3 Musketeers Make Named to All USHL Teams
April 23, 2019 - United States Hockey League (USHL) - Sioux City Musketeers News Release
The USHL announced the All USHL Teams and USHL All-Rookie teams and three Musketeers have made the list.
Forward Bobby Brink was selected to the All USHL First team; Forward Marcus Kallionkieli was selected to the USHL All-Rookie First Team and Defenseman Anthony Kehrer was chosen for the USHL All-Rookie Second Team.
Brink enjoyed a dominant season that saw him put up 68 pts (35 G, 33 A) along with winning a gold medal for Team USA at the World Junior A Challenge. Brink also set a new USHL record for winning the league's Forward of the Week award three weeks in a row. His five total selections also matched a record for the most in a single USHL career. His selection for the All USHL First Team should come as no shock to those who have followed the 2019 NHL Draft prospect all season long. Brink is currently listed as the 19th best North American Skater by NHL Central Scouting. That makes him second-highest ranked USHL player who is not a part of the US-NTDP. Muskegon's Igor Afanasyev is ranked just three spots above at #16.
Kallionkieli enjoyed an outstanding rookie campaign playing the majority of the season on the Musketeers top line centered by new Calgary Flame Martin Pospisil and on the opposite wing of All USHL First Team selection Bobby Brink. Kallionkieli scored 29 goals and added 24 assists for 53 points in 58 games. Kallionkieli's 29 goals put him alone at the top of the rookie goal column, with 10 of those coming on the powerplay good for second among all rookies. His 53 points place him third among rookies just behind Shane Pinto (59) of Tri-City/Lincoln and Vladislav Firstov (58) of Waterloo and place him 20th in the USHL overall. Musketeer Assistant Coach Ryan Durocher thinks Kallionkieli has all the tools to become a big-player as he progresses through his career "Marcus has all the tools to be an elite player at the next level. He has exceptional skating ability and speed as well as a lethal release and knack for scouting goals. He got much bigger and stronger this season and showed how he could be dangerous in a lot of different ways as an offensive point producer. His upside is tremendous." Kallionkieli was also listed on the final watch list for the 2019 NHL Entry Draft by NHL Central Scouting. The Finnish native was ranked 47th, seventh highest amongst all USHL players.
Kehrer was the youngest Musketeer player to be named to an All USHL team and the only defenseman. Kehrer was placed on the USHL All-Rookie Second team along with defenseman Owen Power of the Chicago Steel. Kehrer was the Musketeers tender signee last offseason, and it did not take long to see why. Kehrer is an offensively gifted defenseman with excellent skating, speed, and stickhandling who models his game after Josh Morrissey of his hometown Winnipeg Jets. Shortly after the start of the season, Kehrer found himself playing on Sioux City's top defensive pairing alongside Captain Luke Johnson. As a 2002 born player and one of the youngest players in the league Kehrer didn't lead the way statistically speaking, but it was about more than that for the young player, it was also about growing confident and comfortable at the USHL level. Assistant Coach Durocher thinks Kehrer did precisely that and a big reason for the young defenseman's success "Anthony has a lot of attributes that place him way ahead of the curve for his age group. His explosive skating and strength made him an immediate top pairing defender on our team. He has the ability to close quickly all over the ice when defending and the confidence to rush the puck or jump into the play offensively. His maturity and ability to keep a level demeanor is what impressed me most about him."
As the year progressed, Kehrer showed more and more flashes of brilliance that should excite Musketeer fans. That was no more apparent than in the Musketeers two-game playoff series against the Sioux Falls Stampede. In game two Kehrer had the primary assist on both Musketeer goals with one of those being a coast to coast rush up the ice that ended with a perfect backhand pass to Albin Nilsson who scored to give Sioux City their first lead of the series. It was an excellent display of the game-breaking weapon Kehrer will be soon.
Stay up to date with Musketeer social media as more and more end of year awards continue to be announced to see if any of your favorite Musketeer players are named!
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