By Warren Kozireski
The National Hockey League draft is still seven months away (June 2016 in Buffalo), but the league’s Central Scouting office has released its Players To Watch List which includes five players from New York State.
Defenseman Griffin Luce from Williamsville is listed as a “B” player—projected as a potential second or third round choice in the upcoming draft. The 6’3, 214 lb. Luce plays for the U.S. National Development Team and is committed to the University of Michigan next fall. He had one assist over the first six games of the USHL season.
Team USA teammates Adam Fox of Jericho and J.D. Greenway of Potsdam are both “C” rated players. Fox had two goals and four assists through six games. The 5’10”, 183 lb. defenseman is slated to play for Harvard University in 2016.
Greenway, whose brother Jordan was a second round selection by Minnesota this past June, is another blueliner. At 6’4”, 205 lb., he had one goal and two assists in six games to start this season. A product of Shattuck St. Mary’s, he has not yet chosen where to play next season.
Cedar Rapids left wing Sam Sternschein of Syosset is also a “C” rated player. Committed to Cornell next year, he had one assist in six games for the Roughriders in the USHL.
The fifth and final player from New York on the watch list is Amherst native Tyler Johnson, a goaltender with Topeka in the NAHL. The 6’3” 185 lb. had a 10-6 record in 16 starts with a 2.37 goals against average and a .913 save percentage. In his first season with the Roadrunners, Johnson played with Compuware U-18 in Detroit last season.
