It’s been a busy past three months for Ben Kevan.
In late November, the Des Moines Buccaneers forward was added to the American roster for the CHL USA Prospects Challenge, skating in back-to-back showcase games in London and Oshawa, Ontario.
Two weeks later, he was part of the American team that won the title at the World Jr. A Challenge, scoring six goals in five games and dishing out an assist in the championship game against Sweden.
He followed that up with a hot streak for Des Moines in the USHL, tallying nine points in his past seven games.
To follow that up, he’ll be part of Team Blue at the Chipotle All-American game on Thursday at USA Hockey Arena in Plymouth (7 p.m. ET NHL Network). Michigan. For the 18-year-old forward, it’s another opportunity to showcase his growth before the 2025 NHL Draft.
And for a player that’s been producing offensively, it’s the other parts of his game that he hopes will show out in Plymouth.
“The biggest thing for me growth wise is my defensive zone awareness,” Kevan said. “That’s gotten a lot better and it’s something I’m always going to build on, especially at the next level. Getting stronger and winning battles with that, that’s something I hope people see improving and are continuing to grow.”
It’s a similar thought process for Kevan’s teammate on Team Blue LJ Mooney, who at 5 feet 7 inches is trying to prove his game translates well to the next level in front of NHL scouts.
“My physicality is something that I’ve been working on and bringing up, my work ethic and compete were there, but I got better and better at being physical at my size,” Mooney said. “That’s what I’ve been working on a lot this year.”
Mooney takes a lot of lessons from his cousin, Utah Hockey Club forward Logan Cooley, who was drafted third overall in 2022 and currently has 36 points in 42 NHL games this season.
Mooney works out with Cooley in the offseason back in Pittsburgh, and as he’s gone through the draft-year process — and his college commitment to the University of Minnesota — the cousins have spoken frequently about handling the pressure and expectations playing for USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program.
“He’s been really good for me, he’s always been willing to talk and help me with things and give advice,” Mooney said. “It’s something that you really think about, the things he worked on and you try to emulate that.”
For Sam Laurila, returning to Plymouth for the All-American game is both a reward and an opportunity.
No team took the defenseman in 2024 NHL Draft despite a strong season with the NTDP, but he’s since thrived this season in the USHL with the Fargo Force. Laurila is leading Fargo with 26 points, and that includes him missing time for the World Jr. A Challenge.
Laurila said he’s gotten a larger opportunity with Fargo this season and he’s embraced that challenge.
“It’s something that really comes to mind as you work through things, proving that you should have been drafted and then realizing there’s an opportunity still to be drafted this year,” Laurila said. “This game is a chance to play my game on a larger scale, kind of show what I can do.”
Laurila, who played in the All-American Game last season, said it’s a good test of instant chemistry for players, and noted that after being an NTDP member last season, he’s excited for a chance to compete with and against members of the program this week.
“It’s all about taking the next opportunity and finding a way to show yourself,” Laurila said. “That’s how you have to approach an event like this.”
Story from Red Line Editorial, Inc.