2019 World Junior Championship Roster
With excitement surrounding this year’s World Junior Tournament and the United States squad with probable first overall NHL pick Jack Hughes, we decided to put together a bit of information on the team.
Many of these players appeared in some of our very first reports in 2016 and we only had a chance to track them for a short time. We had not even moved into Canada yet. What follows is information on each player followed by their last star rating before moving to the CHL or NCAA hockey. That is when we stop scouting players as the “graduate” in a sense from Neutral Zone. You will see that date in parenthesis. For some, their final star rating would be a bit higher now as we only had a short time to evaluate before they moved on. Compare that to one of the top younger players like Antonio Stranges who we have tracked since bantams and you get a better sense of what profiles would look like had we started NZ earlier. We still saw these players plenty and we added snippets from various reports over the years on each player.
Enjoy the games and a look back at how we viewed players over the years that are now amongst the best in the world. Click on a player profile for stats and more information and reports.
#1 Kyle Keyser (G, L, 6’2” 18lbs, 1999, Oshawa, NHL Boston Bruins) -4.25⭐ (2016)-“High compete goalie, he worked hard to find pucks and had good positioning. He moves quickly in the crease and tracks pucks. Good size and he is a good skater. Played well and showed poise when things got chaotic”
#2 Jack St. Ivany (D, R, 6’2” 195lbs, 1999, Yale, NHL Philadelphia)-4.25⭐ (2018): “A tall, thin, athletic defender who plays a two-way game. He’s always been a good skater but now he’s added some balance to his stride and looks quicker accelerating backwards. He didn’t make any highlight reel passes or shots this week that we saw but he was tough to get around, kept it smart and simple, and showed a high degree of athleticism in his own end defending against some of the top forwards in the country.”
#4 Dylan Samberg (D, L, 6’4”225, U. MN Duluth, NHL Winnipeg) – 4.25⭐ (2016): “He used his big shot from the point wisely and got it off quicker and through traffic. He played the body but didn’t over commit to puck carrier and used his long reach to keep opposing forwards off balance.”
#6 Jack Hughes (F, L, 5’10” 168, 2001, NTDP U18, NHL 2019 Draft) – 5.0⭐ (2018) * Has been 5 star since 2015: “When he changes direction he barely cuts into the ice. It’s extraordinary and allows him to carry speed and tire less. Only other player our scouts have seen skate like that was Paul Coffey. Elite hockey sense and vision, one of the finest skaters we have seen in years and elusive stick skill and playmaking ability. Dynamic, witty and can access his full skill set at full speed.”
#7 Quinn Hughes (D, L, 5’10”, 175lbs, late 1999, U. of Michigan, NHL Vancouver)-5.0⭐ (2017): “After he draws you in with the skating, he backs it up with good skill and hockey sense. A high end puck mover who can get even better as he grows and puts on more weight. Quick, agile, explosive skater with the hands and instincts of a forward.”
#8 Sasha Chmelevski (F, R, 6’, 187lbs, 1999, Ottawa 67s, NHL San Jose)-4.75⭐ (2016): “High hockey sense and a true center make him very appealing. He has a dynamic stick and great vision. Plays the game the right way as he moves the puck and looks to get it back. Doesn’t play at an enormously fast pace but is smart and can get to all the right spots.”
#9 Tyler Madden (F, R, 5’11”, 150lbs, Northeastern, late 1999, NHL Vancouver)- 4.5⭐ (2018): “His speed, skill and smarts were on display here. Showed he can break down defenders as he can push pace on the rush, side step defenders either direction or dangle through sticks. He is not a big player but is always one step ahead.”
#11 Ryan Poehling (F, L, 6’2”, 185, St. Cloud St, 1999, NHL Montreal)- 4.0⭐ (2016): “The best part about his skill set is how versatile it is; he can play the wall on the powerplay, the point or in front of the net. He played center and wing and showed the ability to block shots, finish checks and support the puck in all three zones. He’s an honest, two-way forward who is really tough to defend.”
#12 Logan Cockerill (F, L, 5’9”, 175lbs, Boston University, 1999, NHL NY Islanders)- 4.5⭐ (2017): “Great work ethic, goes to danger zones. Great wheels and nice hands. Can make the play through individual effort. Scored a goal just driving to the net like much bigger player on his rebound. Seemed to always make something happen.”
#14 Josh Norris (F, L, 6’2”, 195lbs, U. of Michigan, 1999, NHL Ottawa)- 5.0⭐ (2016): “Played with a unique combination of size, strength and smarts. He has a high IQ but also reads plays well. Can be used in every situation and was the best player on the ice most shifts. High ceiling with the ability and approach to succeed at the highest level.”
#15 Jason Robertson (F, L, 6’2” 200lbs, Niagara Ice Dogs, 1999, NHL Dallas) – 4.25 ⭐(2015): “Big, strong kid that always made his presence felt. Excellent fore-checker. Played a physical game. Got back and made some good plays in his own end. Goes to the net strong. Good in corners and along walls. Classic NHL type forward.”
#16 Jay O’Brien (F, R, 6’, 174lbs, Providence College, late 1999, NHL Philadelphia)- 4.75⭐ (2018): “He is counted on to drive the offense for Thayer and plays a ton of minutes in all situations. He has dynamic straight-line speed and a good first step which allows him to get up to top speed quickly. He changes direction quickly and has good balance and edges which allow him to weave in-and-out of traffic. He has a slick set of hands which allow him to make plays in tight spaces.”
#17 Evan Barratt (F, L, 5’11”, 190lbs, Penn State, 1999, NHL Chicago)- 4.5⭐ (2017): “Does the little things that are so big….He is not really an all-star game type of player, but the more intense the game the better he is, a classic guy you want on the team in the playoffs. He’s strong, he’s smart and he can score goals.”
#18 Oliver Wahlstrom (F, R, 6’1”, 207lbs, Boston College, 2000, NHL NY Islanders)- 5.0⭐ (2018): “He is a balanced skater with elusive stickhandling ability and a pro release. He loves to shoot the puck and does it with great frequency. He also adds an element of toughness where he can go into the corners and throw his weight around or use his strength to protect the puck and gain separation.”
#19 Jack Drury (F, L, 6’, 180lbs, Harvard, 2000, NHL Carolina)- 4.5⭐ (2018): “He’s an honest, 200-foot power forward who competes every shift and has a high hockey IQ. He’s tough to knock off the puck because he’s strong on his edges, has a powerful stride and a sturdy stick. The Winnetka, IL native excels below the dots where he can use his size, puck protection and vision to create offense for himself but more often for his teammates.”
#20 K’Andre Miller (D, L, 6’4”, 205lbs, U. of Wisconsin, 2000, NHL NY Rangers)- 4.75⭐ (2018): “Miller is a unique prospect in his versatility to play both forward and defense. They had him playing both positions at camp and he showed well at both but was more effective as a defenseman. He’s tall and growing into his frame, has elite athleticism and skating ability.”
#21 Noah Cates (F, L, 6’2”, 185lbs, U of MN Duluth, 1999, NHL Philadelphia)- 4.5⭐ (2018): “Always around the puck and making plays all weekend. Has high end hockey sense and poise with the puck. Has grown a lot and gotten much stronger. Has the ability to make a play with very little time and space. With his body growing, has a shot to get on the NHL Draft radar for 2017.”
#24 Mattias Samuelsson (D, 6’4”, 220lbs, Western Michigan, 1999, NHL Buffalo)- 5.0⭐ (2018): “He entered camp as our number one player and proved it each day he was there. While the blue line is stockpiled with talent, Samuelsson shows rare combinations for players his age and at his position as he has great size and skating ability, can read a play and anticipate defensively or wait for passing lanes to open up, and zip accurate passes up ice offensively.”
#25 Phil Kemp (D, L, 6’3”, 210lbs, Yale, 1999, NHL Edmonton)- 4.25⭐ (2017): “Higher on this list than most of the NHL prospect ranking that you will see. The main reason is that he is in a rare category of a right handed defenseman, which is hard to find. He has the size, skating and offensive instincts that could move him up if he finishes strong.”
# 26 Mikey Anderson (D, L, 6’. 190lbs, U. of MN Duluth, 1999, NHL Los Angeles)- 4.0⭐ (2017): “A shut down defenseman who plays a heavy game, takes care of bodies infront of his net, clamps down on sticks and grinds down opposing forwards. He’s young for the USHL, but he doesn’t play like it. He is excellent defending 1v1’s. Out of Hill-Murray HS (MN), Anderson has good mobility, strong on his skates and plays with an edge. A high character prospect who plays hard every shift, is tough to play against and has better stick skill then he gets credit for.”
#28 Joel Farabee (F, L, 6’1”, 170, Boston University, 2000, NHL Philadelphia)- 5.0⭐ (2018): “Out of Selects Academy in Connecticut, Farabee played on one of the most productive U16 Midget lines with fellow 00’s Drew Elser (UConn commit) and Emilio Peterson (Denver commit). He’s a puck possession player with speed, skill and a hard shot. He uses change of speed and slick hands to create time and space for himself and his teammates, and has the passing ability and shot to either set up or finish scoring chances.”
#29 Spencer Knight (G, L, 6’3”, 197lbs, NTDP U18, 2001, NHL Draft 2019)-5.0⭐ (2018): “Spencer is smooth, calm, positional and efficient. He makes small movements, gets his body in front of the puck on straight shots, and backdoor plays. Reads the play well, is active playing the puck, clean breakouts and quick ups.”
#30 Cayden Primeau (G, L, 6’3” 200lbs, Northeastern, 1999, NHL Montreal)- 4.25⭐ (2017) “Cayden is a big goalie looks very imposing in net. He plays very deep in his net and has quick reflexes. He is able to track the puck very well in traffic and control is rebounds. Smart athletic goalie with tons of upside.”
Photo Credit: Dan Hickling/Hickling Images
