2018-19 USA TODAY Preseason Boys Hockey Team

[JerseyDave]

2018-19 American Family Insurance ALL-USA Preseason Boys Hockey Team
By: USA TODAY High School Sports | November 13, 2018
https://usatodayhss.com/2018/2018-19-am ... ockey-team

"The 2018-19 American Family Insurance ALL-USA preseason boys hockey team was selected based on past performance, level of competition and strength of schedule. Bobby Brink, a junior forward from Minnetonka (Minn.) was a Third Team selection last spring and is the only returnee from the 2017-18 ALL-USA team. He is one of 12 Minnesota skaters on the preseason team. Massachusetts is next with five selections, including a pair of teammates from (Brookline, Mass.) Dexter Southfield in John Farinacci and Derek Mullahy. Wisconsin has two picks, while Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey and New York all have one."

Blake Biondi
School: Hermantown (Minn.)
Position: Forward
Year: Junior
Height: 6-0
College: Minnesota-Duluth
Noteworthy: Biondi, the team captain, was the leading scorer for the United States at the Under-17 Five Nations Tournament in Slovakia over the summer. For Hermantown last season, he scored 30 goals as the Hawks skated to a third-place finish in the Minnesota Class A state tournament.

Bobby Brink
School: Minnetonka (Minn.)
Position: Forward
Year: Junior
Height: 5-10
College: Denver
Noteworthy: The only returning member of the 2017-18 ALL-USA Postseason Team, Brink tallied 21 goals and 35 assists a year ago for the Minnesota Class AA state champions and was named Third Team All-State by the Associated Press.

Ryder Donovan
School: Duluth East (Duluth, Minn.)
Position: Forward
Year: Senior
Height: 6-4
College: North Dakota
Noteworthy: Donovan dished out 48 assists a year ago to lead Duluth East to a runner-up finish in the Minnesota Class AA state tournament. Donovan participated in the CCM All-American Prospects Game in September and NHL Central Scouting rates him as an early-round pick in next year’s draft.

John Farinacci
School: Dexter Southfield (Brookline, Mass.)
Position: Forward
Year: Senior
Height: 6-0
College: Harvard
Noteworthy: Farinacci was the captain of Team USA at the Under-18 Hlinka-Gretzky Cup in Canada in August and shared the team lead in scoring. He tallied 53 points a year ago for Dexter Southfield to earn All-New England honors.

Aaron Huglen
School: Roseau (Minn.)
Position: Forward
Year: Senior
Height: 5-11
College: Minnesota
Noteworthy: Huglen scored a pair of goals for Team USA at the Under-18 Hlinka-Gretzky Cup in August, and the next month he participated in the CCM All-American Prospects Game in his home state. He scored 23 goals a year ago for Roseau.

Jack Jensen
School: Eden Prairie (Minn.)
Position: Forward
Year: Senior
Height: 6-3
College: Minnesota
Noteworthy: An ALL-USA Preseason Team selection for a second straight year, Jensen is one of the top power forwards in the state and earned All-Metro honors a year ago after picking up 20 goals and 18 assists for the Eagles.

Jackson Jutting
School: Prior Lake (Savage, Minn.)
Position: Forward
Year: Senior
Height: 5-10
College: Colorado College
Noteworthy: Jutting skated with Team USA at the Under-18 Hlinka-Gretzky Cup in August, potting a pair of goals in five games. Last year for Prior Lake, Jutting scored 24 goals and dished out 17 assists.

Arlo Merritt
School: Kimball Union (Meriden, N.H.)
Position: Forward
Year: Senior
Height: 6-3
College: Ohio State
Noteworthy: Merritt earned a B rating from NHL Central Scouting, targeting the forward as an early-round pick in the 2019 draft. Merritt scored 18 goals last winter for Kimball Union, which won the New England Open Division tournament title.

Garrett Pinoniemi
School: Holy Family Catholic (Victoria, Minn.)
Position: Forward
Year: Junior
Height: 5-11
College: Minnesota
Noteworthy: Eligible for the 2019 NHL Draft, Pinoniemi earned a spot in the CCM All-American Prospects Game in Minneapolis in September. As a sophomore for Holy Family, Pinoniemi tallied 14 goals and 35 assists and was a plus-32 on the ice.

Jake Boltmann
School: Edina (Minn.)
Position: Defenseman
Year: Junior
Height: 6-1
College: Minnesota
Noteworthy: An ALL-USA Preseason Team member for a second straight year, Boltmann leads an experienced Edina defense this winter. Last year, Boltmann dished out 15 assists as the Hornets finished third in the Minnesota Class AA state tournament.

Braden Doyle
School: Lawrence Academy (Groton, Mass.)
Position: Defenseman
Year: Senior
Height: 5-10
College: Boston University
Noteworthy: A strong stay-at-home defender, Doyle skated in the CCM All-American Prospects Game in September. A year ago, he was the defensive MVP for the New England Small Division champions.

Mike Koster
School: Chaska (Minn.)
Position: Defenseman
Year: Senior
Height: 5-11
College: Minnesota
Noteworthy: A member of Team USA at the Under-18 Hlinka-Gretzky Cup in August, Koster is a two-time All-Conference pick for Chaska. He tallied 14 goals and 41 points a year ago for the Hawks.

Jackson LaCombe
School: Shattuck-St. Mary’s (Faribault, Minn.)
Position: Defenseman
Year: Senior
Height: 6-2
College: Minnesota
Noteworthy: Smooth with the stick, LaCombe recorded 44 assists a year ago for Shattuck-St. Mary’s. Over the summer, he suited up for Team USA at the Hlinka-Gretzky Cup in Canada.

Jayden Struble
School: St. Sebastian’s (Needham, Mass.)
Position: Defenseman
Year: Senior
Height: 6-0
College: Northeastern
Noteworthy: A participant in the CCM All-American Prospects Game in September, Struble is projected as an early-round draft pick in the 2019 draft by NHL Central Scouting. He picked up 12 goals and 18 assists a year ago for the Arrows.

Cade Webber
School: Rivers (Weston, Mass.)
Position: Defenseman
Year: Senior
Height: 6-6
College: Boston University
Noteworthy: An All-Independent School League selection a year ago, Webber led Rivers to a 27-2-2 record and the semifinals of the New England Open Division tournament. NHL Central Scouting rates Webber as a mid-round pick in the 2019 draft.

A.J. Cohen
School: Hudson (Wisc.)
Position: Goalie
Year: Senior
Height: 5-10
College: Uncommitted
Noteworthy: Cohen was a Wisconsin First Team All-State selection as a junior, going 26-0-1 between the pipes with a 94.4 save percentage and a 1.05 goals against average. He recorded nine shutouts to lead the Raiders to the state title.

Ben Fritsinger
School: Andover (Minn.)
Position: Goalie
Year: Senior
Height: 6-0
College: Uncommitted
Noteworthy: Fritsinger is one of the main reasons the Minneapolis Star Tribune lists Andover as one of the favorites heading into the 2018-19 season. Fritsinger went 18-4 a year ago with a 1.87 goals against average and a 92.6 save percentage for the Huskies, who lost the eventual state runner-up in the sectional final.

Derek Mullahy
School: Dexter Southfield (Brookline, Mass.)
Position: Goalie
Year: Senior
Height: 6-0
College: Harvard
Noteworthy: Mullahy was one of two goalies for Team USA at the Under-18 Hlinka-Gretzky Cup in Canada over the summer. Last year for Dexter, he led the team to a 21-5-2 record with a 92.6 save percentage.

[612hockeytown]

Supposed to be high school players only right? A miss on Bobby Brink then

[Corn Cobb]

Supposed to be high school players only right? A miss on Bobby Brink then

How do you mean? He's the second one listed.

[612hockeytown]

Supposed to be high school players only right? A miss on Bobby Brink then

How do you mean? He's the second one listed.

Because kids playing juniors aren’t eligible to make this list. He’s playing full time juniors. There is a lot of errors in this thing

[JerseyDave]

I think Brink has his eyes on the NHL draft next spring so that's why he went full-time juniors. He is one of 19 players who recently moved up from a "C" to a "B" rating in the latest NHL Central Scouting rankings.
https://www.nhl.com/news/two-2019-nhl-d ... -301927778

"Bobby Brink, RW, Sioux City (USHL): The 5-8, 159-pound right wing, who is committed to the University of Denver in 2020-21, is tied with teammate Martin Pospisil (Calgary Flames) for the United States Hockey League scoring lead with 26 points (11 goals, 15 assists) in 15 games. He leads Sioux City with four power-play goals. NHL Central Scouting: 'Brink has got good hands, a quick release and can snap the puck. He's a point producer who finds ways to contribute.'"

[CakeScout17]

612Hockeytown - you got that right. A lot.
Boltmann? Really? Slow down. Solid player but leveling off. Not even best Dman on Edina. Swap him for Vorlicky. No question. Only a junior it would be a treat to JB elevate game this season. He WILL need to score as well...heck, they might even need to move Vorlicky to F before January. He sure showed his best Brinkman impersonations in EL.

[MrBoDangles]

My Spidey senses are telling me a couple/few of these posters are the same person...

Way too much bromance on some of these topics....

"Awe geez... another great post by you... you're so wise"

*puke

[JerseyDave]

Wow, Brink moved up to a first-round prospect in this guy's November rankings, whereas Brink wasn't even in the first four rounds of prospects in the same person's October rankings:

https://thehockeywriters.com/2019-nhl-d ... -november/ (Brink #28 in first round)

https://thehockeywriters.com/2019-nhl-d ... s-october/ (Brink unranked in first four rounds)

[O-townClown]

He's leading the USHL in scoring. When Mittelstadt did that he was the 8th pick.

I'll be very surprised if Donovan falls that far. He's got great size and is an awesome skater.

[hockey59]

He's leading the USHL in scoring. When Mittelstadt did that he was the 8th pick.

I'll be very surprised if Donovan falls that far. He's got great size and is an awesome skater.

Except he doesn’t have the enormous size of a Riley Tufte at this stage of his career nor the goal scoring ability (albeit) at the HS level that Tufte also showed. Time will tell, if Donovan scores 30 goals & 40 assists this season, he could go as high as the second round. But if he scores 15 goals & 40 assists, he’s more likely a late 3rd round early 4th round pick. Point of perspective, Joey Anderson played 2 years at NTDP on a line with Clayton Keller ...and went early in the 3rd round of the 2016 NHL draft.

[O-townClown]

My Spidey senses are telling me a couple/few of these posters are the same person...

Way too much bromance on some of these topics....

"Awe geez... another great post by you... you're so wise"

This is a great post. Couldn't have said it better myself! I agree completely! I nominate this for Post of the Month.

[ThatMNHockeyGuy62]

He's leading the USHL in scoring. When Mittelstadt did that he was the 8th pick.

I'll be very surprised if Donovan falls that far. He's got great size and is an awesome skater.

Except he doesn’t have the enormous size of a Riley Tufte at this stage of his career nor the goal scoring ability (albeit) at the HS level that Tufte also showed. Time will tell, if Donovan scores 30 goals & 40 assists this season, he could go as high as the second round. But if he scores 15 goals & 40 assists, he’s more likely a late 3rd round early 4th round pick. Point of perspective, Joey Anderson played 2 years at NTDP on a line with Clayton Keller ...and went early in the 3rd round of the 2016 NHL draft.

Other than the team being a bit more devoted to developing its higher round picks, the round you’re drafted in, or even whether it’s the 1st, 2nd, or 3rd year of draft eligibility doesn’t really matter in NHL. Much more about where to than when.

[Slap Shot]

My Spidey senses are telling me a couple/few of these posters are the same person...

Way too much bromance on some of these topics....

"Awe geez... another great post by you... you're so wise"

This is a great post. Couldn't have said it better myself! I agree completely! I nominate this for Post of the Month.

[kniven]

Supposed to be high school players only right? A miss on Bobby Brink then

How do you mean? He's the second one listed.

Because kids playing juniors aren’t eligible to make this list. He’s playing full time juniors. There is a lot of errors in this thing

Yep

[elliott70]

How do you mean? He's the second one listed.

Because kids playing juniors aren’t eligible to make this list. He’s playing full time juniors. There is a lot of errors in this thing

Yep

I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THEIR CRITERIA IS???
Playing for a high school team or kids of a high school age????

[O-townClown]

Mark, from what I can tell after seeing the last couple years you absolutely have to play school hockey. Shattuck-St. Mary's yes, NAHL/USHL no.

I think the names sourced for preseason consideration weigh heavily, at least for some, on what the kids did at USA Hockey's National Camp for their age group.

People like us that follow Minnesota HS closely can scratch our heads, but I have a feeling compiling a preseason list is a real tall order. If I recall, Boltmann (soph) was on last year and Brinkman (jr) wasn't. Just among their own team I don't know that makes sense to those following Edina. The preseason goalie choice last year was a kid that left a small Minnesota private school (St. Paul Academy maybe?) to go play for a New England Prep school (possibly also St. Paul?). Not taking anything away from kids mentioned, but I reckon an equal case could be made for scores of kids.

On the good side it whets the interest for HS hockey coverage. Perhaps the season ending list is easier to make sense of for fans like us.

[612hockeytown]

Mark, from what I can tell after seeing the last couple years you absolutely have to play school hockey. Shattuck-St. Mary's yes, NAHL/USHL no.

I think the names sourced for preseason consideration weigh heavily, at least for some, on what the kids did at USA Hockey's National Camp for their age group.

People like us that follow Minnesota HS closely can scratch our heads, but I have a feeling compiling a preseason list is a real tall order. If I recall, Boltmann (soph) was on last year and Brinkman (jr) wasn't. Just among their own team I don't know that makes sense to those following Edina. The preseason goalie choice last year was a kid that left a small Minnesota private school (St. Paul Academy maybe?) to go play for a New England Prep school (possibly also St. Paul?). Not taking anything away from kids mentioned, but I reckon an equal case could be made for scores of kids.

On the good side it whets the interest for HS hockey coverage. Perhaps the season ending list is easier to make sense of for fans like us.

Goalies last year from Minnesota to make the list:

Lance Leonard
Ethan Haider
Andy Beran - transferred to St Paul private on east coast.


Others:
Jack Jensen
Ryder Donovan
Jack Perbix
Brady Meyer
Blake McLaughlin
Colin Schmidt
Robert Christy
Jake Boltmann
Mike Koster
Grant Sillianoff


Only ones that would have eligible to repeat would be:

Christy
Boltmann
Koster
Donovan

^ All very deserving!

It seems flawed to see a Vorlicky etc off that list though.

[612hockeytown]

Wow, Brink moved up to a first-round prospect in this guy's November rankings, whereas Brink wasn't even in the first four rounds of prospects in the same person's October rankings:

https://thehockeywriters.com/2019-nhl-d ... -november/ (Brink #28 in first round)

https://thehockeywriters.com/2019-nhl-d ... s-october/ (Brink unranked in first four rounds)

His hockey IQ is off the chart this year. Could creep into the later first round or second. Trajectory keeps rising.

Compare his numbers to other MN 01s in the USHL (even national 01s) and it’s downright scary. Even if he was a senior it would be impressive.

[JerseyDave]

His hockey IQ is off the chart this year. Could creep into the later first round or second. Trajectory keeps rising. Compare his numbers to other MN 01s in the USHL (even national 01s) and it’s downright scary. Even if he was a senior it would be impressive.

Here' are two more examples of Brink's rising trajectory.

"Pre-Holidays NHL Mock Draft (4 Rounds!)"
By T McGee on Nov 13, 2018, 9:18am EST
https://www.diebytheblade.com/2018/11/1 ... t-4-rounds

Bobby Brink, W, US HS:
"Oodles of skill are the trademark of this big riser’s, maybe the biggest riser this year's, game. Dynamic puck handler, tremendous finisher, and sees the ice extremely well. Versatile, can play any of the three forward positions, but high-end offense is the name of the game for this kid. Potential to be an elite offensive player. Super-quick release on his wrister. At 5’10 165#, he’s hardly a giant, but he’s so smooth and slippery coming through the NZ that he forces D to back off the blue line, in large part because they don’t want to get embarrassed. This opens up space for him to do this thing. For a kid who was thought to be biding his time until the Minnesota HS season got underway by playing in the USHL, he’s taken the league by the throat, presently leading in scoring with 26P in 15 games. Plays a high-energy style of game, always moving and tracking the puck, a real puckhound. Buttery soft hands, he can pull off any number of moves even in tight and is more than effective on his fore- or backhand. And he’s a willing defender who can tend to chase the puck a bit too much, so he’s not all flash. Eager worker who will put in a strong effort even on nights when the breaks are going his way. Always seems to be creating chances for himself or others. Denver commit led his HS team to the Minnesota state title. As of now, he’s returning to high school a la Mittelstadt, but there are rumors floating around that he could stick in the USHL and assess his options from there."

"2019 NHL Draft: 10 Risers from Fisher’s Top 186 for November"
By Larry Fisher November 23rd, 2018
https://thehockeywriters.com/2019-nhl-d ... -november/

9) Bobby Brink (RW, USA, Sioux City USHL)
OCTOBER RANKING: NR
NOVEMBER RANKING: 28
VARIATION: +97

"ANALYSIS: Brink is even newer to me than Beecher, but my USHL contacts are gushing over this winger who has produced 30 points (14 goals, 16 assists) in just 17 games and is second in that league’s scoring race — only one point back of Calgary prospect Martin Pospisil, his linemate, and five clear of third place. You’ll notice an influx of USHL debutants in my November rankings since I didn’t receive a preseason list from those contacts and Brink didn’t play for the U.S. at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup. Better late than never, this league is producing more and more NHL talent and Brink is looking like another potential stud in the making."

=========

Since publication, Brink has taken over the USHL scoring lead as his teammate Pospisil has been out sick for a couple of games.
https://www.eliteprospects.com/league/u ... /2018-2019

Brink will represent Team USA in the upcoming World Junior A Challenge on Dec. 9-16 in Bonnyville, Alberta, CAN.
https://siouxcityjournal.com/sports/hoc ... f2108.html