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<p>PLYMOUTH, Mich. – The annual Biosteel All-American Hockey Game took over USA Hockey Arena in Plymouth on Monday, pitting some of the USHL and U.S. National Team Development Program’s stars against each other in front of college and NCAA scouts alike.</p>



<p>And when we say scouts, we’re talking about a 75/25 split with the normal fans. NHL GMs, coaches, head scouts, you name it. They were all there to see what USA’s top 2023 NHL Draft talent had in store.</p>



<p>I was in attendance, putting a bigger focus on players outside of the USNTDP. But it was hard to ignore just how strong the program looked, even when splitting the roster in half. They contributed most of the offense and, arguably, got the best goaltending performances. </p><div class="injected-ad injected-video" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="0" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="137"></div>



<p>Team Blue ultimately won the game 6-3, led by the USNTDP’s top line of Will Smith, Gabriel Perreault and Ryan Leonard. Team White was more USHL-heavy, but still had some USNTDP stars like Zeev Buium and Oliver Moore. Both teams had sons of notable NHLers: Lucas St. Louis (Marty’s son) played for Team Blue, while Cole Knuble (Mike’s son) represented Team White.</p>



<p>I kept notes of some of the players that stood out the most on Monday night, so let’s dive in:</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-team-white">Team White</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://publish.dailyfaceoff.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/SE5_68911-scaled.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="684" src="https://publish.dailyfaceoff.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/SE5_68911-1024x684.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-98222" srcset="https://publish.dailyfaceoff.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/SE5_68911-1024x684.jpg 1024w, https://publish.dailyfaceoff.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/SE5_68911-300x200.jpg 300w, https://publish.dailyfaceoff.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/SE5_68911-768x513.jpg 768w, https://publish.dailyfaceoff.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/SE5_68911-1536x1025.jpg 1536w, https://publish.dailyfaceoff.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/SE5_68911-2048x1367.jpg 2048w, https://publish.dailyfaceoff.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/SE5_68911-150x100.jpg 150w, https://publish.dailyfaceoff.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/SE5_68911-600x401.jpg 600w, https://publish.dailyfaceoff.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/SE5_68911-696x465.jpg 696w, https://publish.dailyfaceoff.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/SE5_68911-1392x929.jpg 1392w, https://publish.dailyfaceoff.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/SE5_68911-1068x713.jpg 1068w, https://publish.dailyfaceoff.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/SE5_68911-1920x1282.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px"></a><figcaption><em>Steven Ellis/Daily Faceoff</em></figcaption></figure>



<p><strong>Oliver Moore, C (#22): </strong>Moore scored the game’s first goal with a mid-speed wrister between the legs of Trey Augustine. Moore likes playing in the slot, although his shot isn’t exceptional by any means. The biggest thing here is his high top speed and ability to skate himself out of trouble.</p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="1" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="133"></div>



<p><strong>Jacob Fowler, G (#29): </strong>After I was impressed with him at the World Junior A Challenge, Fowler again caught my interest. He moves so quickly in the crease and plays bigger than his 6-foot-1 frame suggests. Fowler doesn’t give shooters much to work with down low, especially. He has a knack for sprawled-out pad saves and always gives fans at least one stop to remember.</p>



<p><strong>Joe Palodichuk, D (#9):</strong> I watched him play a few times when he was first eligible two years ago, and decision-making was a concern. I feel like that’s not the case this year. He made an excellent dish to Moore for the opening goal and seemed in control on the blueline. Palodichuk is an excellent transition skater and I liked how he pushed the play on Monday.</p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="2" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="132"></div>



<p><strong>Tanner Adams, RW (#14):</strong> Adams was one of the better puck rushers out of the defensive zone and nearly scored on two in-close scoring opportunities. Adams has typically excelled in showcase events thanks to his strong work ethic and solid skating ability.</p>



<p><strong>Aaron Pionk, D (#10):</strong> A third-year eligible prospect, Pionk has been someone on my radar as a value late-round pickup. He started his junior career as a forward but ultimately followed in the footsteps of his brother, Neal, and moved to the point. You can see the offensive instincts in him, but I liked how he forced attackers to the boards and kept the crease relatively clean.</p>



<p><strong>Zeev Buium, D (#3, 2024):</strong> It felt like every time Buium had the puck, he was rushing it down at speed down the middle. He got caught up on a couple of occasions, but I like that he’s willing to take risks. He’s not eligible until 2024, but I like how involved he makes himself offensively. He showed that with a nifty goal to make it 4-2, which felt well-deserved.</p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="3" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="179"></div>



<p><strong>Danny Nelson, LW (#7): </strong>I don’t think Nelson gets enough attention at the USNTDP, but he was excellent on Monday. The big-bodied winger showed his muscle a few times and didn’t lose a ton of in-tight puck battles. He’s a projected second-round pick, but whoever takes him will be quite happy with how he makes his presence known every night.</p>



<p><strong>Nick Vantassell, RW (#21): </strong>I’m not sure what Vantassell’s future is like, since he isn’t a great skater and isn’t producing a ton at Green Bay. But I noticed him every time he hit the ice (and it’s easy because he’s 6-foot-4) because once he got the puck, nobody could strip him off it. He scored White’s third goal on a rebound.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-team-blue">Team Blue</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://publish.dailyfaceoff.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/SE5_66501-scaled.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="684" src="https://publish.dailyfaceoff.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/SE5_66501-1024x684.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-98223" srcset="https://publish.dailyfaceoff.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/SE5_66501-1024x684.jpg 1024w, https://publish.dailyfaceoff.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/SE5_66501-300x200.jpg 300w, https://publish.dailyfaceoff.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/SE5_66501-768x513.jpg 768w, https://publish.dailyfaceoff.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/SE5_66501-1536x1025.jpg 1536w, https://publish.dailyfaceoff.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/SE5_66501-2048x1367.jpg 2048w, https://publish.dailyfaceoff.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/SE5_66501-150x100.jpg 150w, https://publish.dailyfaceoff.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/SE5_66501-600x401.jpg 600w, https://publish.dailyfaceoff.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/SE5_66501-696x465.jpg 696w, https://publish.dailyfaceoff.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/SE5_66501-1392x929.jpg 1392w, https://publish.dailyfaceoff.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/SE5_66501-1068x713.jpg 1068w, https://publish.dailyfaceoff.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/SE5_66501-1920x1282.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px"></a><figcaption><em>Will Smith (Steven Ellis/Daily Faceoff)</em></figcaption></figure>



<p><strong>Will Smith, C (#20): </strong>So often this year with the USNTDP, Smith is the most well-rounded forward that you can always count on from an effort standpoint. In the first period, though, he seemed invisible defensively and didn’t get many chances around the net. I liked him more in the second period, especially this one shift about seven minutes in when he rushed the puck down the ice twice. He didn’t have anyone to pass to, but he made the most out of an extended shift. He eventually scored the go-ahead goal past the halfway mark of the second and then set up the third goal, so maybe he heard scouts talking about him quietly during the first and took it personally. Smith then scored on a penalty shot in the third to make it 5-2 before assisting on an empty-netter.</p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="4" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="263"></div>



<p><strong>Eric Pohlkamp, D (#6)</strong>: Pohlkamp isn’t the flashiest defenseman, but he just knows where he needs to be. He never tries to overcommit or play to a level he isn’t capable of. You know what you’re getting from him every single game, and that was on full display on Monday. He’s a good puck-mover, capable of clearing guys out from around the net and likes to throw his weight around.</p>



<p><strong>Trey Augustine, G (#29):</strong> Augustine has been lights out this season, but let in a goal he’d rather forget early in the going. But he rebounded well, as he always does after a tough goal against. He only played one period, but we’ve seen enough of him this year to know he’s a battler who doesn’t have many nights off.</p>



<p><strong>Aram Minnetian, D (#5): </strong>Minnetian’s rise continues. He had some excellent rushes down the ice in the first period and even led his team in shots. It seems like he unlocked a whole new level of confidence at the U-18 Five Nations in November and scouts are noticing. There are a ton of instances where he looks like the best prospect out there, and, in my opinion, he was the most consistent.</p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="5" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="202"></div>



<p><strong>Carsen Musser, G (#28): </strong>Musser had a busy first half of the second period, his only frame of the game. He tracked the puck well through traffic, had an active glove hand and didn’t bite on anything. Augustine has overshadowed Musser this year, but he looked good when it mattered.</p>



<p><strong>Zack Sharp, D (#9):</strong> Sharp hasn’t put up many points in his first full USHL season, but he scored for Blue and tied for the team lead in shots with four. He always looked engaged and his teammates trusted him to generate chances from the point. Sharp is the 102nd-ranked North American skater by NHL Central Scouting, but many scouts loved what they saw.</p>



<p><strong>Ryan Leonard, LW (#15): </strong>You always expect big things from Leonard, especially when on Blue’s top line. We saw his usual trademark chemistry with Smith and Perreault, but his lone point was an empty-netter. Leonard still looked dangerous and did an excellent job rushing the puck out of the zone on numerous occasions. He won’t need to wait long to hear his name called.</p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="6" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="178"></div>



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-recently-by-steven-ellis">Recently by Steven Ellis</h2>



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