All American Prospects Ready To Hit the Ice

Perhaps the most skilled line-up the First Niagara ice will see this season will hit the ice this season when the top All American prospects suit up for the All American Prospects game in Buffalo tonight. The best young players that call America home will be putting their skills on display tonight for what’s sure to be a great night of hockey.

42 of the best American players including Jack Eichel will take to the ice tonight coached by either Eddie Olczyk or Buffalo favourite Mike Grier. Top defenceman Noah Hanifin will also be on the ice competing against Eichel.

For Buffalo Sabres the potential to see Jack Eichel on the Sabres ice up close and personal is an exciting thought consider there is a good chance the Sabres end up drafting Eichel. Eichel will compete with or rather be compared too Connor McDavid of the OHL all season long leading up to the announcement of the first pick in the 2015 draft.

Ted Murray and the Buffalo Sabres have made sure that fans get a chance to see both Jack Eichel and Connor McDavid compete on Sabres ice at least once, as both will see game action there this season for their respective clubs.

“Obviously, to be playing in Buffalo I’m super excited. It’s a rich hockey city with a lot of background.” ~ Jack Eichel

This will be the third year for the USA All-American Prospect game and this years roster boasts talent at every position, a true testament to the development of American hockey. Last years tournament didn’t boast a single player who was expected to go inside the top 10, but this years bill features several.

Joining Eichel on the players to watch list is; Noah Hanifin, the youngest player to ever suit up for Boston College, Colin White, Kyle Connor, Zach Werenski and Seth Jones younger brother Caleb Jones. Also keep an eye out for Jeremy Bracco who might just be the most exciting offensive player of the night.

With the development of the United States Development program and NTDP, the United States has taken their hockey prospects to the next level. They captured gold at the 2013 World Junior Championships and more and more of their players are starting to make waves around the NHL. The NCAA and CHL debate is getting more heated as several CHL drafted players instead choose the NCAA path.

The United States is doing an amazing job with their hockey prospects and they’re pumping out some very skilled young players who are a treat watch.

Leading the way for team Grier will be; Bracco, White and of course Jack Eichel. Leading the way for team Olczyk will be Paul Bittner, Noah Hanifin and Colin White.

All-in-all tonight’s instalment of the All American prospects game should not be a disappointment, with this much NHL ready talent battling it out.