USA Hockey Select 17 Camp: Top goaltenders

Louden Hogg led Edina High to a Minnesota state championship. (Nick Wosika)

Many of the top 2002-born goaltenders in the United States were able to showcase their ability in front of college coaches, NHL scouts and junior scouts over the past six days at the 2019 USA Hockey Select 17 Player Development Camp at Northtown Center in Amherst, N.Y.

Of the 20 goaltenders at the June 25-July 1 camp, none had a college commitment in hand. In part due to strong camp performances, a few of those goaltenders might have a commitment prior to the 2019-20 season getting under way.

Louden Hogg and Colin Purcell were named to the roster for the U.S. Under-18 Men’s Select Team that will compete later this summer in the Hlinka Gretzky Cup.

Below are the top goaltenders from the 2019 USA Hockey Select 17 Player Development Camp. Note: Team listed is a player’s 2019-20 team.

1. Louden Hogg

No. 30 Red, Edina HS, 10/18/02, G, catches left, 5-10/150

Hogg is an interesting story. He’s moved around quite a bit. Born in Cheyenne, Wyo., he played for the Colorado Thunderbirds before moving to Nashville to compete for the Junior Predators in 2017-18. He played this past winter for Edina High School as the Hornets won a Minnesota state championship. While he’s undersized for a goaltender, he is quiet and doesn’t flop around as much as you might expect. He has a terrific glove and made numerous good glove saves at the camp. He tracks pucks well and competes for every inch he has in the crease. Overall, he has quick reflexes and earned his chance to represent his country at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup.

2. Grant Riley

No. 30 Gold, Janesville Jets, 8/28/02, G, catches left, 6-4.25/189

Riley posted back-to-back shutouts in his half of action in the first two games of camp, but then his numbers fell off. Still, his size, poise, composure and fundamentals make him the most intriguing goaltending prospect at the camp, especially in terms of college potential. In addition, he has a pretty good glove and tracks pucks well. He’s a little inconsistent, but he’s proven in his time with Rochester Coalition that he’s a top goaltender in this age group. He was impressive in a one-game callup with the Madison Capitols in the USHL and likely will play for the NAHL’s Janesville Jets during the 2019-20 season.

3. Colin Purcell

No. 30 Columbia, undecided, 3/26/02, G, catches left, 6-6.75/189

Purcell is the second best uncommitted goaltending prospect at this age group. Another big, prototypical modern-era goaltender, Purcell had a strong week at camp, earning a spot on the U.S. Under-18 Men’s Select Team that will compete in the Hlinka Gretzky Cup. He does a good job eating pucks.

4. Aidan Campbell

No. 1 Royal, Erie Otters, 8/22/02, G, catches left, 6-4.75/188

Campbell has been a personal favorite of mine for a couple of seasons. A giant in the net, he backboned Pittsburgh Penguins Elite to a USA Hockey 16-U National Championship in April. He had two really strong outings at camp. It’s tough to expect perfect consistency in an environment where there’s a rush up and down the ice every other sequence. Campbell had his moments of letting in soft goals and having suspect rebound control. He’s certainly capable of more than he showed in Amherst.

5. Remmington Keopple

No. 1 Kelly, Hill-Murray HS, 3/21/02, G, catches left, 6-1.5/180

Keopple moves well laterally and has good size. He had a really good week at camp after a strong season with Hill-Murray in Minnesota high school.

6. Tucker Tynan

No. 30 Forest, Niagara IceDogs, 6/7/02, G, catches left, 5-11.5/154

Tynan is undersized, but he moves well and eats pucks. In a game last Wednesday, his rebound control was very good. He put up good numbers in camp, especially at the beginning. He’s making the move from the USPHL NCDC to the OHL.

7. Peyton Grainer

No. 1 Navy, undecided, 3/12/02, G, catches left, 6-0/160

Grainer, who played for Little Caesars 16-U this past season, is a competitor in goal. He has just average size, but he stops pucks.

8. Owen Parker

No. 30 Navy, Nichols 18U, 1/4/02, G, catches left, 6-6/235

Parker has good size and moves well for a big goaltender. His positioning and technique could use some work, but there’s potential here. 

9. Gustave Bylin

No. 1 Grey, Selects Academy 18-U, 1/12/02, G, catches left, 6-3.25/185

Bylin has good size and is an intriguing prospect to watch as he makes the move to join Selects Academy at South Kent for the 2019-20 season.

10. Xavier Medina

No. 1 White, Windsor Spitfires, 1/20/02, G, catches left, 5-11/174

Medina is an athletic goaltender with slightly below average size. He had a good statistical campaign for Oakland Junior Grizzlies and is now heading to the OHL to play for the Windsor Spitfires.

11. Jackson Dylla

No. 30 Black, New Jersey Rockets, 1/2/02, G, catches left, 6-4.75/208

Dylla is a goaltender with a lot of potential, due to his size. He’s making the move from the Phoenix Junior Coyotes to the New Jersey Rockets. He needs to be a little more quiet in net, but he made a couple of nice saves at the camp.

12. Gavin Fitzpatrick

No. 1 Forest, Thayer, 1/9/02, G, catches left, 6-0/161

After a rough start, Fitzpatrick got better as the camp moved along. He saved his best statistical performance for the last outing. He made a nice save, going post-to-post to rob a backdoor chance in Friday’s game.

13. Raythan Robbins

No. 1 Red, Belle Tire 18U, 6/5/02, G, catches left, 5-10.5/171

Slightly undersized, Robbins, from Anchorage, Alaska, had a very good week statistically. He’ll be joining Belle Tire 18-U this season after playing for Honeybaked 16-U in 2018-19. 

14. TJ Semptimphelter

No. 30 White, Lawrenceville, 5/9/02, G, catches left, 5-10.5/170

Semptimphelter is a smaller goaltender with decent fundamentals. He’s good at this level and in prep when the puck isn’t moving too much side to side. When he’s having to move around, that’s when his rebound control and net coverage gets lost.