USHL scouts eyeing area players

The USHL has their eye on a number of area hockey players in the youth/high school hockey ranks and here is the players to look out for from North Dakota and some Minnesotans that might even end up on a Fargo Force roster.  We will be watching for the Force to get some of the talent from North Dakota and the surrounding area in Minnesota.

First of all, there are a couple of links from the USHL that are highlighting these players:
USHL Prospects on display at USHL Combine (1992-93s)
USHL Future on display at USHL Combine (1994s)

There are many other North Dakota and Minnesota players that will be drafted into the USHL, I am just highlighting the players that were invited to the USHL Combine.  No doubt there are others that are deserving of being listed and once they are drafted, I will write another blurb about the area kids being drafted.  This is just who was on the USHL Combine lists and deserving of a preview going into the USHL Drafts next week.

1992-1993s

Michael Bond (D) Fargo South 1993 - Bond played in 24 games as a sophomore for the Fargo South Bruins (HS) logging two assists.  Bond has the right size for this league at 6'2, 183 lbs and being a Fargo kid will give him some exposure to the Fargo Force.

Jace Kusler (F) Bismarck Century 1993 - Kusler finished the North Dakota state high school hockey season third in points as a junior with 25 goals and 27 assists for the Bismarck Century Patriots (HS).  Kusler is 5'11 and 155 lbs.  Associate coach Byron Pool has probably seen his share of Kusler in his two years as head coach of the Bismarck Bobcats and may make a push for the Force to draft the North Dakota boy.  (Photo of Jace Kusler on right: Tom Stromme, Bismarck Tribune)

Jeremy O'Keefe (D) Grand Forks Central 1992 - Steve Johnson played for Grand Forks Central (HS) and O'Keefe played with Steve Johnson's kid, Luke Johnson, so this is a kid that Johnson should be familiar with. O'Keefe logged 8 goals and 12 assists on the blue line for the Knights and may be a North Dakota player drafted in the USHL.  O'Keefe was a junior this past year with GFC.

Quin Buckellew (F) Moorhead 1992 - Buckellew was the leader in goals with 15 last year with the Moorhead Spuds (HS) hockey team across the river from the Fargo Force.  Buckellew is only 5'10 but has some size at 210 lbs.  He could be a local kid that may interest the Force coaching staff.  (Quin Buckellew, shown on right)

Ryan Crosson (D) Thief River Falls 1992 - Crosson may be tempted to join his high school teammate and goaltender Zane Gothberg in the USHL next season and Crosson appears to be a kid that might be ready for the jump.  Crosson was third in points on the Thief River Falls Prowlers (HS) hockey team as a junior defenseman.  Crosson stands at 5'10, 170 lbs.  Thanks to an anonymous poster in the comments, Crosson appears to be headed for the BCHL and this article confirms that.  A USHL team could still take a chance on trying to get him in the USHL with a late draft pick.

Alex Phelps (F) Detroit Lakes 1992 - Phelps is only a short 45 mile drive away from Fargo in Detroit Lakes and was second on the Detroit Lakes Lakers (HS) in scoring with 21 goals and 36 assists in 24 games.  Phelps graduates from high school this year and the USHL would be a good option to continue his hockey career.

1994s

Garrett Brossart (F) Fargo South 1994 - Brossart was the only freshman to crack the Fargo South Bruins (HS) lineup.  He is another Fargo boy that may be enticed to stay in his hometown.  He netted one goal and added 4 assists as the Bruins' youngest player on the roster.  Brossart is 5'11, 145 lbs.  (Garrett Brossart, shown on right)

Luke Johnson (F) Grand Forks Central 1994 - The son of Fargo Force coach Steve Johnson and Lincoln Stars' draftee would be an intriguing option for Fargo if the Stars have not protected the Grand Forks Central (HS) sniper.  Johnson started as an 8th grader on the Grand Forks Red River (HS) squad and transferred to Central, where his dad played high school hockey, this year.  He won a state championship with both teams and had 17 goals and 29 assists as a freshman with GFC this season.  He tried out for the USNTDP U-17 team but I'm not sure if he made the team or not.  One way or another, he will likely be playing in this league (either for the Force, the Stars, or the USNTDP) sometime in his career.  (Luke Johnson, shown on right)

Zach Doerring (F) Blake School 1994 - Doerring may be a familiar name with Fargo Force fans as Zach's brother Blake started the season with the Force but was later traded to the Des Moines Buccaneers.  His younger brother Zach played forward and scored 5 goals and 4 assists as a sophomore with the Blake School Bears (HS).


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