The scouting community will descend to Summerside, Prince Edward Island next week for an international event. What international event is being held in PEI, you might ask. The World Junior “A” Challenge which is the top event for Junior A players in the world.
Canada will have two teams East and West, the USA will have a roster of USHL players (not the NTDP) and one BCHL player. Russia and Sweden will also have a team. Rounding out the field is Belarus.
Players to Keep an eye out:
USA
Will Yanakeff (2010 Draft Eligible)
The former NTDP netminder and Michigan State recruit has found a home with the Sioux City Musketeers of the USHL. He has a 1-3 record with a 2.82 goals-against average and a .911 save percentage.
Mac Bennett (2009 3rd round Montreal)
He seems to get better by the day. The Montreal fans are raving about the Michigan recruit. With the Cedar Roughriders he has a goal and three assists in eight games.
Beau Bennett (2010 Draft Eligible)
No relation to Mac and the California native is having a strong year in the BCHL. He has 12 goals and 21 assists in 18 games with Penticton Vees.
Canada West
Curtis Gedig (2009 7th round New Jersey)
One of two players drafted in the NHL. He has five goals and three assists in 17 games this season.
Cam Reid (2009 7th round Nashville)
The other drafted player on the roster, he’s committed to the University of New Hampshire for 2010. He’s sixth in BCHL scoring with 10 goals and 16 assists in 16 games.
Grayson Downing (2010 Draft Eligible)
Downing is the top draft eligible player on Canada West. He’s also a teammate Reid with the Westside Warriors. He has 8 goals and 8 assists in 16 games. He’s also committed to New Hampshire.
Canada East
Brock Higgs (2010 Draft Eligible)
A member of the Kingston Voyageurs, Higgs is was recently in The Hockey News Hot List. He has 8 goals and 15 assists in 15 games this season.
Alex Guptill (2010 Draft Eligible)
A member of the Brampton Capitals is having a decent season. He has six goals and five assists in 11 games
Lucas Lessio (2011 Draft Eligible)
Lessio probably has the most pro potential on this team. The 8th overall selection by the Niagara Ice Dogs in the 2009 OHL was traded to the Oshawa Generals because he wouldn’t report to Niagara. He has made his intentions clear he’s heading to Michigan. With the St. Michaels Buzzers he has 14 goals and 19 assists in 16 games which leads the teams.
Sweden
Johan Gustafsson (2010 Draft Eligble)
Gustafsson is Sweden’s top goalie for the 2010 Draft and could sneak into the first round. With Skåre BK of the Division I league he has a 2.82 goals-against average and a .901 save percentage in games. He’s in the Färjestad system.
Victor Ohman (2010 Draft Eligble)
The 2010 draft crop for Sweden’s forwards lacks the depth of the 2009 class. Ohman looks to be the best of the bunch. In seven games with Malmo of the Allsvenskan, he has one assist. In the Under 20 SuperElit league he has 10 goals and 5 assists in 11 games.
Russia
Pavel Kulikov
Alexander Kuznetsov
