The USHL Fall Classic U16 Tournament didn’t disappoint with the caliber of teams and talent from around the country. The high end field displayed many teams that have the capability to compete for a U16 USA Hockey Tier 1 National Title next spring. Don’t be surprised if there is 7-9 teams in this field that are consistently ranked in the top 20 in the country throughout the 2016-17 season. The tournament was won by the Minnesota Blades, a team that competes in the Fall made up of some of the top players in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area. The Blades played a very consistent tournament and were able to hold off the Chicago Mission and Honeybaked in the Semifinals and Finals respectively. An early U16 Tournament can bring some challenges for the 01’s as they compete against older players for the first time. As the year goes on, look for some of the 01’s to move up in our rank in future Neutral Zone reports.
Alex Turcotte (L, Chicago Mission, ‘01) – High end talent with all the tools. Solid size and strength with a skill set to go along with it. A strong and powerful skater who can separate from defenders. He can make plays on the rush or pick teams apart below the dots in tight areas. For an ’01 to make such a seamless transition to midget hockey says a lot about where his game is at. A shoe-in NTDP Camp Invite. College: Wisconsin Grade: A
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