The USA Hockey-BioSteel Boys 16 Player Development Camp concluded on Wednesday. The camp was composed of top 2007-born prospects who go through competitive on-ice training and games, as well as off-ice workouts. The week-long event is intended to evaluate players in consideration for the Under-17 Select Team that competes at the Five Nations Cup later this summer.

Among the 182 players in attendance, 16 had tied back to Michigan AAA programs. That included the leading scorer of the camp, Evan Jardine, who tallied eight goals and 14 points in six games. That earned him — and eight other participants from Michigan programs — a spot in the Blue vs. White All-Star Game on Wednesday. 

Jardine began camp with back-to-back five-point performances. On Saturday, he flexed his goal-scoring ability by putting the puck in the net four times in a 12-4 final. The next day, the 5-foot-10, 154-pound forward displayed his play-making ability by assisting on five of his team’s six goals in a 6-3 victory. His Kelly Green squad was the only team to go undefeated in the camp, a perfect 5-0-0 record. Little Caesars teammates Easton Pace and Alexander Baughman joined him on Kelly Green as well. Pace produced four goals and seven points of his own. 

Caesars produced the most participants of the eight Michigan-based AAA programs. Jardine, Pace and Baughman were just three of the eight players from LC’s No. 1-ranked ‘07 team last season.

Nicholas Kosiba clashes with Little Caesars teammates in USA Hockey Boys 16 Player Development Camp All-Star Game

Nine 2007-born prospects from Michigan qualified for the main event of USA Hockey Boys 16 Player Development Camp. The Blue vs. White All-Star Game marked the conclusion of the event on Wednesday. Forty of the top performers from the camp clashed in one final matchup. That put Henry Brzustewicz, Cole Tuminaro, Nicholas Kosiba and Travis Hayes on one side for Team Blue. Landon Nycz, Chase Reid, Easton Pace, Evan Jardine and Wesley Jefferson-Swint were on the opposite bench for Team White. 

After the temporary battle lines were drawn, two sets of winter club teammates would square off as foes. Kosiba found himself on the opposite end of his Little Caesars teammates Pace and Jardine. As did Oakland Jr. Grizzlies teammates Tuminaro and Nycz. 

Team Blue would win the All-Star Game in thrilling fashion; a 4-3 overtime decision. Hayes picked up the primary assist on the game-tying goal with 3:40 left, and Blue would go on to win 2:34 into overtime.

USA Hockey will announce its final roster for the Under-17 Five Nations Tournament later this week. Those players will represent Team USA at the international event in the Czech Republic on August 4th.