Philadelphia -€” The top American hopefuls for the 2017 NHL Draft take center stage Thursday night at the Wells Fargo Center for the CCM/USA Hockey All-American Prospects Game.
While the 2017 draft class doesn't appear to be as ripe with high-end talent for USA Hockey compared to 2016, this game represents an opportunity for players to distinguish themselves.
55 players from 19 different states were selected in the 2016 NHL Draft, led by Austin Matthews who became the seventh American to be taken first overall.
For tonight's game, 35 of the 42 players dressed appeared in NHL Central Scouting's Futures List that was released in July. 27 players are from the United States Hockey League (USHL). The Ontario Hockey League (OHL) is the next most represented league with five players. Four players are currently playing college hockey while three hail from the Western Hockey League (WHL). Two high school players and one player from the T1EHL are also playing.
Mark Howe and John LeClair are the two coaches. Howe, a 2003 inductee into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame, played 10 seasons with the Flyers. Howe is entering his 21st season with the Detroit Red Wings, now as the Director of Pro Scouting.
LeClair played for the University of Vermont from 1987-1991 before embarking on a long NHL career, including 10 seasons with the Flyers. LeClair, a 2009 inductee of the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame, was the first American-born player to record 50 or more goals in three consecutive seasons.
FASTHockey will broadcast this year's game, which is now in its fifth year of existence. The previous editions were in Buffalo and Pittsburgh. This will be the first time the Philadelphia Flyers and Comcast Spectacor.
Game Time: Thursday, September 22, 2016, 7:00 p.m. ET
Where: Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia, Pa.
How to Watch: FASTHockey
Team Howe Roster
#1 Adam Scheel, Goaltender, U.S. NTDP U-18, Lakewood, Ohio, 6-3/190 (Notre Dame)
#2 Tommy Miller, Defense, U.S. NTDP U-18, West Bloomfield, Mich., 6-2/185 (Michigan State)
#3 Ben Mirageas, Defense, Bloomington Thunder, Newburyport, Mass., 6-1/180 (Providence)
#4 Luke Martin, Defense, Univ. of Michigan, St. Louis, Mo., 6-2/216
#5 Josh Maniscalco, Defense, U.S. NTDP U-18, Perkiomenville, Pa., 6-2/202
#6 Clayton Phillips, Defense, Fargo Force, Edina, Minn., 5-11/178 (Minnesota)
#7 Max Gildon, Defense, U.S. NTDP U-18, Plano, Texas, 6-2/179 (Wisconsin)
#8 David Farrance, Defense, U.S. NTDP U-18, Victor, NY, 5-10/192 (Boston University)
#9 Patrick Kodorenko, Forward, Michigan State, Walnut Creek, Calif., 6-0/190
#10 Logan Cockerill, Forward, U.S. NTDP U-18, Brighton, Mich., 5-9/165 (Boston University)
#11 Jason Robertson, Forward, Kingston Frontenacs, Northville, Mich., 6-1/189
#12 Mick Messner, Forward, Madison Capitols, Madison, Wis., 6-0/195 (Wisconsin)
#14 Casey Mittelstadt, Forward, Green Bay Gamblers/Eden Prairie HS, Eden Prairie, Minn., 6-0/197 (Minnesota)
#15 Josh Norris, Forward, U.S. NTDP U-18, Oxford, Mich., 6-1/192 (Michigan)
#17 R.J. Murphy, Forward, Dubuque Fighting Saints, Needham, Mass., 6-2/187 (Harvard)
#18 Kailer Yamamoto, Forward, Spokane Chiefs, Spokane, Wash., 5-8/153
#19 Cole Coskey, Forward, Saginaw Spirit, Zion, Ill., 5-11/176
#20 Scott Reedy, Forward, U.S. NTDP U-18, Prior Lake, Minn., 6-1/205 (Minnesota)
#21 Matt Miller, Forward, Victory Honda, Leo, Ind., 6-2/181 (Michigan State)
#22 Michael Pastujov, Forward, U.S. NTDP U-18, Bradenton, Fla., 6-1/192 (Michigan)
#30 Keith Petruzzelli, Goaltender, Muskegon Lumberjacks, Wilbraham, Mass., 6-6/185 (Quinnipiac)
Team LeClair Roster
#1 Jake Oettinger, Goaltender, Boston University, Lakeville, Minn., 6-4/206
#2 Mikey Anderson, Defense, Waterloo Black Hawks, Roseville, Minn., 5-11/196 (Minnesota-Duluth)
#3 Nathan Knoepke, Defense, U.S. NTDP U-18, Farmington, Minn., 6-3/202 (Minnesota)
#4 Tyler Inamoto, Defense, U.S. NTDP U-18, Lake Barrington, Ill., 6-2/190 (Wisconsin)
#5 Jack Rathbone, Defense, Dexter School, West Roxbury, Mass., 5-10/185 (Harvard)
#6 Phil Kemp, Defense, U.S. NTDP U-18, Greenwich, Conn., 6-3/185 (Brown)
#7 Reilly Walsh, Defense, Chicago Steel/Proctor Academy, Andover, NH, 5-11/180 (Harvard)
#8 Ronald Brickey, Defense, Muskegon Lumberjacks, Burtchville, Mich., 6-3/190 (Western Michigan)
#9 Logan Hutsko, Forward, U.S. NTDP U-18, North Caldwell, NJ, 5-9/173 (Boston College)
#10 Sean Dhooge, Forward, U.S. NTDP U-18, Aurora, Ill., 5-2/140 (Wisconsin)
#11 Vanya Lodnia, Forward, Erie Otters, Novi, Mich., 5-10/180
#12 Brannon McManus, Forward, Omaha Lancers, Newport Beach, Calif., 5-9/182 (Minnesota)
#14 Jacob Tortora, Forward, U.S. NTDP U-18, Victor, NY, 5-8/168 (Boston College)
#15 Grant Mismash, Forward, U.S. NTDP U-18, Edina, Minn., 6-0/183 (North Dakota)
#17 Austin Pratt, Forward, Red Deer Rebels, Lakeville, Minn., 6-2/226
#18 Ryan Poehling, Forward, St. Cloud, Lakeville, Minn., 6-2/185
#19 Sasha Chmelevski, Forward, Ottawa 67's, Northville, Mich., 5-11/188
#20 Evan Barratt, Forward, U.S. NTDP U-18, Morrisville, Pa., 5-11/172 (Penn State)
#21 Mark Kastelic, Forward, Calgary Hitmen, Phoeix, Ariz., 6-3/206
#22 Kyle MacLean, Forward, Oshawa Generals, Basking Ridge, NJ, 6-0/175
#30 Cayden Primeau, Goaltender, Lincoln Stars, 6-3/177 (Northeastern)