In the penultimate day of action here at the 2019 Boys Select 16 Player Development Camp, roster spots are on the line for tomorrow's All-Star Game. Following the All-Star Game, USA Hockey will officially unveil the roster for the 2019 U.S. Under-17 Men's Select Team that will compete in the Under-17 Five Nations Tournament in Fussen, Germany.
Team Royal will be a team to watch today, as it has a chance to claim its fifth-straight win in camp play and finish the week undefeated. Here's today's schedule:
10:30 a.m. ET: Forest vs. Gold
12:30 p.m. ET: Royal vs. Columbia
3:30 p.m. ET: Black vs. White
5:30 p.m. ET: Kelly vs. Red
7:30 p.m. ET: Navy vs. Grey
Both the American and National Divisions are still up for grabs. Royal leads the American division with an undefeated 1-0-3-0 (W-L-OTW-OTL) record while Red (2-1-0-1/W-L-OTW-OTL) and White (1-0-1-2/W-L-OTW-OTL) share the National lead with seven points.
Yesterday's action featured not one, but two shootouts, to make it four-straight days with at least one shootout. A highlight from yesterday's games saw Team Forest capture its first win in camp play.
White 4, Navy 3 (SO) - It took 13 rounds in the shootout, but Matthew Copponi sealed the win for Team White with what is known as the 'Nikita Kucherov' move.
Grey 3, Royal 4 (SO) - For the third time in four games, Team Royal needed a shootout to keep its record unblemished. Nine different players tallied a point in the loss for Team Grey.
Gold 4, Kelly 3 - Michael Salandra tallied two goals and an assist while Jack Stark made 19 saves to carry Team Gold to a hard-fought 4-3 win over Team Kelly. Marino Ramirez made 29 saves for Team Kelly.
Columbia 4, Forest 7 - Team Forest had to earn its first win as four different times Columbia was able to either tie the score or come back within a one-goal deficit. Jack Kurrle led Team Forest with two goals and two assists in the win.
Red 7, Black 3 - Led by three-point performances from both Timmy Delay (1G, 2A) and Paul Desaro (1G, 2A), Team Red was able to hand Team Black its first regulation lost.
GUIDED BY THE GREATS
A number of players participating in this week’s development camp skated under the direction of several distinguished NHL alumni who now serve as coaches for elite youth hockey programs.
Seven players, including goaltender Zakari Brice (Team White), forwards Griffin Jurecki (Team Navy), Niklas Miller (Team Columbia), William Renfrew (Team Columbia) and Evan Werner (Team Black), and defenseman Max Smolinksi (Team Royal), skated for Little Caesars 15U head coach Patrik Stefan, the first-ever NHL selection by the Atlanta Thrashers (first overall, 1999 NHL Draft), and assistant coach Brian Smolinski, a former NHL center. Team White forward Davis Codd spent last season with Little Caesars 16U head coach and 20-year NHL veteran Kris Draper, a four-time Stanley Cup champion.
Additionally, forwards CJ Monturio (Team Forest) and Nick Roukounakis (Team Grey) played at Thayer Academy under Tony Amonte, who played 17 seasons in the NHL and represented the U.S. internationally several times, including the 1996 World Cup of Hockey.