USHL Players of the Week

New York Islanders prospect, 2 NHL CSS listed players win weekly awards

The United States Hockey League announced the CCM Forward, Defenseman and Goaltender of the Week for Week 3 of the 2016-17 season. New York Islanders prospectCollin Adams won his first weekly honor after back-to-back two-goal nights, in addition to Waterloo Black Hawks defenseman Mikey Anderson and Des Moines goaltender Jan Ruzicka both winning their first weekly awards. Anderson and Ruzicka were both named to the NHL Central Scouting Preliminary Watch List earlier this week. CCM Hockey is the official equipment provider of the USHL.

Collin Adams

Forward: Collin Adams – Muskegon Lumberjacks
2 GP: 4 goals, 1 assist, +6 rating

Adams scored twice in back-to-back games, in addition to dishing out one assist over the weekend. The Brighton, MI native currently has a four-game point streak, and has multi-point performances in three of his five games this season. Saturday night’s two-goal game was the winger’s 23rd career multi-point game, and eighth career multi-goal game. The University of North Dakota commit scored 61 points in 59 games last season and was named to the 2016 USHL All-Rookie First Team. The New York Islanders selected Adams at the 2016 NHL Draft in the 6th round, 170th overall. Adams is currently tied for the USHL lead in scoring, and is second in goals scored. Adams previously played for Little Caesars (HPHL) and Honeybaked (HPHL) prior to being selected by the Muskegon Lumberjacks in the 2014 USHL Phase I Draft 4th round, 49th overall.

Mikey Anderson

Defenseman: Mikey Anderson – Waterloo Black Hawks
2 GP: 1 goal, 3 assists, +4 rating

Anderson helped Waterloo sweep the Lincoln Stars this weekend, scoring four points from the blue line. Anderson scored his first goal of the season on Friday to put the Black Hawks up 1-0 early, and finished the night with three points and a +1 rating. The Roseville, MN native helped the Black Hawks to an early lead once again Saturday, this time with a shorthanded assist. Anderson currently has five points in five games with Waterloo, and scored 16 points in 57 games last year. The University of Minnesota Duluth commit previously played for Hill Murray (USHS) prior to signing a tender with Waterloo prior to the 2015-16 season.

Jan Ruzicka

Goaltender: Jan Ruzicka – Des Moines Buccaneers
1-0-0-0, 0.00 GAA, 1.000 SV%

Ruzicka recorded his first career USHL shutout on Saturday after stopping all 28 shots he faced. The Des Moines goaltender is now 3-0-0-1 on the season with a 1.70 GAA and .937 SV%. Ruzicka has started in four of the Buccaneers five games this season, and has helped them remain unbeaten in regulation. The Mlada Boleslav, CZE native won 12 games with Des Moines and was named to the USHL/NHL Top Prospects Game last season. Ruzicka was a 2015 USHL Phase II Draft pick of the Buccaneers in the 3rd round, 47th overall.

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Headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, the USHL celebrates its 15th season as the nation’s only Tier I junior hockey league in 2016-17.  30 or more players from the USHL have been selected in four consecutive NHL Drafts,  and more than 400 players on team rosters last season committed to NCAA Division I schools, further establishing the USHL as the world’s foremost producer of junior hockey talent.