The IceRays are proud to now have four players going to Pittsburgh for NAHL Top Prospects next week as Stepan Kuznetsov and Oliver Stumpel have been added to the new Selects Team. They join Nathan Butler and Jude Kurtas as IceRays representatives.
The NAHL added the Selects Team when they announced the addition of the USNTDP U-17 team to the lineup in Pittsburgh. The Selects team is intended to focus on younger players in the league. Out of the twenty players on the selects team, twelve have already committed to play division one hockey.
For Kuznetsov and Stumpel, it provides them a chance to not only get eyes on them from NCAA scouts but also NHL scouts as both are NHL Draft eligible this summer.
IceRays head coach Mike Lysyj said, “It’s great for those guys, and I’m glad the league did it. It gets some of our younger guys showcased. Both are uncommitted and very talented. They have both produced a lot of points for us.”
The Top Prospects Tournament is scheduled to get underway on February 7th and conclude the next day. The Selects and South division teams will never face each other, so it’s a chance to cheer on the IceRays next week.