3 Black Hawks Selected for USHL/NHL Top Prospects Game

Waterloo Black Hawks forwards Brock Boeser and Tom Novak plus defenseman Ethan Spaxman have been chosen to skate during the USHL/NHL Top Prospects Game next month in Dubuque, the United States Hockey League announced on Tuesday.

The selection process for players competing in the game was completed in cooperation with USHL general managers, NHL scouts and team personnel, and NHL Central Scouting. All 40 players chosen are eligible for the 2015 NHL Draft, including 30 players that are in their first year of eligibility for selection.

“Even before this season, Brock and Tom and Ethan have known that the scouts are watching and have continued to perform well with what can be a lot of pressure for a 17-year-old,” noted Black Hawks Head Coach P.K. O’Handley. “I am very happy for each of them. This will be another opportunity for them to make an impression and continue to develop.”

Boeser and Novak were each listed as “A” prospects in NHL Central Scouting’s most recent report, issued in November. The designation suggests that Boeser and Novak are candidates to be chosen in the first round of the 2015 NHL Draft. Together, the first-year Hawks have participated in a variety of highly scouted events, including the Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament, USA Hockey’s All-American Prospects Game, and the World Junior A Challenge. The reigning USHL Forward of the Week, Boeser leads the Black Hawks with 16 goals and 31 points. Novak is Waterloo’s assist leader (16) and ranks fourth in points (19).

Spaxman was graded as a “C” candidate for the draft, indicating that he is projected as a possible pick in the fourth through seventh rounds. The Hawks acquired the Brantford, Ontario native from the Bloomington Thunder in November. Since the trade, Spaxman has recorded a goal and six assists during 11 appearances. Including his statistics from Bloomington, his 11 assists tie for tenth among USHL defensemen.

The Dubuque Fighting Saints are hosting the 2015 USHL/NHL Top Prospects at Mystique Ice Center on Tuesday, January 13th at 6:45. For more information about the game, contact the Fighting Saints at (563) 583-6880.

The last USHL/NHL Top Prospects game was held in 2013. Four of the five Black Hawks who appeared in that event were drafted the subsequent summer: Ian McCoshen, Taylor Cammarata, Eamon McAdam, and Cal Petersen.