The USHL Fall Classic is officially one week away as many of the top junior leagues in North America get started next week. The Fall Classic has long been one of the key kickoff events for the junior hockey season and this year will be no different.

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Hundreds of NHL scouts will descend on Cranberry Township, Pa., and the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex, which will see every USHL team play their first two regular-season games under the same roof.

After seeing eight league alumni were selected in the first round of the 2025 NHL Draft, the USHL could have a number of noisemakers once again when it comes to being high picks. Here is a look at just a few of the players NHL scouts will be tracking closely at the USHL Fall Classic and throughout the season.

Tynan Lawrence, C, Muskegon Lumberjacks

The reigning Clark Cup MVP appears destined to be the top player selected out of the USHL this year. Lawrence is being talked about as a consensus Top 10 pick for 2026, with some suggesting he could be a top-five pick when all is said and done. He was ranked No. 6 on FloHockey's Way Too Early 2026 NHL Draft Rankings.

The Fredericton, New Brunswick, native and Shattuck-St. Mary’s alumnus averaged nearly a point per game in the regular-season as a 16-year-old rookie in 2024-25. He followed that up with a starring role in Muskegon’s run to its first Clark Cup, posting 18 points in 14 games.

Tynan Lawrence wasted NO time in OT! 🚨@USHL | @MuskegonJacks #USHL #ChopChop #GetJACKD pic.twitter.com/wqxqcXs1cq

— FloHockey (@FloHockey) March 9, 2025

Now Muskegon’s captain, the expectations have only grown for Lawrence to be a top player for this draft class. He has the strength, the maturity in his game and the skill to push for a top-five spot in the Draft. However, it sounds like he may start the season on the sidelines as an injury may leave him out of the USHL Fall Classic.

Blake Zielinski, C, Des Moines Buccaneers

A star turn at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup where he led Team USA in scoring put NHL scouts on notice that he was going to be a player to watch. Zielinski had nine points in five games as USA won its first summer U18 event in more than 20 years.

Zielinski merely continued what he had done since joining Des Moines last season. The New Jersey native joined the Bucs in season after starting the year with the North Jersey Avalanche AAA program. He put up 32 points in 41 games and only got better as the season went on. 

If Zielinski can keep up the kind of performances we saw at the end of last season and the Hlinka Gretzky Cup, the Providence College commit going to generate more buzz about first-round potential for the NHL Draft.

Blake Zielinski finds the back of the net on the PP to give the USA a 3-1 lead over Canada. #HlinkaGretzky pic.twitter.com/FMrRBC6xp6

— TSN (@TSN_Sports) August 15, 2025

Jack Hextall, C, Youngstown Phantoms

A three-point performance in USA’s historic Hlinka Gretzky Cup final win over Sweden was the best possible note to end on for Hextall after a strong performance in the tournament. He finished the event with seven points.

Hextall is a mature playmaker with excellent vision and good hockey sense. That served him well as a 16-year-old rookie last season when he posted 26 assists in 53 games. Now a year older and wiser, Hextall will be looked to as an offensive leader for Youngstown. If he can continue building, the Michigan State commit is going to get himself into a nice draft position in June.

Mikey Berchild, LW, U.S. National Under-18 Team

Speed and tenacity are two things that Berchild brings to the table every time he hits the ice. But he can also score. Berchild had 31 goals for the NTDP last season, splitting time between the U17s and U18s. He earned a mid-season call-up and also played in the World Under-18 Championship where Team USA won bronze. 

Now in his official U18 year, Berchild has something to build off of and will be looked to as a leader as the NTDP heads into the Fall Classic for the last two days of the event. While Berchild lacks size, that competitive drive and speed could give him a chance to still find himself in a lofty draft position.

The goal that gave us a ✌️ goal lead, brought to you by Mikey Berchild!#U18MensWorlds pic.twitter.com/B8rr8x5bwU

— USA Hockey (@usahockey) April 25, 2025

Casey Mutryn, RW, U.S. National Under-18 Team

A 6-foot-2 forward with good physical strength, Mutryn can be a lot for the opposition to handle. He has shown some good power elements to his game and has the ability to finish. The physical maturity and ability to fit into a variety of roles earned him a call-up to the U.S. Under-18 Team last season with him eventually playing a depth role at the U18 World Championship.

Eleven of Mutryn’s 16 total goals scored last season came against USHL competition. The Boston College commit will be expected to take an even bigger step this year as some scouts believe he’ll be a clear first-round talent for the NHL Draft. 

Rudolfs Berzkalns, C, Muskegon Lumberjacks

A 6-foot-4 forward who is just figuring out what to do with all that size, Berzkalns had an up-and-down rookie season in the USHL. He had just eight points in 43 games, but the expectations remain high that he is going to find his offensive touch.

Berzkalns played for Latvia at the World Junior Championship last year and was in the lineup when they pulled off the incredible upset of Canada in the preliminary round. Those experiences should help Berzkalns build towards a more impactful second year in the league before heading to Boston College next season.

Evan Jardine, LW, Youngstown Phantoms

Coming off of a 20-goal season in the USHL, Jardine has some nice momentum heading into his draft year. He’s been delivering on the promise of what he showed in his U16 season with Little Caesars where he was one of the top scorers in the country. After a brief stint with Youngstown in 2023-24, he really showed what he can do last season with 44 points in 62 games.

A late 2007 birth year, Jardine will be a bit older in his first year of draft eligibility. That can often bring higher expectations. Building off of a solid season last year will give NHL scouts plenty to think about as they’re making their notes this season.

Other NHL Draft Prospects To Watch

• Jack Kultgen, D, Green Bay Gamblers
• Bode Laylin, D, Tri-City Storm
• Landon Hafele, LW, Green Bay Gamblers
• Victor Plante, LW, U.S. National Under-18 Team
• Nick Bogas, D, U.S. National Under-18 Team
• Lucas Zajic, RW, U.S. National Under-18 Team
• Dayne Beucker, C, U.S. National Under-18 Team
• Jet Kwajah, D, Madison Capitols

NHL Prospect Coverage On FloHockey

The best, and most complete, coverage of the NHL minor league hockey and NHL Draft is found on FloHockey. Don't miss the latest new prospect guides, rankings and more from Chris Peters and the FloHockey staff.

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