Joel Määttä – Center
When looking for a center, strong, physical, and crafty are often adjectives used to describe an elite one. This also how scouts describe Joel’s hockey abilities. He’s got a solid shot and great puck handling abilities which allow him to fool defenders to get a good look on net. Once he gets moving, he’s hard to stop. He comes in at #146 on the NHL Central Scouting Report for North American Skaters and carries a “C” rating. He’s projected to be taken between the fourth and fifth round of this year’s NHL Draft.
Christian Jimenez – Defenseman
For a defender, Christian is a bit smaller than the average skater. However, he makes up for it with his quickness and elusiveness to stay one step ahead of his opponents. He’s ranked as a “B” skater albeit his 184 ranking in the NHL Central Scouting Report for North American Skaters. While he waits for his name to be called at this year’s draft, however unconventional it may be, he’ll be picking out his number and locker for Harvard’s Crimson.
Blake Biondi – Center
While the previous two finished the season on the Musketeer’s roster, Blake is a bit of a stretch. Although he didn’t finish the shortened season in the USHL, he will get some recognition for playing with the team before he went back to high school in Minnesota.
Blake was one of, if not the top player in Minnesota’s high school hockey league last year. Whether he’s blazing up the ice to find a backdoor goal or skating backward to keep his opponent in front of him, he has a nearly bulletproof all-around game. He recorded 76 points for his high school team…in only 25 games which led to him being ranked #64 by the NHL Central Scouting Report for North American Skaters, #86 by Elite Prospects, #93 by TSN/McKenzie, and #195 by McKeen’s Hockey. He’s projected to be a mid to late second-round pick in this year’s NHL Draft.
The Musketeers fell a bit short of their expectations this year, but that may have something to do with them trading away some of their NHL Draft ready players this year. If there’s one thing we’ve learned when teams make those moves, it typically means next year will be loaded with younger talent who have plenty of room to improve.
Follow me on Twitter @NwinansW for more sports-related news along with @JRHockeyPodcast. Check back next week when I wrap up the USHL’s top NHL Draft Prospects list with the Madison Capitols.
