USHL Waterloo Black Hawks

Four Now, Four Later on NHLCS List

Published on October 25, 2023 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Waterloo Black Hawks News Release


Waterloo, Iowa - The National Hockey League's Central Scouting department revealed its first official list of prospects for the 2024 NHL Draft on Wednesday, including eight players with ties to the Waterloo Black Hawks.

Current Hawks skaters Eero Butella, Matthew Frost, Keith McInnis, and John Mustard drew attention. Four others from Waterloo's affiliate list were also in the catalog of over 470 highly-regarded players from around the world: Francesco Dell'Elce, Max Heise, Callum Hughes, and JJ Monteiro.

Central Scouting made changes to its initial grading standards this fall. An "A" grade from current evaluations suggests a player might be picked in the first round, "B" in the second or third, and "C" in the fourth or fifth. New this year is a "W" or "watch" designation, suggesting a prospect might be a candidate for the sixth or seventh round of the draft. The NHL's scouts will continue to view eligible North American and International players throughout the season before publishing a final end-of-season prospect ranking in April.

Frost and Butella each received "C" status Wednesday. Among the NHLCS-tabbed players, Frost is the Black Hawk with the most USHL experience. He played in 14 regular season or playoff games last year before turning 17. The Boston College recruit scored his first USHL goal early this season against the Dubuque Fighting Saints on September 30th. Butella notched his initial goal the next weekend when the Hawks visited the Sioux City Musketeers. The Northeastern recruit has been in the Hawks' lineup for seven of eight games after two affiliate appearances in 2022/23.

McInnis and Mustard are listed as "W"s. In 2022/23, McInnis was limited to nine games by injury, however he has been in the lineup every game so far this year. The defenseman is committed to North Dakota. Mustard is a Providence recruit and is off to an excellent start in the USHL. Currently on a four-game point streak, Mustard is tied for second in scoring among Black Hawks players with six points (four goals, two assists).

Frost, Butella, and Mustard each came to the Black Hawks' organization through the league's 2022 Phase I Draft. That was also where Waterloo acquired Hughes ("C") and Montiero ("W"). Dell'elce ("C") was selected during Phase II in 2022, while Heise ("C") became a Hawks prospect with his selection in Phase II of this spring's draft. All four are currently playing in the British Columbia Hockey League: Dell'elce and Heise with the Penticton Vees, Hughes as a member of the West Kelowna Warriors, and Montiero for the Salmon Arm Silverbacks.

The Black Hawks play at home both a Friday and a Saturday for the first time this season against the Lincoln Stars and Dubuque Fighting Saints respectively. Good seats are available online now from tickets.waterlooblackhawks.com or by calling the Domino's Black Hawks Box Office at (319) 291-7680.

Check out the Waterloo Black Hawks Statistics

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United States Hockey League Stories from October 25, 2023


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