Monday, January 23, 2012

Teams Set for 2012 USHL/NHL Top Prospects Game

Press Release

The United States Hockey League today announced the lineups for the two teams that will compete during the 2012 USHL/NHL Top Prospects Game presented by CCM.  The game is scheduled for Tuesday, January 24th, 2012 at the L.C. Walker Arena in Muskegon, Michigan.

The 40 players have been split into two 20-man teams, with each team having 12 forwards, six defensemen, and two goaltenders.  The makeup of each team is predominately USHL Western Conference vs. USHL Eastern Conference players.

Team East will be led by legendary collegiate coach Ron Mason and Green Bay Gamblers head coach Derek Lalonde.  Team West will have legendary USHL coach Dave Siciliano and Lincoln Stars head coach Chad Johnson behind the bench.

Also named to the playing roster today is Tri-City Storm forward Tim Lappin.  He fills the spot of Des Moines Buccaneers forward Kevin Irwin who is unable to participate in the event due to an injury.  Lappin, who celebrates his 18th birthday today, is a first-year USHL forward and has collected 10 points (4g, 6a) in 27 games with the Storm this season.

Team East
Forwards: Ray Pigozzi (Chicago Steel), Cody Bradley (Dubuque Fighting Saints), Zemgus Girgensons (Dubuque Fighting Saints), Alex Kile (Green Bay Gamblers), Nicholas Schilkey (Green Bay Gamblers), Robbie Baillargeon (Indiana Ice), Robert Polesello (Indiana Ice), Adam Chlapik (Muskegon Lumberjacks), Matt DeBlouw (Muskegon Lumberjacks), Jordan Masters (Muskegon Lumberjacks), Austin Cangelosi (Youngstown Phantoms), Richard Zehnal (Youngstown Phantoms)
Defensemen: Jaccob Slavin (Chicago Steel), Mike Matheson (Dubuque Fighting Saints), Dakota Mermis (Green Bay Gamblers), Jordan Schmaltz (Green Bay Gamblers), Mark Yanis (Muskegon Lumberjacks), Chris Bradley (Youngstown Phantoms)
Goaltenders: Jon Gillies (Indiana Ice), Alex Lyon (Omaha Lancers)
Team West

Forwards: Zach Saar (Des Moines Buccaneers), Nate Arentz (Fargo Force), Austin Farley (Fargo Force), Zach Aston-Reese (Lincoln Stars), Luke Johnson (Lincoln Stars), Kevin Roy (Lincoln Stars), Justin Selman (Sioux Falls Stampede), Austyn Young (Sioux Falls Stampede), Tim Lappin (Tri-City Storm), Taylor Cammarata (Waterloo Black Hawks), Vince Hinostroza (Waterloo Black Hawks), A.J. Michaelson (Waterloo Black Hawks)

Defensemen: Ian Brady (Cedar Rapids RoughRiders), Brian Cooper (Fargo Force), Justin Wade (Fargo Force), Mike McKee (Lincoln Stars), Cliff Watson (Sioux City Musketeers), Ian McCoshen (Waterloo Black Hawks)

Goaltenders: Stephon Williams (Sioux Falls Stampede), Jay Williams (Waterloo Black Hawks)
A full online version of the team lineups can be found here:
Team East
Team West
The 2012 USHL/NHL Top Prospects Game, which is the first of its kind for the USHL, will showcase many of the top USHL players eligible for the 2012 NHL Entry Draft.  A total of 31 players selected are in their first year of eligibility for the NHL Entry Draft.  Seven of the players are draft-eligible for the second time this year.  In addition, the USHL will showcase three players who are eligible to be drafted by NHL teams in 2013.

A live broadcast of the game will be available for free through the USHL’s exclusive online broadcast partner, FASTHockey.  Viewers can watch the game live via multiple formats – the USHL’s Facebook page, through a previously established FASTHockey account, or Roku users can watch the game on the platform’s USHL channel.  To view the USHL free game broadcast, fans must first register and create a free account on FASTHockey http://ushl.fasthockey.com.
 

(Nathan can be reached at fourniern@students.nescom.edu)

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