2015 U18 Hlinka Cup Preview:Team Canada
by Steve Kournianos
August 8th, 2015
steve.kournianos@thedraftanalyst.com
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Team Canada enters the 2015 U18 Hlinka Cup looking to extend their gold-medal winning streak to eight consecutive years, as they’ve won the U18 summer tournament 19 times in 24 years since 1991. They will play in Group “A” against the Czech Republic, Switzerland and Sweden, while Group “B” consists of the United States, Finland, Russia and Slovakia. Team Canada will play an exhibition game against the Slovaks in Trnava, Slovakia before heading to Breclav, Czech Republic for preliminary action.
The roster is comprised of 22 players (13 forwards, seven defensemen and two goalies), 20 of which played in the Canadian Hockey League a year ago, and two more in the British Columbia Hockey League.
| Date | Time (local/Eastern) | Opponent | Result | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday, August 8th, 2015 | 5:30 pm / 11:00 am | Slovakia (Exhibition) | W (11-1) | Trnava, Slovakia |
| Monday, August 10th, 2015 | 7:00 pm / 1:00 pm | Czech Republic | Breclav, Czech Republic | |
| Monday, August 11th, 2015 | 3:30 pm / 9:30 am | Sweden | Breclav, Czech Republic | |
| Monday, August 12th, 2015 | 3:30 pm / 9:30 am | Switzerland | Breclav, Czech Republic | |
| Friday, August 14th, 2015 (Semifinals) | TBD | TBD | TBD | |
| Saturday, August 15th, 2015 (Finals) | TBD | TBD | TBD |
Forwards
7 - C/RW Tyson Jost (Penticton, BCHL - 2016 Draft Eligible)
Name: 
Tyson Jost
Position: Center/Right Wing
Shoots: Left
Height/Weight: 5’11, 191 lbs
Born: March 14th, 1998, Kelowna, BC
2015-16 Commitment: Penticton Vees, BCHL
Summary: It’s been rough summer for the WHL’s Everett Silvertips as two of their prized draft picks — Zurich center Auston Matthews and the NCAA-bound Jost — opted not to play in the Dub next season. Both players are expected to be early-pick darlings of the 2016 NHL Entry Draft, but Jost has yet to commit to a specific college (The Hockey News reported he’s narrowed his choices down to Denver and North Dakota). In any event, he’s guaranteed to return to Penticton in 2015-16, where he’ll team up yet again with possible ’16 first rounder defenseman Dante Fabbro. Jost can play either center or wing thanks to his sublime playmaking and puck distributing abilities, but he also owns a laser of a shot with a quick release. He’s a top-line candidate for Team Canada and a likely target for top-pairing matchups.
8 - C Pierre-Luc Dubois (Cape Brenton, QMJHL - 2016 Draft Eligible)
Name: 
Pierre-Luc Dubois
Position: Center
Shoots: Left
Height/Weight: 6’2, 201 lbs
Born: June 21st, 1998, Rimouski, QC
2015-16 Commitment: Cape Brenton, QMJHL
Summary: One of Team Canada’s seasoned vets who was rewarded with a spot on last April’s U18 National Team (one assist in six games) after he produced an impressive freshman campaign in the QMJHL for Cape Brenton (10 goals, 35 assists in 54 games). The son of former Baie-Comeau/Acadie-Bathurst head coach Eric Dubois, Pierre is a power center who uses his size and reach advantage to wear down opponents before striking with well-thought plays. He’s been working on his mobility and foot speed for quite a while, and although he’ll never be considered fleet-footed, he changes speeds so well it appears as if he’s blowing past defenders. Dubois could crack the top 25 in next year’s NHL draft, and a strong Hlinka will be another step towards that direction.
9 - LW Dillon Dube (Kelowna, WHL - 2016 Draft Eligible)
Name: 
Dillon Dube
Position: Left Wing
Shoots: Left
Height/Weight: 5’10, 180 lbs
Born: July 2oth, 1998, Cochrane, AB
2015-16 Commitment: Kelowna Rockets, WHL
Summary: Being a depth player on a Memorial Cup finalist can be a rewarding experience regardless of age. So it was nice to see a hard-working prospect like Dube not only have a place during Kelowna’s run to the CHL title game, but chip in as well. He was up and down with injuries for half of last season but still managed to lead Kelowna rookies with 17 goals and a +17 rating in 45 regular season games, then chipping in an additional five goal and 11 points in the WHL playoffs. Dube is a physical and energetic player but he also has a very nice touch around the net. Opposing defenders at the Hlinka will have to have eyes in the backs of their heads when he’s on the ice, or else they run the risk of getting both clobbered and scored on.
11 - LW Beck Malenstyn (Calgary, WHL - 2016 Draft Eligible)
Name: Beck Malenstyn
Position: Left Wing
Shoots: Left
Height/Weight: 6’2, 192 lbs
Born: February 4th, 1998, Delta, BC
2015-16 Commitment: Calgary Hitmen, WHL
Summary: In terms of ice time while a rookie depth forward for the Hitmen, Malenstyn may have been a victim of a logjam due to his inexperience, but the heart and effort he displayed must have made the decision to use him sparingly seem pretty close to impossible. He’s definitely a bottom six kind of forward for this specific tournament, but he’ll be given a much deserved expanded role with Calgary next season. With a hard-hitting physical style and a selfless attitude, Malenstyn is perfect as a role player to help make up the difference in the muscle missing from Team Canada’s blue line.
14 - C Will Bitten (Plymouth, OHL - 2016 Draft Eligible)
Name: 
Will Bitten
Position: Center
Shoots: Right
Height/Weight: 6’0, 164 lbs
Born: July 10th, 1998, Gloucester, ON
2015-16 Commitment: Plymouth Whalers, OHL
Summary: A growth spurt after once being considered undersized, Bitten is a speedy, all-out blitz on skates who has a pretty good grasp of on-ice situations, sometimes even before they develop. Bouncing between wing and center, from top line to checking unit, Bitten produced an impressive rookie season (15-16-31 in 63 games) as a 16 year old for what turned out to be one of the OHL’s worst teams. He plays a fearless game; blocking shots and completing his checks while being strong enough on his skates to stay upright to absorb one as well. His vision and ability to anticipate are two underrated qualities which come in handy on the penalty kill to clear pucks out of the zone or spring a time-killing breakout.
15 - C/W Zach Poirier (North Bay, OHL - 2016 Draft Eligible)
Name: Zach Poirier
Position: Center/Wing
Shoots: Right
Height/Weight: 5’11, 197 lbs
Born: May 12th, 1998, Mountain, ON
2015-16 Commitment: North Bay Battalion, OHL
Summary: Poirier is a tremendous competitor from the center position who has good breakaway speed and a lethal shot. And though he played some wing a year ago, he’s a natural pivot with very good playmaking abilities to augment his goal-scorer’s touch. North Bay didn’t play much of an up-tempo style because the entire squad was committed to team defense while sacrificing the risky home run for the safer single. Poirier’s personal style helped him fit like a glove as a 16-year-old OHL rookie, so Team Canada should expect more of the same responsible, physical two-way play.
17 - LW Tyler Benson (Vancouver, WHL - 2016 Draft Eligible)
Name: Tyler Benson
Position: Left Wing
Shoots: Left
Height/Weight: 6’0, 201 lbs
Born: March 15th, 1998, Edmonton, AB
2015-16 Commitment: Vancouver Giants, WHL
Summary: He may not be the first overall pick in next June’s NHL draft, but he sure reminds us of a previous one. Growing up in Edmonton left Benson plenty of opportunities to catch a glimpse of Oilers’ star winger and 2010 top pick Taylor Hall bomb down the wing with both power and finesse before unloading a heavy shot. Whether he does or does not try to emulate the aforementioned Hall is kind of irrelevant — the Benson version looks just as impressive. He was the top pick in the 2015 WHL Bantam Draft and placed fourth among all Dub 16 year olds with 45 points in 62 games (second with a 0.73 points-per-game average among the same age bracket). He’s got tremendous escapability and shiftiness for what is essentially a power forwards build, so look for him to take advantage of opponents likely intimidated by his devastating combination of skill and strength.
19 - C/RW Nolan Patrick (Brandon, WHL - 2017 Draft Eligible)
Name: Nolan Patrick
Position: Center/Right Wing
Shoots: Right
Height/Weight: 6’2, 193 lbs
Born: September 19th, 1998, Oakbank, MB
2015-16 Commitment: Brandon Wheat Kings, WHL
Summary: Towering franchise-type center who along with American Kailer Yamamoto produced two of the CHL’s most impressive wire-to-wire seasons by a 16 year old (with Yamamoto having far more ice time on Spokane’s top line). Both won’t be draft eligible until 2017, so the Hlinka may be more of a presursor to the precursor. But when you score 30 goals and 56 points in just 55 games as a double underage depth player on a loaded team, people will want to watch you play in any place at any time. Patrick’s ability to be a scoring threat any time the puck is on his stick in the offensive zone, and doing so as a pivot, makes him one of the guaranteed top picks in 2017. He played as a bottom-six center before working his way up to center Brandon’s second line between 2014 NHL draftees John Quenneville and Jayce Hawryluk, and although Patrick’s days as one of hockey’s brightest young stars are just beginning, Team Canada should feel comfortable giving him big minutes and critical zone starts as one of the better two-way centers.
21 - C/LW Brett Howden (Moose Jaw, WHL - 2016 Draft Eligible)
Name: Brett Howden
Position: Center/Left Wing
Shoots: Left
Height/Weight: 6’2, 193 lbs
Born: March 28th, 1998, Oakbank, MB
2015-16 Commitment: Moose Jaw Warriors, WHL
Summary: Another power winger but one who plays a thinking man’s game with the puck, Howden is a very good skater who likes to throw his weight around to disrupt and intimidate, but he’s got a soft set of hands and is extremely proficient from in close and getting pucks through a maze of opponents. He was gifted with some top line minutes for a struggling Moose Jaw team, with whom he finished second among all WHL 16 year olds with 22 goals — eight in his last 11 games. He was fifth overall in the 2103 Bantam Draft.
22 - C/RW Michael McLeod (Mississisauga, OHL - 2016 Draft Eligible)
Name: Michael McLeod
Position: Center/Right Wing
Shoots: Right
Height/Weight: 6’2, 188 lbs
Born: February 3rd, 1998, Mississauga, ON
2015-16 Commitment: Mississisauga Steelheads, OHL
Summary: Lightning-quick puck magician who had didn’t have a hard time distinguishing himself on a bad Mississauga team which simply couldn’t score. McLeod, a natural pivot who ccan also play wing, is a dangerous player when he’s steamrolling off the rush because he considers all his options in a matter of a few seconds. His positioning and instincts are excellent, but what we liked in his game was the way he used his strength and balance to continue an unabated and direct route towards scoring areas. He’s a lot like Detroit’s speedy 2014 first rounder Dylan Larkin in that he loves to shoot and pay any price to do so, but also finds the open man with accuracy if shooting lanes are congested. McLeod’s possesses some pretty slick moves from in tight, so trying to deny his speed with blanket zone coverage is by no means a fool-proof tactic.
25 - LW/RW Jordan Kyrou (Sarnia, OHL - 2016 Draft Eligible)
Name: Jordan Kyrou
Position: Left Wing/Right Wing
Shoots: Left
Height/Weight: 6’0, 178 lbs
Born: May 8th, 1998, Toronto, ON
2015-16 Commitment: Sarnia Sting, OHL
Summary: Sarnia’s creative top-line winger for most of last season who developed chemistry with 2015 NHL first rounder Pavel Zacha thanks to his unselfish play and keen vision. A second round Priority Selection in 2013, Kyrou is an skilled winger who is patient with the puck and owns a really firm grip as he dances into the offensive zone. He’s got above-average speed and can wire an accurate shot, specifically off his back foot. He performed well at the 2014-15 World U17 Hockey Challenge with four assists in five games. But more impressive was the fact that he wasn’t even invited to the national U17 camp because of a broken wrist and a thigh injury the previous season. We’d like to see him shoot more and add some muscle to his frame for the upcoming season, but expect to see him deliver some highlight-reel dishes with the big sheet at the Hlinka.
26 - LW/C Tanner Kaspick (Brandon, WHL - 2016 Draft Eligible)
Name: Tanner Kaspick
Position: Left Wing/Center
Shoots: Left
Height/Weight: 6’0, 200 lbs
Born: January 28th, 1998, Brandon, MB
2015-16 Commitment: Brandon Wheat Kings, WHL
Summary: Making the most out of a chance opportunity is exactly what this Brandon native did for the Wheat Kings when his depth role increased to a top-six late last season. A second round pick in the 2013 Bantam, Kaspick found himself sandwiched between (among others) Jayce Hawryluk and Braylon Shmyr last March after spending most the the season between the fourth line and street clothes. Although the stats he accumulated during the brief promotion didn’t correspond with the bump in ice time, he played well enough to stick around for 13 playoff games, including an OT winner versus Regina in the semifinals. Kaspick will likely be a role player for Team Canada, but an expanded job description for Brandon is all but guaranteed.
29 - C Sam Steel (Regina, WHL - 2016 Draft Eligible)
Name: Sam Steel
Position: Center
Shoots: Left
Height/Weight: 5’11, 177 lbs
Born: February 3rd, 1998, Sherwood Park, AB
2015-16 Commitment: Regina Pats, WHL
Summary: Regina made Steel the second overall pick in the 2013 Bantam Draft, and he repaid the favor by finishing tops among all WHL 16 years olds with 17 goals and 37 assists in 61 games. A severe high-ankle sprain in late March ended his (and effectively his team’s) season, but he’s shown no after-effects from the injury since resuming skating in April. Missing time isn’t new to the Alberta product, who was also shelved in 2014 with a back and wrist injuries. He’s considered by some to be a top-10 prospect for the 2016 NHL draft, and while the Hlinka will have little bearing on where he gets picked in June, you still want to see the explosiveness and quick first step which made him highly regarded in the first place.
Defensemen
2 - LHD Jake Bean (Calgary, WHL - 2016 Draft Eligible)
Name: Jake Bean
Position: Defenseman
Shoots: Left
Height/Weight: 5’11, 173 lbs
Born: September 6th, 1998, Calgary, AB
2015-16 Commitment: North Bay Battalion, OHL
Summary: A late-bloomer who played his way onto Calgary’s top pairing alongside Flyers’ first rounder Travis Sanheim thanks to his creativity from the back end, Bean is a highly-touted prospect for the 2016 draft who broke the Hitmen’s single-season record for points by a rookie defenseman with 39 points in 51 games. He showed no ill-effects during a solid postseason from a late-season broken wrist which sat him out for a few weeks, and looked even more confident and direct with his plays following his return from the shelf. Not bad for a kid who wasn’t even drafted in the WHL but likely cracks the NHL’s top 30 come June.
3 - RHD Dante Fabbro (Penticton, BCHL - 2016 Draft Eligible)
Name: Dante Fabbro
Position: Defenseman
Shoots: Right
Height/Weight: 6’0, 189 lbs
Born: June 20th, 1998, Coquitlam, BC
2015-16 Commitment: Penticton Vees, BCHL
Summary: Fabbro is a dynamic offensive defenseman who can control the pace of the game and deliver skill plays whether the situation warrants it or not. Eligible for the 2016 draft, he has the kind of high-end skill set generally reserved for lottery picks, but with his decision to remain in the BCHL for an additional year (his draft year, no less), events like the Hlinka will be one of the few venues where scouts can assess him versus his fellow draft eligible peers. It’s pretty rare of a BCHL-trained defenseman to get picked in the first round without any CHL or NCAA experience (St. Louis took Vernon’s Jason Marshall ninth overall in 1989), but Fabbro’s just too talented and mature to let a minor historic side note get in the way of a deserving top-20 selection. Getting top-pairing minutes for Team Canada and likely quarterback responsibilities on the power play should offset any concerns about how he stacks up against some of the world’s best teenagers.
5 - LHD Josh Mahura (Red Deer, WHL - 2016 Draft Eligible)
Name: Josh Mahura
Position: Defenseman
Shoots: Left
Height/Weight: 6’0, 178 lbs
Born: May 5th, 1998, St. Albert, AB
2015-16 Commitment: Red Deer Rebels, WHL
Summary: Mahura is a nimble two-way defenseman who showed a lot of promise a year ago on a pretty solid yet offensively-challenged Red Deer team but was relegated to either the bottom pairing or press box for most of the season. He’ll get more of a look this season with the departure of Carolina first rounder Haydn Fleury, but there were several times last year where Mahura looked like the leader of the defense corps thanks to his confidence and take-charge mentality. The fast-paced style of the Hlinka coupled with Canada’s trailer-feeding forwards will make the pressure he felt while at Red Deer a distant memory, and the points should be there to prove it.
10 - LHD Kale Clague (Brandon, WHL - 2016 Draft Eligible)
Name: Kale Clague
Position: Defenseman
Shoots: Left
Height/Weight: 6’0, 177 lbs
Born: July 29th, 1998, Lloydminster, AB
2015-16 Commitment: Brandon Wheat Kings, WHL
Summary: Selected by Brandon sixth overall in the 2013 Bantam Draft, Clague is a rock-solid puck mover similar to recent Wheat Kings’ NHL lottery picks Ryan Pulock (2013) and Ivan Provorov (2015) in that he’s extremely gifted offensively and can play the role of on-ice general. In 2013, he smashed Dion Phaneuf’s bantam scoring record for a defenseman with 77 points in 33 games, making him an easy target for Team Canada’s 2014 U17 team and this year’s Hlinka squad. The problem? His season was derailed by multiple injuries, to include a wrist injury which forced him to miss a good chunk of the season. To his credit, he put up 13 points in 20 games and regularly saw time on the Wheaties’ top power play unit. Consider him one of the best defensemen available for the 2016 draft, and if he can stay healthy may very well vault into the top 10.
18 - RHD David Quenneville (Medicine Hat, WHL - 2016 Draft Eligible)
Name: David Quenneville
Position: Defenseman
Shoots: Right
Height/Weight: 5’8, 182 lbs
Born: March 13th, 1998, Edmonton, AB
2015-16 Commitment: Medicine Hat Tigers, WHL
Summary: An up-and-down rookie season for this hard-working puck mover culminated with a seat in the press box during the playoffs for a Medicine Hat club with a strong veteran presence on the blue line. He has a lot of skill, quickness and can make a very hard, accurate breakout pass. But he’s a gambler, and has been guilty of throwing pucks into the slot rather than absorbing a hit or out-waiting his forechecker. On a positive note, he’s a fierce competitior who likes to play physical and sets a good example by doing what’s best for his team rather than seek individual glory. Quenneville was the 10th overall pick of the 2013 Bantam Draft and projects to be a top-60 pick come June, but like his situation in Medicine Hat he’ll have his work cut out for him in terms of getting those top-pairing minutes and/or scenarios.
23 - LHD Samuel Girard (Shawinigan, QMJHL - 2016 Draft Eligible)
Name: Samuel Girard
Position: Defenseman
Shoots: Left
Height/Weight: 5’9.5, 160 lbs
Born: May 12th, 1998, Roberval, QC
2015-16 Commitment: Shawinigan Cataractes, QMJHL
Summary: One of Team Canada’s more polished blueliners who played top-pairing minutes and was on the ice for the majority of the Cataractes’ critical situations. While it’s easy to knock him for his size and defensive work, there has to be something said about matching up an underage defender with the most lethal scorers the QMJHL had to offer. He’s got the mobility, shot, vision and instincts worthy of a first round look, but what’s most impressive is the way he reacts to pressure and danger with certainty and confidence. It’s an innate skill you want in any player, let alone a defenseman. Girard’s contributions on the stat sheet (43 points in 65 games) did not go unnoticed, as he was named the Q’s top defensive rookie last season.
28 - LHD Victor Mete (London, OHL - 2016 Draft Eligible)
Name: Victor Mete
Position: Defenseman
Shoots: Left
Height/Weight: 5’9.5, 174 lbs
Born: June 7th, 1998, Woodbridge, ON
2015-16 Commitment: London Knights
Summary: A tremendous second half of his rookie season (19 points in last 32 games) bumped Mete up into a consistent role in the playoffs, which from the defensive side of the puck was nothing short of a nightmare. The offensive skill is undeniable — Mete is an outstanding hard-yet-accurate passer who doesn’t telegraph his moves when he’s on the attack. He also possesses incredibly soft hands which help him corral and deaden pucks when either static or on the move. The elite hand-eye coordination is certainly something to marvel at, but the odd-man rush positioning and slot coverage — two critical aspects of defending in international tournaments — are very much works in progress. As the OHL’s lone representative on Team Canada’s blue line, he’ll have to tighten up, likely alter his risk-taking plays in order to earn trust in late-game scenarios.
Goaltending
30 - G Dylan Wells (Peterborough, OHL - 2016 Draft Eligible)
Name: Dylan Wells
Position: Goaltender
Catches: Left
Height/Weight: 6’2, 187 lbs
Born: January 3rd, 1998, St. Catharines, ON
2015-16 Commitment: Peterborough Petes, OHL
Summary: Poised butterfly netminder who appeared in 27 games a season ago for the struggling Petes, facing 39 or more shots in 12 of them. He’s a solid prospect because of his athleticism and technical prowess, but seeing all that rubber in such a short time is highly beneficial for a young goalie who is expected to be one of the top backstops picked in 2016. Wells seems to be at his best when the pressure is mounting, as he is the quintessential rhythm goalie who can face a barrage of shots from a variety of angles and stop them in succession. That isn’t necessarily saying he has poor rebound control (he doesn’t). The nature of the defenders in front of him, however, made his job a more difficult than it should have been.
31 - G Carter Hart (Everett, WHL - 2016 Draft Eligible)
Name: Carter Hart
Position: Goaltender
Catches: Left
Height/Weight: 6’1, 177 lbs
Born: August 13th, 1998, Sherwood Park, AB
2015-16 Commitment: Everett Silvertips, WHL
Summary: Late-birthday 2016 eligible who had an outstanding season for a solid Everett club but almost single-handedly carried them to the WHL Finals. He’s a cool, calm and collected individual between the pipes, but he was somewhat unknown in Hockey Canada circles until he went on a tear to lead the WHL with a 2.29 goals against average. He’s a butterfly-style goalie with a bit of a size disadvantage, but he’s so quick and nimble that what looks like an opening vanishes in the blink of an eye. He’ll be Everett’s top dog come September, and unlike the U17 camp, expect him to get a U20 invite next season.
