Zhukov, Binner, Dunne and Moyle Represent Gamblers at Top Prospect Game
December 13, 2016 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Green Bay Gamblers News Release
The United States Hockey League and NHL Central Scouting announced the players selected to compete in the 2017 USHL/NHL Top Prospects Game that will take place on Jan. 10, 2017 in Sioux Falls, SD at The Denny Sanford PREMIER Center, home of the USHL's Sioux Falls Stampede. Forwards Nolan Moyle and Josh Dunne, defenseman Alexis Binner and goaltender Maksim Zhukov will represent the Gamblers.
In the four-year history of the USHL/NHL Top Prospects Game, 58 players named to the roster have gone on to be selected in the NHL Draft, including first round selections Kyle Connor (Winnipeg Jets), Brock Boeser (Vancouver Canucks) and Jordan Schmaltz (St. Louis Blues).
"The development path from junior hockey to college hockey to the NHL continues to be validated each and every year," said Bob Fallen, USHL President and Commissioner. "The USHL has produced 30 or more NHL Draft picks in four consecutive years, something only two other junior leagues in the world can say. The USHL/NHL Top Prospects Game is a celebration for all of the youth organizations and the players they helped develop. Most of these players will go on to have very successful college hockey careers, and a select few will continue that success in the NHL."
"More eyes than ever will be on the USHL and Sioux Falls, SD as a record crowd eclipsing 8,000 fans is expected to attend, in addition to scouts from every NHL member club. The elite players selected to play in this game have an extraordinary opportunity to put an exclamation point on what the League and hockey in the United States have become in recent years."
The selection process for players competing in the game was complete in cooperation with NHL general managers and scouts, NHL Central Scouting and USHL general managers. All 40 players chosen are eligible for the 2017 NHL Draft.
35 of the 40 players were named to NHL Central Scouting Preliminary List on Nov. 16, 2016 including three A-rated players: Shane Bowers (Waterloo Black Hawks), Eeli Tolvanen (Sioux City Musketeers) and Maksim Zhukov (Green Bay Gamblers). 38 of the 40 players have been listed by NHL Central Scouting at some point in their USHL career dating back to last season.
32 of the 40 players are currently committed to Division I college hockey programs. 13 different states will be represented in the game, including six states with multiple players: Massachusetts (five), Minnesota (five), Michigan (four), Wisconsin (three), California (two) and Virginia (two). Seven different countries will be represented in the game: United States, Finland, Canada, Czech Republic, Estonia, Russia and Sweden.
16 of the 17 USHL teams are represented, including 13 teams with multiple players: Tri-City Storm (five), Green Bay Gamblers (four), Muskegon Lumberjacks (four), Cedar Rapids RoughRiders (three), Fargo Force (three), Sioux Falls Stampede (three), Waterloo Black Hawks (three), Chicago Steel (two), Des Moines Buccaneers (two), Dubuque Fighting Saints (two), Lincoln Stars (two), Sioux City Musketeers (two) and Youngstown Phantoms (two).
Tolvanen is currently tied for first in USHL scoring and goals scored. The Sioux City Musketeers forward has 27 points in 23 games, including 16 goals. Jack Adams (Fargo Force) also has 16 goals, and is one point shy of the USHL scoring leaders. Six different forwards are currently averaging a point-per-game or better: Tolvanen, Adams, Zach Solow (Dubuque Fighting Saints), Nicolas Werbik (Youngstown Phantoms), Nick Swaney (Waterloo Black Hawks) and Alex Limoges (Tri-City Storm). Defensemen Mario Ferraro (Des Moines Buccaneers) and Matthew Hellickson (Sioux City Musketeers) leads all blueliners with 13 points, while Mikey Anderson (Waterloo Black Hawks) has 12 points in 21 games. Three of the four goalies named to the roster are considered USHL rookies, having played less than 10 games in any previous season and are NHL Draft first-year eligible or younger. It is the first time in USHL/NHL Top Prospects Game history that all four goaltenders named are first-year NHL Draft eligible. Keith Petruzzeli (Muskegon Lumberjacks) leads the group with a 2.49 GAA and .915 sv% in his first USHL season. The Quinnipiac University commit is 9-5-0-0 this season, and is 7-3-0-0 when facing 25 shots or more in a game.
The 40 players will be split into two teams - Team East and Team West - for the 2017 USHL/NHL Top Prospects Game, and the teams will mostly represent a split of players currently competing in the USHL's Eastern Conference and Western Conference. The final rosters, along with coaches and support staff, will be announced at a later date.
2017 marks the fifth time, and third consecutive year, that the USHL will be hosting the USHL/NHL Top Prospects Game. The 2017 NHL Draft will be held June 23-24 in Chicago, IL, home of the USHL headquarters, at the United Center, home of the Chicago Blackhawks. The NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey Championship will also be held at the United Center two months prior, featuring many USHL alumni and NHL prospects.
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