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The USHL
Fall Classic stands out as the most prestigious showcase of junior hockey in
North America with all 16 teams converging on Sioux City, Iowa, for three games
apiece. Although the Classic is touted
first and foremost as a scouting spectacle for NCAA and professional programs,
it is important to reflect on the actual purpose of the exhibition: to trim
inflated rosters down to the league regulation size of 23 players.
USHL teams have been in pre-season
training for nearly a month with anywhere between 25-30 players currently on
the roster. For players on the bubble,
the Fall Classic provides a literal proving ground to make a final impact on
the coaching staff. Many fans do not
realize the nerves and emotions that players must cope with at the Classic. Although
they have only been together for a short time at this point in the season, the
teams are already tightly-knit. Team
cohesiveness happens quickly in junior hockey, especially in the challenging
trials of preseason training. Players
have battled through long practices and tiring workouts together in the weeks
leading up to the showcase. As mentioned
above, a sense of brotherhood has already begun to form within the team, yet I can
assure you that troubling thoughts of who will be on the chopping block after
the Classic are constantly on players' minds.
As a result of this circumstance,
players tend to compete with a heightened sense of desperation in Sioux City,
similar to playoff hockey. Additionally,
the Fall Classic is the first taste of USHL hockey for the rookies, so the
combination of excitement, nerves, and desperation sets the stage for an
extremely competitive atmosphere. As I
recall from my experience with the Fall Classic (and the "Buc Bowl" for the
true USHL fans and older players out there), the play is chippy and there is a unique
sense of excitement on the ice that only those who have laced up the skates
would understand. Players are constantly
up on the bench, unfinished hits are nonexistent, and the trash talk ensues
after every stoppage of play.
Let me refocus on the Fall Classic
as a "proving ground" for players on the bubble. Let's be honest, most of players that are on
the bubble are grinders: guys that aren't going to lead the team in scoring but
who back-check and fore-check with reckless abandon and never miss a chance to
finish a hit. These are the types of
guys that will stop on the crease and snow the opposing goalie, or the ones
that usually end of with a handful of glove in their faces after the whistle
(and enjoy it). At the USHL level, most
coaches and general managers have their top guns and high draft picks planned
for the power play before preseason training begins. Many players enter the USHL already committed
to Division I programs; these players tend to enter the Classic with less
nerves than the player fighting for the 6th or 7th D-man
spot or the 4th line center. The
grinders tend to play the game with more of a physical presence than the
first-line scorers, so what happens when you put grinder vs. grinder on the
same sheet of ice competing for a roster spot in the USHL? Fans and scouts see elevated levels of competition,
intense physical play, and increased likelihood of matching 5-minute
majors. Players only get three games to
showcase their skills, and teams need shot-blockers and physical presences in
their line-ups to the same degree that they need offensive specialists and
solid goaltending. Similar to professional teams, USHL teams are stocked with role-players who
excel at both offense and defense. Unlike
other American junior leagues, offensive skill by itself rarely guarantees a roster
spot in the USHL unless your name is on top of the NHL Central Scouting
list. Keep this thought in mind to
better understand what coaches and general managers are looking for this
weekend at the Fall Classic as they finalize their rosters for the upcoming
season.
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