By Joshua Boyd / USPHL.com
The National Collegiate Development Conference congratulates its selections for the 2023 NCDC All-Star “Young Guns” Game, set to kick off at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 21, at Foxboro Sports Center in Foxboro, Mass. We are announcing each team this week in two sets – forwards in one set and defensemen and goaltenders in another.
Every one of these players was voted on by the NCDC’s coaches, and every player is greatly deserving of the honor to be named as an All-Star and to wear the All-Star jersey on Feb. 21.
Rosters, while being announced this week, are subject to change due to injuries or illnesses.
Team American (White Jerseys, Home Team)
Goaltenders
Stephen Chen
Mercer Chiefs 18U AAA • 7/26/2005 • 5-11/170 • L • Arcadia, Calif.
In eight games this year, Chen has put together a 1.60 goals against average and .925 save percentage. He joined the Chiefs as a 16U players in the 2021-22 season, having played for top teams like the Anaheim Jr. Ducks, Philadelphia Little Flyers and Virtua Hockey Academy.
Logan Abric
Jersey Hitmen • 10/25/2004 • 6-2/168 • L • Hayward, Wis.
Abric enters February on the strength of one of his – or any Hitmen goalie’s – best performances of the year. On Jan. 25, he stopped 67 of 70 shots to help the Hitmen defeat the Utica Jr. Comets. The brother of former Hitmen and current Army goalie Gavin Abric, Logan is 5-4 with a .916 save percentage.
Waylon Esche
Utica Jr. Comets • 3/29/2005 • 6-2/200 • L • Westmoreland, N.Y.
Esche, the son of NHL alum goalie Robert Esche, played prior seasons at the USPHL 16U level for Utica. This season, he has made his NCDC debut and put together a 9-9-2-0 record. He has won back-to-back games four times this season.
Defensemen
Dylan Stiles
Jersey Hitmen 18U AAA • 1/24/2004 • 6-2/165 • Nyack, N.Y.
Stiles has been a regular in the Jersey Hitmen midget program lineups going back to 2020-21, his first season with the 16U program. He is in his second season with the 18U program, and he has posted a goal and seven assists for eight points in 16 Tier I Hockey Federation games.
Dante Siciliano
Jersey Hitmen • 9/26/2005 • 6-0/177 • L • Whitby, Ont.
The Hitmen selected Siciliano 20th overall in the second round of last year’s NCDC Entry Draft, and he jumped right in and has become a staple of the first-place Hitmen’s blueline, posting a 3-5-8 line in 34 games. He played last year with the USPHL Premier’s Wisconsin Rapids Riverkings, illustrating #USPHLAdvancement In Action.
Coleson Hanrahan
P.A.L. Jr. Islanders • 4/16/2005 • 5-10/169 • R • Longmeadow, Mass.
Another shining example of #USPHLAdvancement In Action, Hanrahan helped the Springfield Pics 16U team win the 2021 USPHL 16U American Championship, and then split last season between the 16U and Premier Pics teams. The 2020 Futures Draft selection has 15 assists in 37 games, including nine power play assists, ranking him among the league’s defensemen leaderboard in that category.
Marshall Beaker
P.A.L. Jr. Islanders • 6/28/2004 • 5-9/162 • R • Brighton, Mich.
Like his teammate Hanrahan, Beaker has become a crucial cog in the P.A.L. defensive corps, putting up eight points in 22 games since joining in November. He came in with previous Tier II experience and also cut his teeth with the prestigious Oakland Jr. Grizzlies program in his home state.
C.J. Beals
Connecticut Jr. Rangers • 1/31/2004 • 5-9/163 • R • Chelmsford, Mass.
Beals, another member of the talent-rich 2020 Futures Draft class, currently leads the Jr. Rangers D corps in plus-minus with a +10 while also putting up a goal and eight assists for nine points in 36 games. He has also put up 260 takeaways and registered 31 blocked shots.
Ricky Volpe
Rockets Hockey Club • 5/10/2004 • 5-7/186 • L • Commack, N.Y.
Volpe joined up with the Rockets out of the Northwood School, and he has been very impressive as a first-year NCDC blueliner. Along with a 3-7-10 line in 28 games, he has been one of the most dependable blueliners, registering the second most minutes per game (21:37), just seconds short of the leader and fellow All-Star Jack Barbro (21:48).
