USHL Futures Draft Results

Tuesday morning the United States Hockey League, the premier junior hockey league in the states completed it's annual futures draft. This years draft consisted of selecting only players that were born in 1995. The Waterloo Black Hawks who owned the #1 pick selected Taylor Cammarata, a forward from Plymouth, MN who plays at Shattuck St. Mary's.

Only one player from the state of Wisconsin was selected on Tuesday and it was Jason Reynolds from DePere. The Notre Dame Academy forward was selected by the Youngstown Phantoms in the fifth round, #63 overall.

Reynolds, a junior to be with Notre Dame Academy registered 44 points in 28 games this season for the Tritons. Reynolds did some of his best work in the playoffs, recording 6 points in 5 games including a goal in the state semi-finals, a game that Notre Dame would eventually lose to Middleton.

The 5'11, 165 pound forward also participated with the Team Wisconsin minor squad this season. Reynolds recorded 8 points in 12 league games for Team Wisconsin.

One of the biggest omissions on Tuesday was Hudson defenseman Travis Wood. There have been strong indications that Wood, who plays his high school hockey at Hill Murray in the twin cities is planning on eventually making the move to the Ontario Hockey League, giving up his college eligibility. USHL squads must feel the same way because that's the only reason that Wood could have been passed over.

Two players from the 1995 birth class from the state of Wisconsin who are already spoken for in the USHL are Hudson defenseman Ian McCoshen and Sun Prairie defenseman Will Butcher. McCoshen already made the move to the United States Hockey League last season as a high school sophomore with the Waterloo Black Hawks. Butcher has already accepted a spot with next seasons USA NTDP U-17 squad. Both are expected to be premium targets for the Badgers.

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Wisconsin Recruiting: McCoshen in future plans?

With the 2011 recruiting class complete, and only a spot or two left in the 2012 class, it's time to start focusing on the future. Wisconsin at this point doesn't have a true 2013 commitment (Tim Davison and Brad Navin are 2012 or 2013). It's been rare in Eaves tenure at Wisconsin that he doesn't have a prospect locked up that far down the line.

One of the elite targets for that 2013 recruiting class that I've alerted you to on this blog in the past is Hudson, Wisconsin defenseman Ian McCoshen who is currently playing with the Waterloo Black Hawks of the USHL.

McCoshen is one of only a handful of 1995 born players in the country playing in the USHL. If you check his stats out, you'll notice that he's only played in 4 of Waterloo's 18 contests so far this season. Don't let that fool you, McCoshen is an elite talent that PK O'Handley at Waterloo is bringing along slowly, putting him in spots that he can succeed. Expect the 6'2, 190 pound defensemans minutes to expand exponentially as he gets more comfortable in the USHL.

In an effort to expand our coverage and make this site one of the best resources for Wisconsin hockey on the interenet, we've been providing you with exclusive interviews with potential recruits this season. We've already featured NTDP defenseman Joey Fiala (who later committed to Western Michigan) and Shattuck St. Marys forward Zach Stepan (who is still undecided).

McCoshen was kind enough to do an interview with us on Monday. We can't thank him enough for the time. Very mature for a kid his age.

Chuck Schwartz: You made the move from Shattuck St. Marys (Prep School) to the USHL this season. Can you tell us a little bit about the decision to make that jump and why you decided to make that move instead of staying at Shattuck?

Ian McCoshen: The process to make the decision to play in the USHL started in the summer of 2009. I went to Waterloo's tryout camp and made it up until the all star game. Then I saw that another young defenseman Nick Ebert (1994 birthdate) had made the team. So I essentially said to myself and my dad that could be me in one year. Also the decision to not stay at Shattuck - St. Marys for another year seemed like a terrible idea at the beginning of this year but it has worked out really well.

Another thing was that I played with the 94 team the year before and I wanted to move up with them and that is not what SSM is about. They have it planned for you without your consent. Other wise it was by far the best year of my life with buddies and playing hockey with them too.

CS: Elite prospects that are developed as much as you are for your age are always under consideration for Canadian Major Juniors. You’ve had no problem in the past making a move to further your development. Is the OHL something that you’re considering at this point?

McCoshen: Honestly just a little bit, but college is still the number one priority for me.

CS: I know you spent a lot of time playing with the Fire (AAA Youth Program) and Shattuck but it has to be cool to see other Hudson kids doing well at the next level (Davis Drewiske in the NHL, Andy Bohmbach wrapped up a nice career at UW, Jake Drewiske captain at St. Lawrence).

McCoshen: It's always good for the community that you grow up in to get recognition for their hard work and determination to work for a goal like say college or another step the NHL. I used to go to the games when Bohmbach and Drewiske were studs for the Hudson Raiders. Also it is just inspiration for the younger kids growing up in the association to see where they got with hard work.

CS: Being one of the top 1995 born players in the country you’ll most likely have your pick of colleges should you go that route. Can you tell us a little about what you’re looking for in a school?

McCoshen: Academics, athletics and place to play all four years. Coaching staff is a big part of it. Does it socially fit me as a person? How is the travel for the athletics? Is hockey big at that school? A place to call my home for the best years of my life.

CS: I know you’re a few years out from entering college, but I’m sure you’ve had some contact with some schools. Can you tell us whom you’ve been in contact with and who you are considering?

McCoshen: Minnesota, Notre Dame, Ohio State, and Wisconsin. I have met the Wisconsin defensive coach (Bill Butters). I like him and I have met a guy from Ohio State who was a great guy too. Also I haven't made a decision, and wont for a while yet.

CS: You will be eligible for the NTDP as well next year. If presented with an opportunity, would that be something that you would be interested in or would you prefer to stay with Waterloo?

McCoshen: It is a great honor to play for your country at any time with the best players your age from all over the U.S.. I have to stay loyal to the Waterloo Black Hawks for giving me this opportunity. I would have to say that I will stay with Waterloo. They believe in me in ways I haven't discovered yet. I have to just keep being positive and working my way up the ladder and keep getting confidence from each game played.

CS: Most of our readers haven’t gotten a chance to see you play. Can you give us a little scouting report on your style of play and who you maybe try and style your game after?

McCoshen: I am a big guy who can be physical. I am continually working on the defense part of my game. I feel i'm a good skater but I still work on that daily. Some offense ability, I work on that everyday as well. Pretty good shooting ability, while still working on that everyday as well. Maybe a Shea Weber.
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Like I mentioned earlier in the post, we can't thank Ian enough for taking time out of his busy schedule to do this interview with us. We'll be tracking his progress with Waterloo over the next few seasons.

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Recruiting: Pair of 95 born players move to the USHL

As I noted on Twitter Friday thanks to a tip from Dave Lundey, one of the top 1995 born players in the country Will Butcher was added to the Dubuque Fighting Saints (USHL) roster. Butcher is a kid that's been talked about many times on this site and is a Sun Prairie native. He's been playing with the Madison Capitols and would be a 2013 recruit.

Admittedly having no inside knowledge of the situation on this kid, It's safe to assume that he's a priority target for Mike Eaves and company. Eaves has slowed his recruiting approach a bit lately after taking a lot of criticism for over-recruiting in the past. At this point we have no recruits committed for the 2013 season yet (Tim Davison is for 2012 or 2013). Butcher would be a great start to that class.

I'm not sure if Butcher has joined Dubuque for the rest of the season or if it was just for the weekend but he was plus 3 on Friday night and had an assist. There are rumors floating around that Butcher has been offered a NTDP spot already for next year and has accepted and that's why he didn't play with Sioux City of the USHL who drafted him but who knows how credible those reports are at this point. Would be interesting to see if he plays the rest of the season in the USHL if he would move to the NTDP next year or not.
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Interestingly enough, another 1995 born Wisconsin defenseman made his USHL debut this weekend as well. Ian McCoshen (pictured), who is from Hudson played for Waterloo this weekend. McCoshen has been playing at Shattuck St. Mary's the past few seasons and was with on the Shattuck Bantam team last season.

I was becoming a bit concerned about what was going on with McCoshen. Waterloo has had him on the roster all season but he didn't play in any games. When Shattuck released their rosters this fall and he wasn't there, no one know what was going on. With McCoshen playing this weekend I guess we've finally located the young man and I'm almost positive McCoshen will be with Waterloo for the rest of the season.

As an August birthday, I'm not sure if McCoshen is going to end up as a 2013 or a 2014 recruit but like Butcher, McCoshen needs to be considered a top priority for the Badgers, and I'm sure he is.
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Theres been some speculation as to who would be signing letters of intent this week when the fall signing period opens. According to Andy Baggot Wisconsin will send letters of intent to all seven players currently committed for next season. They are: goaltender Joel Rumpel from Penticton (BCHL), defenseman Jake McCabe from the USA NTDP, defenseman Troy Hesketh from Chicago (USHL), and forwards Matt Paape (Sioux City, USHL), Tyler Lapic (Chicago, USHL), Brendan Woods (Muskegon, USHL), and Cody Strang (Youngstown, USHL).
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Practice for Wisconsin high school hockey starts tomorrow and the odds on favorite to win this seasons Mr. Hockey award Brad Navin from Waupaca might not be there. I just noticed that Sioux City of the USHL has him on their roster.

He has not played a game yet for them so let's pump the brakes because being rostered doesn't necessarily mean that hes going to the USHL for sure. He played the fall season with Team Wisconsin (and was awesome) and played this past weekend in the season ending Bauer NIT tournament.

Navin finished third this fall in the Upper Midwest High School Elite League scoring race, and led the state of Wisconsin in scoring last season at Waupaca and I have to assume that their schedule didn't get that much better for this season. If he is indeed making the move to Sioux City, I think he would please the NHL scouts that are trying to evaluate him for the upcoming draft as well as the potential colleges who are recruiting him.

Wisconsin has been identified as one of a host of schools who are currently courting the 6'2, 192 pound forward.
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Another interesting note from the weekend is that 2011 Badger recruit Jake McCabe returned to the team and played a game over the weekend against Muskegon on Saturday night. McCabe if you remember, had a stress fracture in his L-5 vertebrae and was scheduled to miss 8-12 weeks with the injury. It looks like it's just past the 8 week mark so that is a great sign.

McCabe will be going overseas to Sweden with his USA Hockey teammates to participate in the four nations cup which starts on Monday.

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Eleven Wisconsinites Chosen For USA Select Festivals

The Central District has released the names of all the players selected to participate in this summers upcoming USA Hockey Select Festivals. Overall, 11 players from the Badger state have been chosen to attend.

Some solid players here but like I've talked about in the past, the real gem here is 95' born Will Butcher.

1993's (Select 17)

Cliff Watson-Appleton United, Team Wisconsin minors
Todd Koritzinsky-Middleton, Team Wisconsin minors
Jakob Batcha-Grafton, Milwaukee Jr. Admirals

1994's (Select 16)

Tim Davison-Green Bay Notre Dame, Team Wisconsin minors
Matthew Fosdick-Brookfield, Team Wisconsin minors
Jason Ford-Waunakee, Team Wisconsin minors
Ashton Wackym-University School of Milwaukee, Team Wisconsin minors

1995's (Select 15)

Will Butcher-Madison, Madison Capitols minors
Ian McCoshen-Hudson, Shattuck St. Mary's Bantam Tier 1
Travis Wood-Appleton?
Jason Reynolds-Green Bay Notre Dame