New York Hockey Journal

10 NEW YORK HOCKEY JOURNAL April 2020 Subscribe today at NYHockeyJournal.com/subscribe By Jeff Cox HREE LOCAL PLAYERS will be wearing the red, white and blue with USA Hockey's NTDP U-17 team next sea- son, it was announced late last month. North Jersey Avalanche 16-U right wing Devin Kaplan, New Jersey Rock- ets 15-U goaltender Tyler Muszelik, and Rochester Selects 15-U defenseman Sea- mus Powell were selected to the 23-man roster that will compete internation- ally as well as in USHL games. One of Kaplan's teammates, defenseman Lane Hutson, also made the team, but he is from outside of the region. The program, based in Plymouth, Mich., is a developmental arm of USA Hockey for players aspiring to play hockey in college and professionally. The 2020-21 NTDP U-17 team will con- sist of players born in 2004. Kaplan missed much of the 2019-20 season with a lower-body injury. How- ever, USA Hockey scouts believed they had seen enough in the past to warrant his selection. The Bridgewater, N.J., na- tive is a big power forward with plenty of upside. A three-year member of the North Jersey Avalanche program, Ka- plan is committed to play college hockey at Boston University. "We couldn't be happier for Devin and his family. He came to our pro- gram at 13 with this being the goal. He's earned it the whole way through and has a chance to be special at the next level," said North Jersey Avalanche 16-U head coach Vinny Smith. Muszelik is one of just two goalten- ders picked for the team. The Long Val- ley, N.J., native had a strong showing at last summer's USA Hockey Select 15 Player Development Camp and kept that going through this past season. A typical butterfly goaltender, Muszelik has good size and athleticism. "Tyler had an incredible season. He's a soft-spoken kid who just works hard and lets his play do the talking," said New Jersey Rockets coach Noel Rubin. "He was undefeated (playing up) at 16- U, going 7-0-1. He beat all of the top 10 teams he played. I'm very excited and look forward to watching him with the NTDP next season." Powell is a smooth-skating, puck- moving, offensive defenseman. From Marcellus, N.Y., Powell isn't flashy, but he makes smart and poised decisions with the puck on his stick. In 63 games, he had 17 goals and 31 assists. Powell's older brother, Eamon Powell, is a Boston Col- lege commit who recently completed his two seasons with the NTDP. Another older brother, Emmet Powell, won a NESCAC Championship this March as a freshman at Wesleyan. "On top being a great defender, Sea- mus' elite skating ability makes him a dangerous offensive threat all over the ice," said Rochester Selects head coach Chris Collins. "Growing up with ultra- competitive Emmet and Eamon as older brothers molded Seamus into the fierce competitor he is today. It's great to see him following in Eamon's footsteps to the U.S. NTDP." Locals taken in OHL Priority Selection Thirteen players with ties to New York and New Jersey were selected in the 2020 OHL Priority Selection, the annual draft for the Ontario-based major junior league. By signing and playing in the OHL, players lose their NCAA eligibility. The Buffalo Junior Sabres led the way among the region's youth organizations with six players picked in the proceed- ings. Junior Sabres 15-U left wing Beau Jelsma was picked first. He was selected by the Barrie Colts with the 55th overall pick in the third round. Junior Sabres 16-U center Brody Crane was next off the board, going to London in the fourth round with the 62nd overall pick. The other four players from the or- ganization were all from the 15-U team. Right wing Kaleb Smith (Ar- cade, N.Y.) and de- fenseman Patrick Geary (Hamburg, N.Y.) were drafted by Erie two picks apart in the sixth round. In the eight round, right wing Ryan Conmy went to the Niagara IceDogs and center Owen Mehlen- bacher was plucked off the board by the Kitchener Rangers in the 13th round. In March, Mehlenbacher signed a tender to play the 2020-21 season in the USHL with the Muskegon Lumberjacks. Four players from the New Jersey Rockets organization were selected. 15-U defenseman Kareem Alazem was picked by the Windsor Spitfires in the 10th round. The Windsor Spitfires selected 15-U center Nicholas VanTassell (Mor- ristown, N.J.) in the 14th round. 16-U cen- ter Gleb Veremyev (Sayreville, N.J.) and Muszelik went off the board in the 15th and final round to the Mississauga Steel- heads and Soo Greyhounds, respectively. Two defensemen from Rochester Selects 15-U were taken by the Ottawa 67's. Jack Henry (Skaneateles, N.Y.) was picked in the seventh round and Powell went in the 15th round. The aforementioned Hutson and Ka- plan of the North Jersey Avalanche were selected in the seventh and 12th rounds by the Kingston Frontenacs and Kitch- ener Rangers, respectively. Buffalo Regals 15-U left wing Joey Muldowney and center Brock Jones, both of Lake View, N.Y., were picked by the Owen Sound Attack in the sixth round and the Flint Firebirds in the 14th round, respectively. Rochester, N.Y., native Dylan Grover was picked in the eighth round by the Sarnia Sting. The goaltender has played youth hockey in Canada with the Kings- ton Junior Rangers. Westchester Express 16-U forward Tyler Wishart of Pound Ridge, N.Y., was tabbed by the Barrie Colts in the 11th round. feedback@nyhockeyjournal�com JUNIORS JUNIORS Matt Dewkett T North Jersey Avalanche 16-U right wing Devin Kaplan, a Boston University commit, was selected for the U.S. NTDP U-17 team. Kaplan, Powell, Muszelik gain NTDP portals North Jersey Avalanche player Lane Hutson will join Devin Kaplan in the NTDP.

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