USHL Waterloo Black Hawks

Central Scouting Grades Black Hawks, Affiliates

Published on September 23, 2013 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Waterloo Black Hawks News Release


Waterloo, Iowa-Following a record-setting day for the Waterloo Black Hawks during the 2013 NHL Draft in June, three members of the 2013/14 squad and a pair of players on the Hawks' affiliate list have been given preliminary grades by NHL Central Scouting, which were announced Monday.

The group includes forwards Lawton Courtnall and Tyler Sheehy, plus defensemen Mark Friedman, Hunter Warner, and Cooper Watson. "Players to Watch" are given "A-B-C" grades at the beginning of the season by the NHL's scouting service. "A"-ranked players are considered potential first-round picks, while those with "B" ratings are considered possible second- or third-round choices. In December, the league will release a midseason list of the top 210 North American skaters, which will be updated again in April after the regular schedules in most leagues have ended.

Courtnall was given a "B" rating, and opens the USHL season on the Hawks' injured reserve list. He spent last season playing midget hockey in Omaha. The Westlake Village, CA native has family ties to the NHL; his father Russ and uncle Geoff each played over 1,000 games in the league during the 1980's and 90's.

Friedman had the opportunity to make an impression while skating for Waterloo last year. He was second on the squad among defensemen with 35 points (eight goals, 27 assists), recorded a +22 plus/minus rating, and was the only Hawk to appear in all 64 games. The Bowling Green recruit is back in Waterloo this year as the team's top returning scorer. Friedman was given a "C" by Central Scouting.

In a taste of USHL action last winter, Warner played in six games for the Hawks, notching an assist and seven penalty minutes. The big defenseman is a fulltime Black Hawk this year as he prepares for his college career at Minnesota State-Mankato. Warner was also graded with a "C," but will have an opportunity to build his reputation with the scouts later this week during USA Hockey's All-American Prospects Game in Pittsburgh.

Black Hawks affiliates Tyler Sheehy and Cooper Watson were given "B" and "C" marks respectively. Over the past two seasons, Sheehy has appeared in a dozen games for Waterloo with a goal and an assist. Watson is from Appleton, Wisconsin, and was acquired during Phase II of the 2013 USHL Draft with a ninth round selection.

The 2014 NHL Draft will be held next summer in Philadelphia. Four fulltime members of the 2012/13 Black Hawks were selected during the draft last June in New Jersey. Ian McCoshen, Eamon McAdam, Taylor Cammarata, and Cal Petersen's names were all called, in addition to Stephon Williams from the 2011/12 Hawks and Jake Jackson, who appeared briefly in a substitute role last November. Petersen and Zach Sanford - a second-round pick of the Washington Capitals - both skate in Waterloo this season after their rights were acquired by NHL clubs.

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United States Hockey League Stories from September 23, 2013


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