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U.S. Hockey Leagues Well Represented in NHL CSS Rankings

By USA Hockey, 01/18/17, 2:00PM EST

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Over 100 Ranked Players With Ties to American Hockey Pipelines

A total of 105 players with ties or eligibility to various hockey leagues across the United States appeared on NHL Central Scouting’s midterm ranking of the top players available for the 2017 NHL Draft.

The players represent five hockey leagues in the United States, including the National Collegiate Athletic Association (97 players*), United States Hockey League (62 players), United States High Schools (22 players), North American Hockey League (3 players) and United States Premier Hockey League (1 player).

Eighteen players have played or currently play for USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program located in Plymouth, Michigan, which competes in the United States Hockey League. Meanwhile, a total of 35 players have skated in a CCM/USA Hockey All-American Prospects Game.

Seven players with U.S. ties were given a first-round prospect grade, including 5th-ranked Casey Mittelstadt (USHL, NCAA^, USHS, AAPG), 7th-ranked Eeli Tolvanen (USHL, NCAA^), 10th-ranked Cale Makar (NCAA^), 13th-ranked Shane Bowers (USHL, NCAA^), 14th-ranked Ryan Poehling (USHL, NCAA), 17th-ranked Kailer Yamamoto (AAPG) and 30th-ranked Grant Mismash (USHL, NCAA^, AAPG).

Of the 31 goaltenders ranked, 15 have U.S. ties, including four of the top five. Keith Petruzzelli (USHL, NCAA^, AAPG) tops the list, Jake Oettinger (USHL, NCAA, AAPG) ranks third, Cayden Primeau (USHL, NCAA^, AAPG) is fourth and Maksim Zhukov (USHL, NCAA^) sits fifth.

To view the full NHL Central Scouting list, click here.

* includes 17 players who are uncommitted but eligible to play collegiate hockey
^ designates NCAA commitment

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