Minnesota native Scott Reedy was chosen for the program last spring.
Each year, USA Hockey (USAH) hosts an evaluation camp for its US National Team Development Program, also known as The Program. After combing the states for over a year, USAH chooses 40 to 50 players to compete for a spot on their team. Each year seven to 10 players from the state of hockey are selected to tryout. On average three to four choose to move away from the heartland and live and play on a more national level.
This year 48 players were invited to the camp that is held this weekend in Plymouth, Michigan. Of the 48, 11 were from Minnesota. Of those 11, five were goaltenders all but guaranteeing one of the two spots will be taken by a Minnesotan and in reality not both.
Credit USAH, they did their homework and found eight tremendous skaters from these parts. Six of the players were forwards and two were d-men. Highlighting the forward list is Jaxon Nelson, the state's leading scorer and Minnesota commit. Nelson has all of the tools and would likely accept a spot in The Program. On the blue line, Ben Brinkman and K'Andre Miller represent the state well. Both have a great chance of being selected.
The following is the beginning of our coverage on the weekend. Starting with a profile of each player and their chance of ending up in Ann Arbor. Odds are based on the fact that only three or four from the state end up there and the type of players the program takes in each year.
YHH writer Peter Odney will make the trip to Detroit and give our premium subscribers a look at the evaluation process.
Ben Brinkman, Edina
Player: Ben Brinkman
Position: Defense
College: Minnesota
'16 Team: Edina HS
% Chance: 20 percent
One of the top defenseman his age or any age, great skater and offensive weapon. Coming off an upper body injury last Fall playing football, Brinkman seems to fully healed and ready for the big weekend. A three sport star in football, hockey and baseball as youth makes Brinkman a likely "no" for the program if he makes it. Stranger things have happened in this process.
Gavin Hain, Grand Rapids
Player: Gavin Hain
Position: Forward
College: North Dakota
'16 Team: Grand Rapids HS
% Chance: 20 percent
Arguably the most tenacious player his age, Hain is the last player you want to find in a corner puck battle. A year ago, Hain was chosen YHH Bantam Player of the Year and had 29 points in 25 games for the Thunderhawks this year as a tenth grader. Grand Rapids high school plays in sold out IRA civic center with a rabid fan base and fantastic pep band. Their head coach is former Gopher and NHL star Trent Klatt, who is a huge proponent of high school hockey in Minnesota.
Trevor Janicke, Maple Grove
Player: Trevor Janicke
Position: Forward
College: Notre Dame
'16 Team: Maple Grove HS
% Chance: 40 percent
A player that will get a very healthy look this weekend by USA Hockey. Performed well enough last Summer in the U15 National Camp in New York to earn a full scholarship offer from Notre Dame. With Bantam eligibility, Janicke lead Maple Grove HS with 30 points in 25 games and had a hat trick in the section semifinals to knock out Riley Tufte and his Blaine Bengals. Possessing great speed and a high hockey IQ, the only thing stopping USA Hockey from choosing him may be his current size and physical maturity.
Jack Jensen, Eden Prairie
Player: Jack Jensen
Position: Forward
College: Undecided
'16 Team: Eden Prairie Bantam
% Chance: 20 percent
Has had an amazing run the last eight months. Earned Co-MVP honors of the Bantam Elite League where he had 22 points in 16 games. Was chosen a finalist for YHH Bantam Player of the Year after an epic Bantam season for the Eagles (100+ points, state tourney bid). Was first Minnesota Bantam selected to the evaluation camp. Jensen is a straight-at-ya power forward who plays with speed and grit.
Going from Bantam to the program would be an amazing step. But anyone who knows Jensen knows he as what it takes to accomplish the unthinkable.
Keegan Karki, St. Cloud
Player: Keegan Karki
Position: Goalie
College: Undecided
'16 Team: St. Cloud Cathedral HS
% Chance: 40 percent
Keegan Karki may be the most talented and scary goalie of the five invited to the camp this weekend. Karki is the goalie that just keeps getting better and better each time we see him. In the state tournament, he became a household name when stopped 39 shots in a losing effort against SPA. One writer in the press box exclaimed, "Karki, I'd give him the car keys to my team any time!"
His size is what you first notice, but his balance and athleticism is what impresses even more. In 22 games he allowed just over three goals a game and stopped nearly 89 percent of shots faced.
Blake McLaughlin, Grand Rapids
Player: Blake McLaughlin
Position: Forward
College: Minnesota
'16 Team: Grand Rapids HS
% Chance: 20 percent
They broke the mold when they created Blake McLaughlin's hockey game. He has the rare ability to hand onto the puck for that extra second and he has the even more rare ability to see the future to know where players will be. Last year for Grand Rapids he had six goals and 24 assists for the Thunderhawks in 24 games. Blake's chances of staying home in Grand Rapids are strong, but not 100 percent.
K'Andre Miller, Minnetonka
Player: KAndre Miller
Position: Defense
College: Undecided
'16 Team: Minnetonka HS
% Chance: 50 percent
One of the most complete packages you will find on a hockey rink. Big, athletic and very hard working - Miller has the talent, the body type and the tools to be a first round NHL draft pick. After his first full season on the blue line, Miller logged a lot of important minutes for the Skippers and really came into his own by season's end. Listed as fifty percent because no one will be surprised if he makes it - seems way farther along in his game than current players on the U17 team.
Jaxon Nelson, Luverne
Player: Jaxon Nelson
Position: Forward
College: Minnesota
'16 Team: Luverne HS
% Chance: 90 percent
Likely the most well known 2000 Minnesota player, Nelson has wowed wherever he has skated. Last Winter, while playing for hometown Luverne he lead the state in goals (70) and points (113). Nelson has an NHL body and won't be able to drive a car until after the evaluation. Strong skater, heavy shot and great vision are just a few of his qualities. If he is not selected for the program, many feel the nearby Sioux Falls Stampede would tender him to play next Fall.
Jack Perbix, Elk River
Player: Jack Perbix
Position: Forward
College: Notre Dame
'16 Team: Elk River HS
% Chance: 20 percent
Jack is a whale of a talent...has great hands for a big man. Committed to Notre Dame mid-season after he had 25 points in 20 games for the Elks. Perbix, like Janicke is very talented and has major upside to his game, will be interesting choice if he were selected. Having the chance to play for his hometown and with his brother Nick next season might be enough for him to decline an invite.
Todd Scott, Albertville
Player: Todd Scott
Position: Goalie
College: Undecided
'16 Team: Omaha U16
% Chance: 60 percent
Historically one of the best goalies his age dating back to Squirts. Scott has played Tier 1 the last two seasons in Detroit (Little Caesars) and Omaha. Wherever he plays, he amazes with his athleticism and ability to control the puck with his stick, feet and hands. Played well for the US this Winter in the Junior Olympics - very strong candidate to be chosen and choose the USNDTP.
Ryan Ullan, Hibbing
Player: Ryan Ullan
Position: Goalie
College: Undecided
'16 Team: Hibbing HS
% Chance: 30 percent
The most unknown talent in the group of 11 headed to Detroit. Ullan's Hibbing teams have rarely played on the big stage - but his numbers regardless of where he has played have been spectacular. Last Summer in the Bantam Elite League he boasted the lowest GAA (2.06) in league history and second highest Save Percentage (919). As a bantam eligible ninth grader, Ullan manned the crease nearly every minute for the Bluejackets and stopped 92 percent of shots faced and only allowed 1.68 goals a game. With only five goalies invited, the odds of both goalies coming from the land of 10,000 lakes is small.