Three-hundred and eighty-four aspiring players.  Over five dozen scouts.  The PDS has become THE event where players can aspire to be the type of player they desire to, without assigned roles, and in the presence of decision-makers.  The opportunity to play in front of Midget AAA, Prep School, Junior B, Tier I, II, & III Junior A, and NCAA teams all in one location can open numerous avenues/options for everyone involved in the event – and THAT is the true nature of such a Showcase.  The players here came from such hockey hotbeds such as Minnesota and yet from such non-traditional hockey markets such as Idaho.  Are all the participants the most sought-after names in the recruiting wars at the moment?  Some yes, some no.  That is the beauty of the weekend – there are so many hidden gems in the bunch that many of the coaches are surprised at just how good the talent level is.  This year’s event was no exception, the overall depth of the 197 to 1989 talent pool was up again from last season, and while some of the older high-end talent elected not to participate for various reasons, the event this year opened its doors to a select group of 1990 and 1991 born players and they did not disappoint.  This group of players played hard over the weekend and never looked out of place.  The word rolling off the tongue of every scout in attendance was “potential”, and that the future was going to be a bright one for this group.

The event this year also featured the greatest number of European (England, Sweden, and Holland) players to date, and these players were high-calibre individuals who could help any team immediately.  On the North American front, the talent was a strong skating bunch who competed very well, never shying away from physical battles in corners or the opportunity to finish checks.  The weekend featured numerous highlight reel goals – as well as some extraordinary performances by many of the many goaltenders, leaving the large crowd gathered at each game shaking their heads in amazement.