A chance for young players to show their abilities in All American Prospects game
Youngsters and upcoming players are always looking for opportunities to perform and prove themselves in the eyes supporters and fans, and the former USA hockey team player Jim Johansson thinks that All American Prospects game is perfect opportunity of this
sort for all the players who are part of it.
The game which would be played on Saturday 29th September would be first of its kind and will feature top 40 US born players, who will also feature in the 2013 National Hockey League (NHL) draft.
Johansson, who was part of USA Hockey team in 1988 and 1992 Winter Olympics, is currently serving as USA Hockey's assistant executive director of hockey operations and it would naturally be a great sight for him and all the USA Hockey supporters to see the
upcoming lads feature in such a great number.
The 48-year-old, Rochester, Minnesota born player knows it feels to be in the NHL Draft as he was selected in the fourth round of the draft, at 130th overall, though he could not play NHL in his career as he played the entire club hockey in International
Hockey League (IHL) for Salt Lake Golden Eagles, Indianapolis Ice and Milwaukee Admirals.
Having played 374 IHL games and scoring 119 goals, 159 assists for a total of 278 points, Johansson thinks that it would be good for players to start from the beginning and get some fame before they enter professional careers, as he said,
"It will give people a little bit of an identity with the future rising stars of the game and will also show the broad spectrum of where all these kids are coming from. The grassroots programs they grew up in that gave them the building blocks to get to
the elite level”.
The 6-foot-2, 201 pounder former forward also told about importance of NHL draft as he added,
“The NHL Draft is so much about the future and that's real exciting, but I think to have a group of athletes like this on the ice is a great step in showing the depth of programs we have across the country, as well as the caliber and talent of these players."
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