One of the crucial age groups for scouting purposes was the first to commence and end this summer, with the Boys Select 17’s taking the ice from June 22-28 in Amherst, New York. 

At this level, the teams are split into their respective geographical districts, with a couple of exceptions based on sheer numbers. For example, Minnesota natives Adam Kleber, Ryan Lund, Luka Rohloff, Kamden Keiser, Ben Miller, and Michael Risteau skated for the Northern Plains team. 

Team Minnesota finished third overall after six days of play, as New England topped Pacific 6-5 in overtime of the camp’s championship. Pacific’s Colin Frank led the camp in scoring with three goals and 11 points, followed by New England’s Kolin Sisson (6G-3A-9P) and Niko Tournas (4-5-9), Pacific teammate Trevor Connelly (5-4-9) and Team Minnesota’s Will Zellers (3-6-9). 

In addition to the team-leading Zellers, a Maple Grove native, Team Minnesota's top scorers included Holy Angels forward Henry Lechner (4-3-7) and Minnetonka’s Ashton Schultz (3-3-6). Minnetonka defenseman John Stout finished tied for first in points by a defender with a goal and four assists. 

Minnesotan goaltenders Caleb Heil (2.00) and Kam Hendrickson (2.01) were third and fourth, respectively, in goals-against-average, and the duo also tied for third in save percentage. 

Among the Minnesota natives selected for the 2023 Hlinka Gretzky Cup Camp included Heil and Hendrickson, plus Adam Kleber, Hawke Huff, Jackson Smithknecht, John Stout, Henry Lechner, Carson Pilgrim, Ashton Schultz, and Will Zellers. 

This year’s Hlinka Gretzky Cup Camp will end on July 24, and the tournament is scheduled for Aug. 1-6 in Breclav, Czechia and Trencin, Slovakia. 

The Boys Select 16 camp does not follow geographic guidelines, as the players are sorted into teams matching a specific color. All-Star teams are chosen after the teams have played five games, and those teams compete in a one-game showcase of the country’s top talent in the age group. 

This year, Kelly Green emerged as the lone unbeaten squad, paced in scoring by Michigan native Evan Jardine (8-6-14) and Illinois native Chase Jette (7-5-12). Jardine played in the Little Caesars organization last season, while Jette skated for the Bishop Kearney Selects. 

Jardine led the camp in scoring, followed by Jette and New York native Cooper Dennis (3-9-12). Like Jette, Dennis played for the BK Selects during the 2022-2023 season. 

Shakopee product Cooper Simpson led all Minnesotans in scoring with four goals and eight points, with former Chaska standout Sam Spehar following with seven points. Spehar assisted on the game-winning goal for Team Blue in the camp’s All-Star Game. 

Following the same format as the Boys Select 16 camp, players are split into 12 teams that play four games apiece during the week. Zero teams went undefeated in the age group, but the National Pool of White, Kelly Green, and Gray could be designated the strongest overall. All three teams went 3-1 during camp play. 

Milwaukee Jr. Admirals forward and Hartland, Wis. native Easton Walos paced the camp in scoring with 10 goals and 13 points in four games, with Californian Zane Torre just behind him with six goals and 12 points. Maple Grove native Dylan Dean (1-6-7) and former Edina youth player Parker Trottier (2-5-7) tied for the scoring lead among Minnesota natives. Dean skated last year with Mount St. Charles (RI) and will play for the Long Island Gulls this year. Trottier is slated to return for another season with Shattuck-St. Mary’s. 

Mount St. Charles netminder Carson Mertz finished with some of the best numbers in camp, leading the goaltending field in shots faced with 82 while stopping 76 for a save percentage of .927. Mertz's save percentage ranked highest among goaltenders who faced 57 or more shots. 

Plymouth native Xavier Wendt stopped 49 of 50 shots faced for Team Gray, allowing the fewest number of goals among all goaltenders. Wendt played for Shattuck-St. Mary's last season.