Standout players and insights from the 2025 USA Hockey 14U National Championships
PLYMOUTH, Michigan – The USA Hockey 14U National Championships this week were a fact-finding mission for a larger portion of the junior and amateur hockey world, attempting to get a read on some of the best 2010-born players currently playing in the United States.
There were scouts from the Ontario Hockey League and the Western Hockey League, United States National Team Development top brass were watching closely, and at least one NCAA Division I school had a scout in attendance to get an early read on potential future recruits.
Elite Prospects was also there in person, trying to get a read on the tournament and do some of our due diligence on the next generation of players, some of which will be selected in the WHL bantam draft this spring.
From a team perspective, the Minnesota Blue Ox won the national championship in overtime against the Minutemen Flames from Massachusetts. Both Minnesota and the Minutemen pulled off upsets in the semifinal with the Flames knocking off No. 2-ranked Shattuck-St. Mary's and Minnesota defeating No. 1-ranked Little Caesars, which hadn't lost yet this season to American competition.
EP was on site to watch each team in the tournament at least once, and here are 12 players that either stood out, or were grabbing attention from CHL scouts we spoke to.
Joey Cullen, F, Minnesota Blue Ox
Joey Cullen put on a show in the national championship game, closing the tournament with a power play goal in overtime to complete a hat trick. Cullen had eight goals in six games in the tournament, and probably would have scored more if not for a couple posts along the way. He's on the WHL bantam draft radar, being from Minnesota, but is also likely going to be heavily pursued by the NTDP, like his brother Wyatt Cullen, who currently plays for the under-17 national team.
Cullen has puck skills and a shot that should translate to whatever path he takes, he also uses the added attention he gets to create space for others. He feathers passes well to space and is able to manipulate his routes to remain unpredictable.
He also has a flair for the dramatic, in addition to scoring the championship clincher, he also scored the game-winning goal with 25 seconds remaining in the quarterfinal against Dallas Stars Elite.
Henry Buttweiler, F, Minnesota Blue Ox
Henry Buttweiler was held scoreless in the first game of the tournament, but went on a tear in the final five games, posting eight points, including two goals and six assists. He also scored the game-winning goal in overtime against Little Caesars, stunning the team many had predicted to win the entire tournament, finding a rebound in the slot.
Buttweiler's ability to retrieve pucks and turn them into instant offense was notable in the tournament, there's an uncanny sense of where the puck will go that should serve him well at the junior hockey level. Like Cullen, he's a dual threat to shoot and pass, and it keeps defenders on edge, which should serve him well moving forward.
Chris Sawyer, F, Minutemen Flames
It was a heartbreaking finish for the Minutemen Flames, who led late before Minnesota tied it with 11 seconds remaining in regulation and won it in overtime. Despite that, Chris Sawyer was one of the most impressive players throughout the championship game on a shift-to-shift basis.
Sawyer pushed defenders back and was able to create on the rush with a mix of little area passes. He also played well into contact with defenders, protecting the puck so his line mates could take the open space, which is how he set up a goal in the championship game.
Sawyer also has a shot that needs to be respected, and has a good mix of size that allows him to be a physical threat. He also led the Flames with eight points in the national championship tournament.
Will Torres, G, Minutemen Flames
It's not easy for a goalie to stand out in a high-scoring tournament like this one, but Will Torres was a workhorse playing six games in six days and posting a .914 save percentage. Torres has explosive legs that allowed him to cover ground effectively, both in zone and on numerous rush chances. There's a lot of raw athleticism, that with some growth, could help him become a very formidable junior hockey goalie at the next level.
Cameron Evans, F, Shattuck St Mary's
The leading scorer for the tournament, Cameron Evans had 13 points in five games, and feasted on defenders during round robin play. Evans was always looking for the puck, often receiving it, and then pushing the pace of play while allowing others to take the space he created. His speed with the puck overmatched some defenders in round robin play.
Parker Colmer, F, Shattuck St. Mary's
Parker Colmer was the most dangerous offensive player in the two games I watched for Shattuck St. Mary's. He influenced the entire game with both his puck possession and ability to get open, even when teams tried to shadow him a bit in the defensive zone. He had back-to-back hat tricks in round robin play and was being closely watched by WHL scouts in attendance.
Kain Martinuik, F, Shattuck St. Mary's
While some of Shattuck's other top players were effectively stifled in the semifinal by the Minnesota Blue Ox, Kain Martinuik was still able to create and thrive offensively in that loss. Martinuik, like the other top players from Shattuck, were a bit hard to get a full read on because of how lopsided some of their games were in round robin play – they didn't play a close game until they lost in the semifinal. But Martinuik played a game that seemed to translate well to the next level, and he's high on WHL draft radars, and with some growth, he could turn into even more of an impact centre at the junior level.
Aiden Kelly, F, Little Caesars
Aiden Kelly very much embodied how Little Caesars ran through teams this season and dominated play. He's got good size and reach, protects the puck well and is relentless on the forecheck. And once recovering the puck, he's adept at quickly turning it into offensive chances. He also plays with an edge, which seemed to be a driving force others followed.
With the Little Caesars team it's hard to really get a great read on the individuals, because they ran their way through opponents this season, including that now famous 43-0 win last month in the state playoffs.
Colin Kennedy, F, Little Caesars
While Colin Kennedy had been a part of the horde of offensive options for Little Caesars all season, he really thrived as a finisher in the national tournament with tournament-best nine goals in five games. Kennedy scored in multiple ways, and frequently found the puck in high-danger areas, by both carrying it himself and opening up for one-timers from teammates.
Colin MacCormack, D, Philadelphia Jr. Flyers
Perhaps the most impressive defender in the tournament, Colin MacCormack led all players with eight assists, despite playing just three games as his team failed to advance from group play. MacCormack thrived as a power play quarterback, making smart reads and quickly getting his team into position on zone entries. His defending was also notable, even with the Jr. Flyers not advancing.
Ezekiel Kaebel, F, Dallas Stars Elite
Ezekiel Kaebel was already on some WHL scouts' radar before this tournament, but impressed during the national tournament with seven points in four games. Kaebel is an elite puck transporter, attacking through the neutral zone and frequently turning possession into rush chances.
Alec Walker, F, Florida Alliance
The Florida Alliance were overmatched in the tournament, but multiple scouts took extra time to watch their games because of Alec Walker. Walker at 6-foot-5 already has many of the physical tools and finishing ability that's grabbed attention from USA Hockey brass, he's already solidly on the NTDP radar for two years from now.