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 Waterloo Black Hawks

NHL Says Watch Michaelson, Hinostroza

November 17, 2011 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Waterloo Black Hawks News Release


Waterloo, Iowa- The National Hockey League Central Scouting service has listed two current Waterloo Black Hawks players among the top 25 USHL skaters eligible for the 2012 NHL Draft next June.

A.J. Michaelson was slotted 14th in the preliminary ranking released Thursday. The 6'0", 185-pound forward from Apple Valley, Minnesota recently returned from participating for the United States at the World Junior A Challenge in British Columbia. Michaelson was a first round selection by the Hawks during the 2010 USHL Futures Draft. Debuting near the end of last season, he appeared in six games with one assist. Joining the Hawks fulltime for 2011-2012, so far Michaelson has accumulated a goal and an assist.

Four spots behind Michaelson is Vince Hinostroza ranked 18th. Hinostroza's path to recognition by hockey's top talent evaluators mirrors Michaelson's. Like his teammate, the forward was a 2010 first round futures pick who played his first USHL game last season and is just back from the World Junior A Challenge. Unlike Michaelson, Hinostroza spent the full season in Waterloo last year, scoring eight goals and 14 assists. So far this year, he has three goals and three assists.

In January, Central Scouting will update its initial grades with a midterm ranking of the top 200-plus draft eligible skaters playing in North America and a separate ranking of the best Europeans. A final analysis will be released after the end of the regular season but prior to the 2012 Draft scheduled for June 22nd and 23rd in Pittsburgh. Last June, current Black Hawks Tony Cameranesi and Eddie Wittchow were chosen by the Toronto Maple Leafs and Florida Panthers respectively.


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The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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