Help Identifying US U17 Team Players

[cagney]

I was just curious if anyone here could help me identify the players in the image below. Here's what I have so far...

(Bottom row, left to right) unknown, unknown, unknown, Chris Summers, Chris Atkinson, Pat Kane, unknown, unknown (number looks like an 8 or 9).

(Middle row, left to right) Billy Sweatt, Ryan Flynn (?), unknown, Kevin Montgomery, Greg Squires (?), Jim O'Brien (?), Brian Strait.

(Top row, left to right) unknown, Erik Johnson, Trent Palm (?), unknown, unknown, Joe Palmer.

Click to read more...

 

[McCabeW]

Bottom row, 2nd from right is James Marcou.

 

[Boomhower]

Can't help you with the picture, but do they name MVP's in this tourny? And if so did Kane get it for his 7 goal output?

 

[cagney]

I haven't heard about any tournament awards but I'd be surprised if anyone other than Kane was the MVP.

 

[Boomhower]

I haven't heard about any tournament awards but I'd be surprised if anyone other than Kane was the MVP.

You never know, sometimes they hand the MVP to the goalie, instead of a real hockey player.
Johnson could have been a fairly valuable performer aswell in the tourny.

 

[Postman]

I believe the player in this attachment is Rhett Rakhshani, but I can't match him to anyone in that pic.

 

[cagney]

Johnson could have been a fairly valuable performer aswell in the tourny.

That's true.

I believe the player in this attachment is Rhett Rakhshani, but I can't match him to anyone in that pic.

There are only 21 players in the picture so he could be the one missing.

 

[bigd]

There was no MPV award. Kane received best forward, McBain received best defenseman and a goalie from the Swiss team won best goalie. I was there, the US squad dominated the Russian team in the Gold Medal game. It was 5 to 0 after the second period then they got a little sloppy in the third but it was no contest. This team is really coming along nicely. The seven Defensemen are all terific players. The forwards are small but highly skilled. The real test will be the World U17 Challenge when they go up against the top Canadian players that play a more physical game.

 

[cagney]

Thanks for the info bigd. If you have the time at some point I'd be interested to hear a little bit more about the US players. Was Kane as good as the stats indicate? How did the '89 O'Brien look? How were the goalies? Also, what's the story with Geoffrion? Might he have been overhyped? Thanks in advance.

On a different note, how was the super-hyped Russian Vasyunov?

 

[Postman]

Also, what's the story with Geoffrion? Might he have been overhyped?

I'm VERY curious about him as well. He really hasn't done much at all so far this season, except collect PIMs.

 

[bigd]

I was a little worried about Kane coming to the team at first. I heard he was a very selfesh player but he has fit in nicely. Against players his own age he dominates but against older physical Junior players he has a tougher time. The kid has sick hands! He can do things with the puck that most kids dream about.
O'Bien could be another Peter Mueller. He is a great player with good size and he can fly.
Geoffrion is struggling early on. He shows flashes of greatness but he doesn't show it every night. He plays with a bit of an edge and takes a lot of unnessary pennelties. You can't score from the pennalty box! He only played one full game at the 4 nations cup because he sustained a concussion in the second game.
The players I like the most on the team are Eric Johnson, Bill Sweat, and Brian Strait.
Johnson will be a top 10 draft pick. He has great skills for a big kid and he already has a pro shot.
Bill Sweat is one of the top forwards on the team. Great skill set. Great moves.
Strait was wearing the C at the 4 nation tournament. Great skater, very smart with the puck, plays under control all the time.
Both goalies are very good. Palmer is said to fit the NHL goalie profile. Big kid, fills the net, cuts down the angles, very good but is prone to let in a soft one now and then.
I like Bennet. He's a real competitor and much more athletic than Palmer. Both are butterfly style goalies but Bennet will flop around a little more to make a save. I hope that helps. I think this team is going to be one of the best NDTP teams next year as U18's!

 

[Postman]

There are only 21 players in the picture so he could be the one missing.

USAHockey updated their player profiles for the U17 and U18 players to include bios and photos.

http://www.usahockey.com/ntdp/17u/main/under_17//

 

[cagney]

Great. I've been waiting a long time to put faces to some of these names.