The 2023 BioSteel All-American Game, featuring top prospects eligible for the 2023 NHL Draft, took place on Jan. 16 at USA Hockey in Plymouth, Mich., with the game broadcast live on NHL Network. Will Smith (Lexington, Mass.) was named Player of the Game with two goals and helped Team Blue to a 6-3 victory over Team White.
There were more than 190 NHL scouts in attendance, and 45 players hoping to hear their names called at the NHL Draft this coming June in Nashville. The game serves as an important benchmark for evaluators to see how players perform against the best competition in their age group. In total, 58 first round draft picks and more than 265 players have been selected in the NHL Draft since the game’s debut in 2012.
Rosters were made up of players from the U.S. National Under-18 Team of USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program and the United States Hockey League, the lone Tier I junior league in the United States.
The BioSteel All-American Game also represents and celebrates youth programs across the country. The 45 players participating hailed from 14 different states. Minnesota led the way with 12 representatives, followed by New York with six and Michigan with five. Illinois and Massachusetts each had four.
Game ready with @biosteelsports. #BAAG #TeamBioSteel pic.twitter.com/Lgz3qcgWSA
— USA Hockey (@usahockey) January 16, 2023
How well do you know your @BioSteelSports flavors? #BAAG | #TeamBioSteel pic.twitter.com/JjAq2CYROs
— USA Hockey (@usahockey) January 17, 2023