Top Performers From The USA-Canada U-18 Select Series

Canada and USA played a three-game U-18 series, and several players set themselves apart as stars to watch heading into the 2023-2024 season.

Canada dominated USA in the three-game U-18 Select Series in Lake Placid, with Canada's usual suspects standing out from the crowd at the event. Here's a look at some of the top performers from the U-18 series.

1. Caitlin Kraemer, CAN - Kraemer is the best U-18 forward in North America. She's an excellent shooter who is unafraid to drive the net, and uses her physical strength to win battles, gain space, and get to the middle of the ice. She broke Marie-Philip Poulin's single season goal record at the U-18's last year, and has the chance to break Canada's all-time record this go around. She capped off the series with a goal and three assists in Canada's third win. Kraemer is closer to Canada's senior national team than many playing on the Collegiate roster.

2. Chloe Primerano, CAN - Mobile is an understatement. Primerano dances across the ice, puck on stick, evading checkers with the slightest hesitation, look, or adjustment of her blade showing something that wasn't there. Her passes are crisp and exact, and when she's on the ice, the pace of the game is hers to decide. We've called her a phenom, and we're sticking to it.

3. Abby Stonehouse, CAN - Few play the game like Stonehouse. She's relentless in pursuit of the puck, a pest, and skilled enough to finish when it's her turn. Defensively Stonehouse is often tasked with important draws, penalty kill starts, and can be found tracking down top lines. With the puck, she plays with speed and makes those around her better. She's hard to play against, and will make any team harder to play against. When she arrives with Canada's senior national team, it will be at the chagrin of their opponents.

4. Emma Venusio, CAN - Venusio has a cannon from the blueline. Her shot is effective for its velocity, and also for its accuracy. Venusio utilizes her skating and mobility to transport herself into shooting lanes, and to jump into the rush or drop backdoor on the powerplay at will. What Venusio doesn't get enough credit for is her play in her own zone.

5. Stryker Zablocki, CAN - Watching Stryker Zablocki, you can instantly see her speed and puck control skills. She's got another gear that defenders, even at this level, struggle to contain. She does it with and without the puck, and when she wants, Zablocki had turn on a dime. Despite the fact Zablocki is typically moving at a mile a minute, she still sees the play one step ahead. 

6. Taylor Senecal, USA - Senecal was arguably USA's best player in this series. A 2007 born defender Senecal was a consistent puck mover for USA, who struggled to exit their zone or generate offense. When the puck was on Senecal's stick however, it was in good hands. 

7. Mary Derrenbacher, USA - Derrenbacher is a rare player. She competed in this event at only 14 years old after scoring 59 points in 61 games for Shattuck St. Mary's U-16 team. She can play in not only this U-18 World Championship, but two more following this season. Along with Kassidy Carmichael, Ava Thomas, and Alanna Devlin, Derrenbacher was one of only a few forwards on Team USA who regularly threatened offensively. USA suffered from a lack of veteran contribution in this event, but looking at Derrenbacher, she played well beyond her years.

8. Sara Manness, CAN - There was a lot to like from the play of 2007 born Sara Manness. Offensively, Manness took the puck to the middle of the ice and drove the net, but she was also effective defensively playing key penalty kill minutes for Canada and always competing. She spent last season with Balmoral Hall in the JWHL, but this season will suit up for Burlington in the OWHL.

Other notable players: Reese Logan, Jessica Cheung, Makayla Watson, Claire Murdoch, Morgan Jackson, Kassidy Carmichael, Layla Hemp, Ava Thomas, Sienna D'Alessandro, Hannah Clark, Alanna Devlin, Quinn Taylor, Maxime Tremblay