Name: Henry “Hank” Crone
Position: Center
Shoots: Left
Height/Weight: 5’8, 150 lbs
Born: February 19th, 1998, Dallas, TX
2015-16 Commitment: Omaha Lancers, USHL
Summary: Another Boston University commit (2016-17) who will benefit from Terrier coach David Quinn’s up-tempo tactics, Crone was a star in the Dallas Stars’ junior program but had a rough go of it in the USHL as Omaha’s youngest player a season ago. He’s a pass-first playmaker with exceptional vision and very strong on-ice awareness; skills he was finally able to showcase late in the season for the Lancers. The Stars’ program has become a bit of a talent factory in recent years, and Crone’s age and previously international experience means he’ll likely run one of Team USA’s power play units at the Hlinka.

Name: Tim Gettinger
Position: Left Wing
Shoots: Left
Height/Weight: 6’5, 205 lbs
Born: April 14, 1998, North Olmstead, OH
2015-16 Commitment: Sault Ste Marie Greyhounds, OHL
Summary: OHL All-Rookie selection who was one of the circuit’s top 16 year olds in terms of production from either flank. Gettinger is a skilled winger with a big body but plays the sort of finesse game we saw a year ago in 2015 NHL draftee Paul Bittner, who like Gettinger was also selected to play for Team USA at the Hlinka (2014). The stats may not look gaudy for Gettinger (10 goals and 25 points in 54 games), but take into consideration not only the team he played for, but their ridiculous depth and experience on the wing position. He’s a bit more polished than Riley Tufte or John Leonard simply because of his experience against older competition, so being slotted as the first line left wing is a likely possibility for him.

Name: Patrick Harper
Position: Center
Shoots: Right
Height/Weight: 5’7, 146 lbs
Born: July 29th, 1998, New Canaan, CT
2015-16 Commitment: Omaha Lancers, USHL
Summary: Electric yet undersized pivot who led Avon Old Farms in scoring and is easily one of the New England prep circuit’s top offensive players. He’s headed to the USHL in the fall and committed to Boston University for 2016-17 (Blainville-Boisbriand picked him late in the 2015 QMJHL draft). Harper is an explosive skater who makes clean, heady decisions off the rush. His elusiveness and unpredictability makes playing against bigger opponents less of a concern, while his slick hands from in close help him get plays off before opponents can impart their physical will on him.

Name: William Knierim
Position: Right Wing
Shoots: Right
Height/Weight: 6’3, 207 lbs
Born: January 22, 1998, Skokie, IL
2015-16 Commitment: Dubuque, USHL
Summary: Power forward with a lot of room for improving but the upside is off the charts. Knierim was a role player on a very solid Dubuque team where he should return as one of  the top options for next season. He’s a very hard player to gauge for the moment because like most physical wingers, he can vanish and be rather unreliable when the play isn’t going on immediately in front of him. He moves fairly well for a teenager closing in on 215 pounds but he’s not to be confused with the kind of mobile force who are impossible to stop once in full flight. But he’s still a ruthless and nasty physical force, nonetheless, and can be a very difficult player to game plan around. If he can round out his game and play attention to the little things, he can develop into a menacing modern-day version of Tim Kerr/Dave Andreychuk in terms of positioning and touch around the next. Pair him with a pass-first playmaker and get him in the slot on the power play.

Name: John Leonard
Position: Left Wing/Right Wing
Shoots: Left
Height/Weight: 5’11, 180 lbs
Born: August 7th, 1998, Amherst, MA
2015-16 Commitment: Green Bay Gamblers, USHL
Summary: It’s hard to base a kid’s upside in one specific play on one specific shift, especially when he leads the entire state of Massachusetts in Division I scoring with 47 goals and 75 points in just 25 games. But when the UMass-bound Leonard darted down his off wing and undressed 2015 NHL draftee Ryan Shea in Cathedral’s 4-2 win in rival BC High’s own barn last February, you saw not only how special a talent he already was, but how his big game mentality at such a young age beggars the imagination. Leonard is the kind of low-maintenance super scorer coaches dream of because he not only possesses a heavy, accurate shot, but has the uncanny ability of wiring it from either his back foot or when overstretched. He’s a 2016 eligible, and although CSB did not put him on their 2016 Watch List, we expect him to make the most out of what will be his first time in a major pre-draft international tournament.

Name: Hugh McGing
Position: Left Wing
Shoots: Left
Height/Weight: 5’8, 158 lbs
Born: July 11th, 1998, Chicago, IL
2015-16 Commitment: Cedar Rapids, USHL
Summary: McGing is a scrappy and energetic bottom-six type who seemed to make the most out of his limited playing time with the Roughriders a season ago. He’s got a very good shot and is adept at wiring it off the pass. Likely a guy you’ll see on the ice in the last few minutes of a close game, McGing can play extended shifts with the same tenacity and physicality as in the short ones. While it’s hard to gauge his offensive upside do to how little he played last year, the Western Michigan-bound winger is skilled enough for spot duty on either of the top two lines.

Name: Casey Mittelstadt
Position: Center
Shoots: Left
Height/Weight: 5’11, 192 lbs
Born: November 22nd, 1998, Eden Prairie, MN
2015-16 Commitment: Eden Prairie High School, Minnesota
Summary: The youngest player on Team USA’s roster may very well be the best goal scorer with the best shot. Mittelstadt, a 2017 draft eligible who committed to the University of Minnesota a year ago, is a kid you have to expect to top out over six feet and reach 200 pounds by Draft Day. For now, Team USA head coach Derek Plante has a sniper at his disposal who will most likely begin the Hlinka in a bottom-six role but may end up being a key contributor. He’s very quick on his feet and knows exactly where to position himself for the best shot. Bringing it with the best of them makes every shot seem like they’re of the high percentage variety, so it will be interesting to see how it stacks up against the kind of quality goaltending and defenders he’s never faced before.

Name: Drake Rymsha
Position: Center
Shoots: Right
Height/Weight: 5’11, 187 lbs
Born: August 6th, 1998, Huntington Woods, MI
2015-16 Commitment: London Knights, OHL
Summary: A fleet-footed center who bulked up quite a bit since being drafted by the Knights in the fifth round of the 2014 Priority Selection, Rymsha made the most of his opportunities as an OHL rookie despite not seeing much action above the Knights’ bottom two lines. His game and development path are similar to current NHL’er Brandon Dubinsky, who like Rymsha also had to earn his stripes as a CHL depth player before earning more minutes. Quickness is a big part of his game, but he can also make good-decision plays while attacking with the puck at a high rate of speed. Look for him at the Hlinka to showcase more of what he can do as he prepares for an expanded role in London in 2015-16.

Name: Riley Tufte
Position: Left Wing
Shoots: Left
Height/Weight: 6’5, 205 lbs
Born: April 10th, 1998, Ham Lake, MN
2015-16 Commitment: Fargo, USHL
Summary: Graceful power forward with a soft set of hands and a devastating shot, Tufte (2016 eligible) was selected first overall by Fargo in the 2014 USHL Futures Draft and is committed to the University of Minnesota-Duluth for 2016-17. He’s been a bit of a role player for Team USA last season, but a dominant season for Blaine (Minnesota) and a promising cup of coffee with the Force should give him consideration for top-six minutes at the Hlinka. Tufte is extremely versatile in that he played the point of Blaine’s power play not only because of his shot, but his patience and ability to read plays. He’s been compared to Nick Bjugstad, who like Tufte was a standout at Blaine. While the size and skill level are comparable, Tufte is not necessarily a physical winger like Bjugstad, although he does like to get involved in puck battles and fight for positioning around the net.

Name: Garrett Wait
Position: Left Wing/Center
Shoots: Left
Height/Weight: 6’0, 163 lbs
Born: June 13th, 1998, Edina, MN
2015-16 Commitment: Uncommitted
Summary: Skilled two-way forward who led the U17 Select squad with eight points (four goals, four assists) as they earned a silver medal at the 2014 Five Nations. Wait is committed to the University of Minnesota, but at press time he has not publicly decided if he will forgo his senior year at Edina, or play for either waterloo (USHL) or Portland (WHL) before lacing them up for the Gophers in 2016-17. He’s a fantastic playmaker and decision maker with the puck, but he also knows his responsibilities away from the puck. Wait is a 2016 eligible with lower first-round potential

Name: Kailer Yamamoto
Position: Right Wing
Shoots: Right
Height/Weight: 5’8, 160 lbs
Born: September 29th, 1998, Spokane, WA
2015-16 Commitment: Spokane Chiefs, WHL
Summary: Yamamoto missed 2016 draft eligibility by two weeks, which may end up working in his favor since he’ll likely go higher in 2017 than in next June’s draft. He led all WHL rookie forwards in scoring last season with 57 points in 68 games, but consider the guy who won the league’s Rookie of the Year award (2015 lottery pick Ivan Provorov) was almost two full years older. The Spokane native is a high-end offensive talent who forced his way onto the Chiefs’ top line early into last season thanks to a elite vision and the kind of desire and tenacity  that makes his size limitations an afterthought. He’s also got some such on an extensive international experience, combining for 12 points in 10 games combined between the 2015 U17 World Hockey Challenge and the Five Nations Tournament in Germany. An odds on favorite to be a lottery pick come June of 2017, Yamamoto will be a key cog in Team USA’s attack when they hit the ice at the Hlinka.

Name: Ben Lown
Position: Center
Shoots: Right
Height/Weight: 5’7, 146 lbs
Born: June 22nd, 1998, Newport Coast, CA
2015-16 Commitment: Omaha Lancers, USHL
Summary: Shifty and relentless offensive sparkplug who competes his tail off regardless of where the puck is. He’s a bit of a hybrid in that he can be used on the forecheck and in penalty killing situations, but also has high-end vision and playmaking skills to display as a top-six pivot. He showed some serious finishing abilities around the cage while at Shattuck St. Mary’s thanks to his uncanny ability to find openings and quietly avoid detection. While the Miami-bound pivot had a solid half-season for the Colorado Thunderbirds, the Hlinka should give him an opportunity to increase his value for the 2016 draft.

Name: Mitch Eliot
Position: Defenseman
Shoots: Right
Height/Weight: 5’11, 182 lbs
Born: Fenruary 6th, 1998, Grosse Pointe, MI
2015-16 Commitment: Muskegon Lumberjacks, USHL
Summary: The stats are not eye opening (four assists in 58 games last season), but take into consideration how young Eliot is, and how deep a blueline Muskegon iced last season with the likes of 2015 draftees Joe Cecconi and Christian Wolanin. A product of the Honeybaked program, Eliot is a mobile two-way defender who is very strong on his skates and rarely gets caught napping. He’s got an active stick, but what’s most impressive to us is how positionally sound he is while defending odd-man rushes. Eliot plays physical enough to win his 50/50 battles and quickly recover pucks to send it the other way. He’ll be a Michigan State Spartan in 2016-17.

Name: Ty Farmer
Position: Defenseman
Shoots: Right
Height/Weight: 5’9, 173 lbs
Born: January 6th, 1998, O’Fallon, MO
2015-16 Commitment: Youngstown Phantoms, USHL
Summary: Swift-skating rearguard with an attack mentality who’ll lace them up for Michigan State after this season. Farmer is a product of the Blues’ junior program before he moved on to Youngstown, where he showed flashes of what he can do offensively without the quantifiable results. Still, he’s an expert at puck retrieval and is usually on the winning end of foot races for the disc. He can be a bit guilty of a lazy stick, so putting him on the PK against units who whip the puck around may not yield the desired result.

Name: Benjamin Gleason
Position: Defenseman
Shoots: Left
Height/Weight: 6’0, 168 lbs
Born: March 25th, 1998, Ortonville, MI
2015-16 Commitment: London Knights, OHL
Summary: Steady, physical defender who’s beginning to shift towards being permanently labeled a stay-at-home type because that’s what he’s best at. There’s nothing necessarily wrong with that, as Gleason generally opts for the safe decision over the risky play. The younger cousin of current NHL’er Tim Gleason, he did not look out of place while anchoring the bottom pairing for the London Knights. And although he can skate fairly well and has excellent balance, his decision making with the puck can be somewhat telegraphed. In a fast-paced tournament like the Hlinka, Team USA will need a reliable defender like Gleason to play in late-game situations and help protect leads.

Name: Andrew Peeke
Position: Defenseman
Shoots: Right
Height/Weight: 6’3, 198 lbs
Born: March 17th, 1998, Parkland, FL
2015-16 Commitment: Green Bay Gamblers, USHL
Summary: Miami-area product who was the USPHL’s top defenseman while playing for Selects Academy. Peeke is Team USA’s best defender at sealing opponents off into No Man’s Land and forcing them into hasty and costly decisions. The steady and clean manner in which he can switch from shut down to up-ice transition is reminiscent of Noah Hanifin, except Peeke is far more physical and possesses a harder shot. That isn’t necessarily saying he’s a better defenseman or prospect than Hanifin, but Peeke, who has already caught the eye of NHL Central Scouting with a spot on their 2016 draft “Watch List”, can certainly hold down the fort along his blue line in a similar fashion.

Name: Scott Perunovich
Position: Defenseman
Shoots: Left
Height/Weight: 5’8, 150 lbs
Born: August 18th, 1998, Hibbing, MN
2015-16 Commitment: Hibbing High School, Minnesota
Summary: Perunovich is a Minnesota-Duluth commit who can dazzle you with skill and moves from the back end. While he isn’t the biggest or the toughest defenseman to play against, his ability to create time and space regardless of the opponent’s strategy sets him apart from the rest of Team USA’s solid core of blueliners. One thing we noticed in the offensive zone is how he holds the blue line on the strong side of the puck, then in an instant darts to an opening in the high slot for a prime scoring chance. He’s a very intelligent puck mover and distributor who should have a field day on the bigger rink.

Name: Samuel Rossini
Position: Defenseman
Shoots: Left
Height/Weight: 6’2, 193 lbs
Born: June 19th, 1998, Inver Grove Heights, MN
2015-16 Commitment: Waterloo Blackhawks, USHL
Summary: Top two-way defender with size  for Team USA who is projected as an early-round pick in the 2016 draft. Rossini is a Minnesota Gophers commit who missed some time with a broken wrist last fall but rebounded to solidify Waterloo’s top four. He is an excellent one-on-one defender who usually wins his puck battles, especially below the goal line without sacrificing positioning. If he goes behind the net, he’s either disrupting the opposing cycle or providing puck support to a teammate. He’s the best the Americans at the Hlinka will have to offer in terms of denying the enemy the puck, but he can also chip in offensively with smart pinches and crisp, accurate passes through seams.

Name: Dayton Rasmussen
Position: Goaltender
Catches: Left
Height/Weight: 6’1, 200 lbs
Born: November 4th, 1998, Eden Prairie, MN
2015-16 Commitment: Waterloo Blackhawks, USHL
Summary: A cerebral and athletic netminder who is part of the growing list of NCAA talent being produced by the Colorado Thunderbirds’ program, Rasmussen is a 2017 draft eligible still a few years away from fulfilling his commitment to the University of Denver. He’s a bit more polished than your average 16-year-old goaltender in that he plays with the sort of calmness coaches have a hard time instilling in them. While he is prone to mistakes in the name of rebounds and catching glove positioning, he doesn’t let the gaffes get to him and will remain focused while correcting himself. He may not be Team USA’s dedicated starter, but he’s got pro upside and is expected to use the entire international experience as a springboard to greater accomplishments.

Name: Pierre-Luc Dubois
Position: Center
Shoots: Left
Height/Weight: 6’2, 201 lbs
Born: June 21st, 1998, Rimouski, QC
2015-16 Commitment: Cape Brenton, QMJHL
Summary: One of Team Canada’s seasoned vets who was rewarded with a spot on last April’s U18 National Team (one assist in six games) after he produced an impressive freshman campaign in the QMJHL for Cape Brenton (10 goals, 35 assists in 54 games). The son of former Baie-Comeau/Acadie-Bathurst head coach Eric Dubois, Pierre is a power center who uses his size and reach advantage to wear down opponents before striking with well-thought plays. He’s been working on his mobility and foot speed for quite a while, and although he’ll never be considered fleet-footed, he changes speeds so well it appears as if he’s blowing past defenders. Dubois could crack the top 25 in next year’s NHL draft, and a strong Hlinka will be another step towards that direction.

Name: Dillon Dube
Position: Left Wing
Shoots: Left
Height/Weight: 5’10, 180 lbs
Born: July 2oth, 1998, Cochrane, AB
2015-16 Commitment: Kelowna Rockets, WHL
Summary: Being a depth player on a Memorial Cup finalist can be a rewarding experience regardless of age. So it was nice to see a hard-working prospect like Dube not only have a place during Kelowna’s run to the CHL title game, but chip in as well. He was up and down with injuries for half of last season but still managed to lead Kelowna rookies with 17 goals and a +17 rating in 45 regular season games, then chipping in an additional five goal and 11 points in the WHL playoffs. Dube is a physical and energetic player but he also has a very nice touch around the net. Opposing defenders at the Hlinka will have to have eyes in the backs of their heads when he’s on the ice, or else they run the risk of getting both clobbered and scored on.

Name: Beck Malenstyn
Position: Left Wing
Shoots: Left
Height/Weight: 6’2, 192 lbs
Born: February 4th, 1998, Delta, BC
2015-16 Commitment: Calgary Hitmen, WHL
Summary: In terms of ice time while a rookie depth forward for the Hitmen, Malenstyn may have been a victim of a logjam due to his inexperience, but the heart and effort he displayed must have made the decision to use him sparingly seem pretty close to impossible. He’s definitely a bottom six kind of forward for this specific tournament, but he’ll be given a much deserved expanded role with Calgary next season. With a hard-hitting physical style and a selfless attitude, Malenstyn is perfect as a role player to help make up the difference in the muscle missing from Team Canada’s blue line.

Name: Will Bitten
Position: Center
Shoots: Right
Height/Weight: 6’0, 164 lbs
Born: July 10th, 1998, Gloucester, ON
2015-16 Commitment: Plymouth Whalers, OHL
Summary: A growth spurt after once being considered undersized, Bitten is a speedy, all-out blitz on skates who has a pretty good grasp of on-ice situations, sometimes even before they develop. Bouncing between wing and center, from top line to checking unit, Bitten produced an impressive rookie season (15-16-31 in 63 games) as a 16 year old for what turned out to be one of the OHL’s worst teams. He plays a fearless game; blocking shots and completing his checks while being strong enough on his skates to stay upright to absorb one as well. His vision and ability to anticipate are two underrated qualities which come in handy on the penalty kill to clear pucks out of the zone or spring a time-killing breakout.

Name: Zach Poirier
Position: Center/Wing
Shoots: Right
Height/Weight: 5’11, 197 lbs
Born: May 12th, 1998, Mountain, ON
2015-16 Commitment: North Bay Battalion, OHL
Summary: Poirier is a tremendous competitor from the center position who has good breakaway speed and a lethal shot. And though he played some wing a year ago, he’s a natural pivot with very good playmaking abilities to augment his goal-scorer’s touch. North Bay didn’t play much of an up-tempo style because the entire squad was committed to team defense while sacrificing the risky home run for the safer single. Poirier’s personal style helped him fit like a glove as a 16-year-old OHL rookie, so Team Canada should expect more of the same responsible, physical two-way play.

Name: Tyler Benson
Position: Left Wing
Shoots: Left
Height/Weight: 6’0, 201 lbs
Born: March 15th, 1998, Edmonton, AB
2015-16 Commitment: Vancouver Giants, WHL
Summary: He may not be the first overall pick in next June’s NHL draft, but he sure reminds us of a previous one. Growing up in Edmonton left Benson plenty of opportunities to catch a glimpse of Oilers’ star winger and 2010 top pick Taylor Hall bomb down the wing with both power and finesse before unloading a heavy shot. Whether he does or does not try to emulate the aforementioned Hall is kind of irrelevant — the Benson version looks just as impressive. He was the top pick in the 2015 WHL Bantam Draft and placed fourth among all Dub 16 year olds with 45 points in 62 games (second with a 0.73 points-per-game average among the same age bracket). He’s got tremendous escapability and shiftiness for what is essentially a power forwards build, so look for him to take advantage of opponents likely intimidated by his devastating combination of skill and strength.

Name: Nolan Patrick
Position: Center/Right Wing
Shoots: Right
Height/Weight: 6’2, 193 lbs
Born: September 19th, 1998, Oakbank, MB
2015-16 Commitment: Brandon Wheat Kings, WHL
Summary: Towering franchise-type center who along with American Kailer Yamamoto produced two of the CHL’s most impressive wire-to-wire seasons by a 16 year old (with Yamamoto having far more ice time on Spokane’s top line). Both won’t be draft eligible until 2017, so the Hlinka may be more of a presursor to the precursor. But when you score 30 goals and 56 points in just 55 games as a double underage depth player on a loaded team, people will want to watch you play in any place at any time. Patrick’s ability to be a scoring threat any time the puck is on his stick in the offensive zone, and doing so as a pivot, makes him one of the guaranteed top picks in 2017. He played as a bottom-six center before working his way up to center Brandon’s second line between 2014 NHL draftees John Quenneville and Jayce Hawryluk, and although Patrick’s days as one of hockey’s brightest young stars are just beginning, Team Canada should feel comfortable giving him big minutes and critical zone starts as one of the better two-way centers.

Name: Brett Howden
Position: Center/Left Wing
Shoots: Left
Height/Weight: 6’2, 193 lbs
Born: March 28th, 1998, Oakbank, MB
2015-16 Commitment: Moose Jaw Warriors, WHL
Summary: Another power winger but one who plays a thinking man’s game with the puck, Howden is a very good skater who likes to throw his weight around to disrupt and intimidate, but he’s got a soft set of hands and is extremely proficient from in close and getting pucks through a maze of opponents. He was gifted with some top line minutes for a struggling Moose Jaw team, with whom he finished second among all WHL 16 year olds with 22 goals — eight in his last 11 games. He was fifth overall in the 2103 Bantam Draft.

Name: Michael McLeod
Position: Center/Right Wing
Shoots: Right
Height/Weight: 6’2, 188 lbs
Born: February 3rd, 1998, Mississauga, ON
2015-16 Commitment: Mississisauga Steelheads, OHL
Summary: Lightning-quick puck magician who had didn’t have a hard time distinguishing himself on a bad Mississauga team which simply couldn’t score. McLeod, a natural pivot who ccan also play wing, is a dangerous player when he’s steamrolling off the rush because he considers all his options in a matter of a few seconds. His positioning and instincts are excellent, but what we liked in his game was the way he used his strength and balance to continue an unabated and direct route towards scoring areas. He’s a lot like Detroit’s speedy 2014 first rounder Dylan Larkin in that he loves to shoot and pay any price to do so, but also finds the open man with accuracy if shooting lanes are congested. McLeod’s possesses some pretty slick moves from in tight, so trying to deny his speed with blanket zone coverage is by no means a fool-proof tactic.

Name: Jordan Kyrou
Position: Left Wing/Right Wing
Shoots: Left
Height/Weight: 6’0, 178 lbs
Born: May 8th, 1998, Toronto, ON
2015-16 Commitment: Sarnia Sting, OHL
Summary: Sarnia’s creative top-line winger for most of last season who developed chemistry with 2015 NHL first rounder Pavel Zacha thanks to his unselfish play and keen vision. A second round Priority Selection in 2013, Kyrou is an skilled winger who is patient with the puck and owns a really firm grip as he dances into the offensive zone. He’s got above-average speed and can wire an accurate shot, specifically off his back foot. He performed well at the 2014-15 World U17 Hockey Challenge with four assists in five games. But more impressive was the fact that he wasn’t even invited to the national U17 camp because of a broken wrist and a thigh injury the previous season. We’d like to see him shoot more and add some muscle to his frame for the upcoming season, but expect to see him deliver some highlight-reel dishes with the big sheet at the Hlinka.

Name: Tanner Kaspick
Position: Left Wing/Center
Shoots: Left
Height/Weight: 6’0, 200 lbs
Born: January 28th, 1998, Brandon, MB
2015-16 Commitment: Brandon Wheat Kings, WHL
Summary: Making the most out of a chance opportunity is exactly what this Brandon native did for the Wheat Kings when his depth role increased to a top-six late last season. A second round pick in the 2013 Bantam, Kaspick found himself sandwiched between (among others) Jayce Hawryluk and Braylon Shmyr last March after spending most the the season between the fourth line and street clothes. Although the stats he accumulated during the brief promotion didn’t correspond with the bump in ice time, he played well enough to stick around for 13 playoff games, including an OT winner versus Regina in the semifinals. Kaspick will likely be a role player for Team Canada, but an expanded job description for Brandon is all but guaranteed.

Name: Sam Steel
Position: Center
Shoots: Left
Height/Weight: 5’11, 177 lbs
Born: February 3rd, 1998, Sherwood Park, AB
2015-16 Commitment: Regina Pats, WHL
Summary: Regina made Steel the second overall pick in the 2013 Bantam Draft, and he repaid the favor by finishing tops among all WHL 16 years olds with 17 goals and 37 assists in 61 games. A severe high-ankle sprain in late March ended his (and effectively his team’s) season, but he’s shown no after-effects from the injury since resuming skating in April. Missing time isn’t new to the Alberta product, who was also shelved in 2014 with a back and wrist injuries.  He’s considered by some to be a top-10 prospect for the 2016 NHL draft, and while the Hlinka will have little bearing on where he gets picked in June, you still want to see the explosiveness and quick first step which made him highly regarded in the first place.

Name: Dante Fabbro
Position: Defenseman
Shoots: Right
Height/Weight: 6’0, 189 lbs
Born: June 20th, 1998, Coquitlam, BC
2015-16 Commitment: Penticton Vees, BCHL
Summary: Fabbro is a dynamic offensive defenseman who can control the pace of the game and deliver skill plays whether the situation warrants it or not. Eligible for the 2016 draft, he has the kind of high-end skill set generally reserved for lottery picks, but with his decision to remain in the BCHL for an additional year (his draft year, no less), events like the Hlinka will be one of the few venues where scouts can assess him versus his fellow draft eligible peers. It’s pretty rare of a BCHL-trained defenseman to get picked in the first round without any CHL or NCAA experience (St. Louis took Vernon’s Jason Marshall ninth overall in 1989), but Fabbro’s just too talented and mature to let a minor historic side note get in the way of a deserving top-20 selection. Getting top-pairing minutes for Team Canada and likely quarterback responsibilities on the power play should offset any concerns about how he stacks up against some of the world’s best teenagers.

Name: Josh Mahura
Position: Defenseman
Shoots: Left
Height/Weight: 6’0, 178 lbs
Born: May 5th, 1998, St. Albert, AB
2015-16 Commitment: Red Deer Rebels, WHL
Summary: Mahura is a nimble two-way defenseman who showed a lot of promise a year ago on a pretty solid yet offensively-challenged Red Deer team but was relegated to either the bottom pairing or press box for most of the season. He’ll get more of a look this season with the departure of Carolina first rounder Haydn Fleury, but there were several times last year where Mahura looked like the leader of the defense corps thanks to his confidence and take-charge mentality. The fast-paced style of the Hlinka coupled with Canada’s trailer-feeding forwards will make the pressure he felt while at Red Deer a distant memory, and the points should be there to prove it.

Name: Kale Clague
Position: Defenseman
Shoots: Left
Height/Weight: 6’0, 177 lbs
Born: July 29th, 1998, Lloydminster, AB
2015-16 Commitment: Brandon Wheat Kings, WHL
Summary: Selected by Brandon sixth overall in the 2013 Bantam Draft, Clague is a rock-solid puck mover similar to recent Wheat Kings’ NHL lottery picks Ryan Pulock (2013) and Ivan Provorov (2015) in that he’s extremely gifted offensively and can play the role of on-ice general. In 2013, he smashed Dion Phaneuf’s bantam scoring record for a defenseman with 77 points in 33 games, making him an easy target for Team Canada’s 2014 U17 team and this year’s Hlinka squad. The problem? His season was derailed by multiple injuries, to include a wrist injury which forced him to miss a good chunk of the season. To his credit, he put up 13 points in 20 games and regularly saw time on the Wheaties’ top power play unit. Consider him one of the best defensemen available for the 2016 draft, and if he can stay healthy may very well vault into the top 10.

Name: David Quenneville
Position: Defenseman
Shoots: Right
Height/Weight: 5’8, 182 lbs
Born: March 13th, 1998, Edmonton, AB
2015-16 Commitment: Medicine Hat Tigers, WHL
Summary: An up-and-down rookie season for this hard-working puck mover culminated with a seat in the press box during the playoffs for a Medicine Hat club with a strong veteran presence on the blue line. He has a lot of skill, quickness and can make a very hard, accurate breakout pass. But he’s a gambler, and has been guilty of throwing pucks into the slot rather than absorbing a hit or out-waiting his forechecker. On a positive note, he’s a fierce competitior who likes to play physical and sets a good example by doing what’s best for his team rather than seek individual glory. Quenneville was the 10th overall pick of the 2013 Bantam Draft and projects to be a top-60 pick come June, but like his situation in Medicine Hat he’ll have his work cut out for him in terms of getting those top-pairing minutes and/or scenarios.

Name: Samuel Girard
Position: Defenseman
Shoots: Left
Height/Weight: 5’9.5, 160 lbs
Born: May 12th, 1998, Roberval, QC
2015-16 Commitment: Shawinigan Cataractes, QMJHL
Summary: One of Team Canada’s more polished blueliners who played top-pairing minutes and was on the ice for the majority of the Cataractes’ critical situations. While it’s easy to knock him for his size and defensive work, there has to be something said about matching up an underage defender with the most lethal scorers the QMJHL had to offer. He’s got the mobility, shot, vision and instincts worthy of a first round look, but what’s most impressive is the way he reacts to pressure and danger with certainty and confidence. It’s an innate skill you want in any player, let alone a defenseman. Girard’s contributions on the stat sheet (43 points in 65 games) did not go unnoticed, as he was named the Q’s top defensive rookie last season.

Name: Victor Mete
Position: Defenseman
Shoots: Left
Height/Weight: 5’9.5, 174 lbs
Born: June 7th, 1998, Woodbridge, ON
2015-16 Commitment: London Knights
Summary: A tremendous second half of his rookie season (19 points in last 32 games) bumped Mete up into a consistent role in the playoffs, which from the defensive side of the puck was nothing short of a nightmare. The offensive skill is undeniable — Mete is an outstanding hard-yet-accurate passer who doesn’t telegraph his moves when he’s on the attack. He also possesses incredibly soft hands which help him corral and deaden pucks when either static or on the move. The elite hand-eye coordination is certainly something to marvel at, but the odd-man rush positioning and slot coverage — two critical aspects of defending in international tournaments — are very much works in progress. As the OHL’s lone representative on Team Canada’s blue line, he’ll have to tighten up, likely alter his risk-taking plays in order to earn trust in late-game scenarios.

Name: Carter Hart
Position: Goaltender
Catches: Left
Height/Weight: 6’1, 177 lbs
Born: August 13th, 1998, Sherwood Park, AB
2015-16 Commitment: Everett Silvertips, WHL
Summary: Late-birthday 2016 eligible who had an outstanding season for a solid Everett club but almost single-handedly carried them to the WHL Finals. He’s a cool, calm and collected individual between the pipes, but he was somewhat unknown in Hockey Canada circles until he went on a tear to lead the WHL with a 2.29 goals against average. He’s a butterfly-style goalie with a bit of a size disadvantage, but he’s so quick and nimble that what looks like an opening vanishes in the blink of an eye. He’ll be Everett’s top dog come September, and unlike the U17 camp, expect him to get a U20 invite next season.