Latest:

MiHockey

Your Hockey – Our Hockey – MiHockey

College Editor's picks For Fans Juniors The Latest University of Michigan Wolverines USHL 

Six Michigan natives selected for CCM/USA Hockey All-American Prospects Game

MiHockey Staff

By Stefan Kubus –

USA Hockey announced today the 40 players who will partake in the first-ever CCM/USA Hockey All-American Prospects Game – and six call the Mitten home.

The inaugural game, set for Sept. 29 at the First Niagara Center in Buffalo, N.Y. (home of the Sabres), will feature 31 players from the USHL, including 22 from the U.S. National Team Development Program. Furthermore, at least 28 of the 40 are committed to NCAA Division I college programs.

Of 13 represented states, Michigan will be sending the second-most players to the game with six, behind only Minnesota who will have seven players present. An impressive six of the nine prospects with Michigan ties are committed to the University of Michigan.

The group was chosen by USA Hockey in conjunction with NHL Central Scouting in an effort to showcase the top American-born prospects eligible for the 2013 NHL Entry Draft.

Michigan players selected to participate

  • Dawson Cook (Cadillac) – F – U.S. National Under-17 Team – Notre Dame commit

The former Cadillac High School standout graduated to the U.S. National Under-17 Team, which is something of a rarity for Michigan high school hockey. Cook is currently committed to the University of Notre Dame.

  • Mike McCarron (Macomb) – F – U.S. National Under-17 Team – Cornell commit

The hulking McCarron – who checks in at 6-foot-5 and 225 lbs. – played much his youth hockey in the Honeybaked program, including his last season in 2010-11 where he registered 18 points in 38 games. After originally committing to MSU, it appears that McCarron will join his older brother, at Cornell University.

  • Evan Allen (Sterling Heights) – F – U.S. National Under-17 Team – University of Michigan commit

One of six players on the team to be committed to the University of Michigan, Allen registered 38 points in 34 games with Honeybaked in 2010-11 before heading off to the U.S. National Under-17 Team.

  • Tyler Motte (St. Clair) – F – U.S. National Under-17 Team – University of Michigan commit

Motte was a consistent producer and goal-scoring threat in his days with Little Caesars and Honeybaked, recording 86 goals and 68 assists for 154 points in 127 games from 2007-2011.

  • Mike Downing (Canton) – D – Dubuque Fighting Saints (USHL) – University of Michigan commit

The 6-foot-3 Canton native recorded 14 points in 54 games with Dubuque this past season in his first year with Dubuque.

  • Trevor Hamilton (Grosse Pte. Farms) – D – U.S. National Under-17 Team

Hamilton spent most of his youth days playing for Honeybaked, and recorded 27 points in 34 games from the blue line in 2010-11, his last season there.

Other Michigan connections

  • J.T. Compher – F – U.S. National Under-17 Team – University of Michigan commit

Compher is currently committed to play for the legendary and recently-extended Red Berenson at the University of Michigan. Compher played up with the Under-18 Team that won gold in the 2012 IIHF Men’s World Under-18 Championship.

  • Ryan Hartman – F – U.S. National Under-18 Team – Plymouth Whalers

Hartman finished second in team scoring with 16 goals and 41 points with 136 penalty minutes in 59 games with the Under-18 Team last season. Though initially he was committed to Miami University, Hartman decided to go the OHL route just a couple months ago.

  • Jimmy Lodge – F – Saginaw Spirit

Lodge, who is listed at 6-foot-1 and 170 pounds, posted eight goals and four assists in his first season with the Saginaw Spirit. The Downingtown, Pa. native is a ’95 birth-year who is expected to excel as he adjusts to the OHL.

  • Jared Rutledge – G – U.S. National Under-18 Team – University of Michigan commit

In 13 games with the U.S. National Under-18 Team in the USHL, Rutledge went 7-2-2 with a 2.77 goals-against average, .892 save percentage, and a shutout. With Shawn Hunwick departing, the Wolverines will look to Rutledge to help fill his skates.