Five of the first ten picks in the 2024 USHL Phase II Draft were U.S. National Team Development Program players potentially seeking a third year of development.
Five of the first ten picks in the 2024 USHL Phase II Draft were U.S. National Team Development Program players potentially seeking a third year of development.
The 2024 USHL Phase II Draft saw 24 rounds worth of players find new homes in the United States Hockey League.
Unlike the Phase I Draft, which consists entirely of "futures" players who will be 17 and under for the next season, the Phase II Draft is open to all players with junior hockey eligibility remaining and are not currently on protected USHL rosters.
In the same order as the Phase I selection, the Phase II Draft continues until all 15 non-NTDP teams have filled their Initial Protected List of up to 45 players. Speaking of the U.S. National Team Development Program, it is always intriguing to see which players might seek a third year of development in the USHL.
This past year saw notable NTDP alums Austin Burnevik, Charlie Cerrato, and Michael Chambre thrive with their new teams. As such, there is always a good chance that several NTDP players are selected in the first round of the USHL Phase II Draft as players that can be immediately plugged into another lineup.
In the 2024 USHL Phase II Draft, five of the first ten selections were NTDP players. Let's look at those players further and at several other notable names that heard their names called on Tuesday.
It should be noted that just because a player has been selected in the Phase II Draft does not guarantee that they will play there next year. However, should they desire another season in the USHL, these teams hold their rights.
5. Chicago: Charlie Pardue, F
The Winnetka, Illinois, native is back in Chicago after spending two years in Plymouth. The 18-year-old scored seven goals and 13 points in 52 games, largely in a bottom-six forward role with the NTDP U18 team in 2023–24. With several of Chicago's experienced forwards expected to move on, including leading-scorer Michael Hage, Pardue should be a plug-and-play guy in the Steel's top-six forwards.
6. Sioux Falls: Austin Baker, F
In a similar situation as Pardue, Baker will have an opportunity to be "the guy" in Sioux Falls next year after two years with the NTDP. The Michigan State commit scored 15 goals and 31 points in 59 games for the U18 team in 2023–24. Baker had great success in USHL play, recording 10 goals and 14 points in 25 games.
8. Waterloo: Brendan McMorrow, F
The Denver commit will use another year of seasoning before joining David Carle's program. McMorrow had a decent year with the NTDP U18 squad, scoring eight goals and 22 points in 61 games, but he was held without a point in Team USA's silver-medal finish at the U18 Men's World Championship. That said, he will be a great fit in Waterloo's offense, and the production should increase.
9. Madison: Kristian Epperson, F
After being demoted to the U17 team in February, Kristian Epperson was a player that I had my eye on in terms of returning for a third season. Epperson had just seven goals and nine assists in 42 games with the U18's. The University of Michigan commit could see an Austin Burnevik-like breakout season with Madison in 2024–25.
10. Chicago: Noah Lapointe, D
Chicago moved up to keep the NTDP streak going, and they bolstered their blue line with Noah Lapointe. After returning six of their eight defensemen from last year, most of the Steel's defenders will move on, including Michael Hagens. Lapointe has good size, at 6-foot-1 and almost 200 pounds. He had just one goal and nine points in 58 games for the U18 team this past season, but I think Lapointe has more offense to give. Lapointe should have more scoring opportunities in a Steel offense that likes to use their defensemen as a fourth forward.
14. Dubuque: Lucas Van Vliet, F
Van Vliet is an intriguing case in that he was the No. 75-ranked North American skater in Central Scouting's final rankings. The Michigan State commit has a really good shot and used it to find the back of the net 13 times for the NTDP U18 team in 2023–24. However, he was rather quiet at the U18 Men's World Championship, being held without a point in seven games played.
20. Sioux City: Sam Laurila, D
Laurila had just three goals and 11 points in 61 games with the NTDP U18 team, including one goal and three assists in 27 USHL games. The North Dakota commit had just one point (an assist) in the U18 Men's World Championship. Another year in the league, specifically Sioux City, could see him tap into his offensive potential.
22. Omaha: Kam Hendrickson, G
Hendrickson was in Steel Development Camp last summer and made an appearance in Team USA's bronze-medal finish at the Hlinka-Gretzky Cup. After spending most of the 2023–24 season with Chanhassen High School, where he posted a ridiculous 1.01 goals-against average and 0.951 save percentage in 29 games, the 18-year-old got a look with the Omaha Lancers. Hendrickson made the most of his time, recording a 2.92 goals-against average and 0.924 save percentage in seven games. I suppose the Lancers liked what they saw, as he will spend a full year in Omaha next season.
25. Sioux Falls: John Whipple, D
Whipple had just two goals and 17 points in 61 games with the NTDP U18 team last season. The University of Minnesota commit had a goal in Team USA's lopsided win over Slovakia in the U18 Men's World Championship, but he was otherwise held quiet. Whipple should greatly benefit from another year, especially in an elevated role with the Herd.
41. Youngstown: Adam Benak, F
Youngstown made a sneaky good selection in Adam Benak, who is projected to be one of the top prospects in the 2025 NHL Draft. A natural center, the 17-year-old is undersized at 5-foot-7 and 157 pounds, but he had eight goals and 29 points in 29 games while playing in the Czechia U20 league last year. Benak kick-started his 2023–24 season with an impressive showing at the Hlinka–Gretzky Cup, where he led the Czechia team in points (10). Now, whether the Phantoms can get him to come over to North America is another matter.
45. Fargo: Sam Huck, F
Huck will be a perfect fit in Fargo's offense next season after his 37-goal, 81-point season with the Okotoks Oilers. The Western Michigan commit is undersized at 5-foot-10 and 150 pounds, but that has not slowed him down. The left-shot forward had the overtime-winner against Team USA to send Canada West to the gold medal game in the World Junior A Challenge.
50. Chicago: Jack Parsons, G
Chicago was definitely a winner in the Phase II Draft, especially after bolstering their goaltending depth with Jack Parsons. The Providence commit recorded a 3.71 goals-against and 0.864 save percentage in 33 games with the NTDP U18 team this season. Ranked as the No. 13 North American goaltender by Central Scouting, Parsons will have a full year in Chicago to fine-tune his skills.
90. Dubuque: Cole Spicer, F
Spicer is an intriguing player for Dubuqe in that he could be a great option for the Saints should he need another year to sort out his NCAA situation. The former NTDP forward was ruled academically ineligible for the second half of Minnesota Duluth's 2023–24 season. Youngstown added him to the roster, but he never made it into the game and was released.
129. Tri-City: Sebastian Gatto, G
This was a great pick for Tri-City, especially in the later rounds, to get a goaltender of Gatto's caliber. The Troy, Michigan, native was outstanding for the Lemington Flyers in the OJHL last year, accumulating a 17-9-2 record in 30 appearances. Gatto had the fifth-best goals-against average (2.23), the sixth-best save percentage (0.932), and tied for the most shutouts (4) among all OJHL goaltenders.
You can view the full results of the 2024 USHL Phase II Draft here.
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