COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – USA Hockey announced today the 40 players who will participate in the inaugural CCM/USA Hockey All-American Prospects Game, which will take place Sept. 29 at First Niagara Center in Buffalo, N.Y.

The roster boasts 40 of the top American prospects eligible for the 2013 National Hockey League Entry Draft. Represented are 31 players from the United States Hockey League, the top junior league in America, including 22 from USA Hockey's National Team Development Program in Ann Arbor, Mich. Additionally, at least 28 of the 40 are future NCAA Division I college players.

Among the 12 defensemen invited are Seth Jones (Plano, Texas) and Will Butcher (Sun Prairie, Wis.), who helped the U.S. National Under-18 Team win a gold medal at the 2012 International Ice Hockey Federation Men's Under-18 World Championship. They are joined by Dakota Mermis (Alton, Ill.), who helped guide the USHL's Green Bay Gamblers to Anderson Cup and Clark Cup titles in 2012.

The 24 forwards feature J.T. Compher (Northbrook, Ill.), Ryan Hartman (West Dundee, Ill.), Matt Lane (Rochester, N.Y.), Anthony Louis (Winfield, Ill.), Quentin Shore (Denver, Colo.) and Frank Vatrano (East Longmeadow, Mass.) who were also members of the U.S. team that won the 2012 IIHF Men's Under-18 World Championship.

Goaltenders for the event include Jared Rutledge (Chicago, Ill.), who also captured gold as a member of the U.S. National Under-18 Team at the 2012 IIHF Men's Under-18 World Championship; Hunter Miska (North Branch, Minn.) from the NTDP; and Eamon McAdam (Perkasie, Pa.) and Cal Peterson (Waterloo, Iowa), both from the USHL's Waterloo Blackhawks.

For the complete roster, click here. For more information or to purchase tickets to the event, visit AAProspectsGame.com.

Follow @USAHockey and @USAHockeyScores on Twitter for up-to-the-minute information regarding the CCM/USA Hockey All-American Prospects Game and join the conversation by using #AAPG.

Notes: Players selected to compete in the inaugural CCM/USA Hockey All-American Prospects Game were chosen by USA Hockey in conjunction with NHL Central Scouting ... Players selected to partcipate represent 13 different states. Minnesota leads the way with seven and Illinois and Michigan bring six apiece. Other states include California, Colorado, Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas and Wisconsin ... Four players from the USHL's Waterloo Blackhawks are among the players selected, including two goaltenders ... Of the 40 players, 31 played their most recent season in the USHL, five come from U.S. high schools, two are from the Ontario Hockey League, one comes from the Western Hockey League and one represents the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.