Michigan prospects compete at USHL/NHL Top Prospects Game
By Nick Barnowski –
The state of Michigan was well represented at the USHL/NHL Top Prospects Game Tuesday night.
With many Michigan natives and connections featured, Team East defeated Team West, 7-4, in a high-scoring game at the Mystique Ice Center in Dubuque, Iowa. A five-goal first period for the East gave them a lead they would never relinquish.
Rochester’s Christian Wolanin and Bloomfield Hills’ Sam Miletic had goals in the game, while Muskegon Lumberjacks defenseman and Michigan commit Joe Cecconi assisted on the East’s first goal. Clarkston native Ryan Larkin stopped all 18 shots he saw in net for Team East.
Other Michigan natives and connections included Kyle Connor (Shelby Township, Michigan commit) and Eric Schierhorn (Muskegon Lumberjacks) for Team East. Michigan commit Cooper Marody (Brighton), Bryce Hatten (Michigan Nationals alum) and Michael Floodstrand of the U.S. NTDP were on Team West.
The USHL and NHL Central Scouting selected the 40 players to participate in one of the league’s flagship events. This was the third edition of the game, which began in 2012 but was canceled last season.
More than 100 scouts representing all 30 NHL teams were in attendance.
Stay tuned for more coverage to come…
Team West
Cooper Marody – Brighton – Sioux Falls Stampede – 0 points, -3 rating
Team East
Kyle Connor – Shelby Township – Youngstown Phantoms – 0 points, +1 rating
Brent Gates, Jr. – Grand Rapids – Green Bay Gamblers – did not play
Sam Miletic – Bloomfield Hills – Green Bay Gamblers – 1 goal, 1 point, even +/-
Christian Wolanin – Rochester – Muskegon Lumberjacks – 1 goal, 1 point, +2 rating
Ryan Larkin – Clarkston – Cedar Rapids RoughRiders – 32:13 time played, 18 shots faced, 18 saves
Joe Cecconi – Muskegon Lumberjacks – 1 assist, 1 point, even +/-
Eric Schierhorn – Muskegon Lumberjacks – 27:47 time played, 22 shots faced, 18 saves
Bryce Hatten – Cedar Rapids RoughRiders (Michigan Nationals alum) – no points, +2 rating
Video:
Christian Wolanin during postgame press conference (middle person):
Ryan Larkin, pre-game skate:
Kyle Connor, pre-game skate: