While the circumstances surrounding the 2020-21 junior hockey season have been a constant battle to find normalcy, tonight’s BioSteel All-American Game is another example of hard work paying off.
USA Hockey Arena will play host to more than 110 NHL scouts, and 44 players hoping to hear their names called at the NHL Draft. In the scouting world, you may hear that a game like tonight doesn’t make or break a career, tonight’s game does serve as an important benchmark for evaluators to see how players play against the best competition in their age group. In total, 46 first round draft picks and more than 215 players have been selected in the NHL Draft since the game’s debut in 2012.
Tonight’s game isn’t just a magnet for NHL scouts, but also is a look into the future of college hockey. Forty of the 44 players have already committed to play college hockey at Division I schools, including an impressive six commits to the University of Notre Dame. Last year’s MVP Jake Sanderson, currently a freshman at the University of North Dakota, is an example of the talent featured annually at the BioSteel All-American Game.
The event is also a celebration for youth organizations across the country. In total, 15 different states are represented including nine different players from Minnesota. Michigan and Wisconsin each have five players, and Arizona boasts four players, three of which will be featured on a line together for Team White: Josh Doan, Matt Knies and Cole Sillinger.
Fans can tune in to NHL Network at 8:00 pm ET for a live broadcast. E.J. Hradek and Jon Morosi will be featured on the call live from USA Hockey Arena.