and .930 save percentage in 14 games. He was 4-1 with a 2.85 GAA and .890 save percentage in six games for the bronze medal-winning United States at the 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship.
The game also will feature NTDP defenseman Zeev Buium, who isn't eligible until the 2024 NHL Draft. The 17-year-old has 18 points (one goal, 17 assists) in 34 games and is committed to the University of Denver for the 2024-25 season. His older brother, Shai Buium, is a Detroit Red Wings defenseman prospect.
A total of 265 players who have played in the All-American Prospects Game have been selected in the NHL Draft, including 58 taken in the first round. The 2022 game featured seven players chosen in the first round of the 2022 NHL Draft: forwards Logan Cooley (No. 3, Arizona Coyotes), Cutter Gauthier (No. 5, Philadelphia Flyers), Frank Nazar (No. 13, Chicago Blackhawks), Rutger McGroarty (No. 14, Winnipeg Jets), Jimmy Snuggerud (No. 23, St. Louis Blues) and Isaac Howard (No. 31, Tampa Bay Lightning), and defenseman Sam Rinzel (No. 25, Chicago Blackhawks).
Mike Garman, coach and general manager for Chicago of the USHL, will coach Team Blue. Nick Oliver, coach of Fargo (USHL), will coach Team White.
ALL-AMERICAN GAME ROSTERS
TEAM BLUE
GOALIES: Trey Augustine, USA U-18 (NTDP); Michael Chambre, USA U-18 (NTDP); Carsen Musser, USA U-18 (NTDP)
DEFENSEMEN:Seth Constance, Tri-City (USHL); Jake Livanavage, Chicago (USHL); Aram Minnetian, USA U-18 (NTDP); Erik Pohlkamp, Cedar Rapids (USHL); Zachary Schulz, USA U-18 (NTDP); Zachary Sharp, Sioux Falls (USHL); Nathan Tobey; USA U-18 (NTDP)
FORWARDS: Salvatore Guzzo, USA U-18 (NTDP); Sam Harris, Sioux Falls (USHL); Ryan Leonard, USA U-18 (NTDP); Tanner Ludtke, Lincoln (USHL); Will McDonough, Sioux Falls (USHL); Gabriel Perrault, USA U-18 (NTDP); Carter Slaggert, USA U-18 (NTDP); William Smith, USA U-18 (NTDP); Lucas St. Louis, Dubuque (USHL); Brandon Svoboda, Youngstown (USHL); Alexander Weiermair, USA U-18 (NTDP); Ethan Whitcomb, Muskegon (USHL); William Whitelaw, Youngstown (USHL)
TEAM WHITE
GOALIES: Jacob Fowler, Youngstown (USHL); Jack Spicer, Waterloo (USHL)
DEFENSEMEN:Chris Able, Chicago (USHL); \Zeev Buium, USA U-18 (NTDP); Brady Cleveland, USA U-18 (NTDP); Drew Fortescue, USA U-18 (NTDP); Kai Janviriya, USA U-18 (NTDP); Joe Palodichuk, Fargo (USHL); Aaron Pionk, Waterloo (USHL); Andrew Strathmann, Youngstown (USHL)
FORWARDS: Tanner Adams, Tri-City (USHL); Austin Burnevik, USA U-18 (NTDP); Michael Emerson, Chicago (USHL); Ryan Fine, USA U-18 (NTDP); Jack Harvey, Chicago (USHL); Beckett Hendrickson, USA U-18 (NTDP); Cole Knuble, Fargo (USHL); Oliver Moore, USA U-18 (NTDP); Danny Nelson, USA U-18 (NTDP); Garrett Schifsky, Waterloo (USHL); Nicholas Vantassell, Green Bay (USHL); William Vote, USA U-18 (NTDP)
\-2024 NHL Draft eligible
Photos: Rena Laverty, NTDP
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