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
Forwards
Kristofers Krumins
C/W • Jersey Hitmen 18U AAA • 3/22/2005 • 6-2/198 • R • Jelgava, Latvia
COMMITTED TO UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT
YOUNGSTOWN PHANTOMS (USHL) 2021 Draft Pick
Krumins, a regular offensive contributor for the Hitmen at the 18U level, already has a better than point per game average in his NCDC action this year. He came up for four games in November – including at the Islanders Hockey Club Showcase – and registered a pair of goals and three assists for five points. The future Catamount is ready for big things in what should be an outstanding future.
Nicky Romeo
LW • Jersey Hitmen 18U AAA • 5/2/2005 • 5-10/165 • L • New City, N.Y.
Another exciting product of the Hitmen 18U program, Romeo made his NCDC debut this month and – like his teammate Krumins – made an immediate impact. He posted a goal and an assist in his Nov. 10 NCDC debut, and then added two more points during his call-up for four points in six games. He has 13 goals and 17 assists for 30 points in 17 Tier I Hockey Federation games.
Ryan Franks
F • P.A.L. Jr. Islanders 18U AAA • 6/30/2005 • 6-1/165 • Roslyn, N.Y.
A member of the Jr. Islanders program since 2020-21, when he joined the 15U program, Franks helped the 16U Jr. Islanders win the USPHL 16U American Division championship last winter. This year, with the 18U squad, he has put up 14 points in 16 Tier I Hockey Federation contests.
Felix Bisson
LW • Mercer Chiefs • 6/3/2004 • 6-1/214 • L • Terrebonne, Que.
Bisson came into the NCDC familiar with the USPHL overall, playing league midget games in past showcases as part of Somang Hockey in Quebec. The Chiefs signed him for their inaugural NCDC season – one which has seen the Chiefs rank anywhere between first, second and third for almost the entirety – and he’s responded to the challenge with a great two-way game with 11 points, 77 takeaways and a +5.
Liam Jackson
F • Mercer Chiefs 16U AAA • 6/3/2006 • 5-11/170 • L • Manalapan, N.J.
Jackson is among the team scoring leaders for the Chiefs’ 16U squad, putting up a 7-6-13 line in 13 Tier I Hockey Federation games so far this year. Jackson has been in the Chiefs program going back to youth hockey, so he is a terrific representative of the Chiefs’ overall development program.
David VanIterson
C • Mercer Chiefs • 7/6/2004 • 5-10/170 • L • Bethesda, Md.
Van Iterson is getting a terrific first season of NCDC hockey under his belt, playing a two-way forward game. He’s put up a goal and five assists for six points in 30 games while also racking up 65 defensive takeaways and 12 blocked shots.
Gregory Diamond
F • Mercer Chiefs • 9/15/2004 • 6-5/215 • L • West Chester, Pa.
Diamond was a later addition to the Chiefs’ NCDC roster, joining in December from the Manitoba Junior Hockey League. He has posted a goal and an assist in his 10 NCDC games. He comes out of the Philadelphia Jr. Flyers AAA program.
Adam Timm
F • Rockets Hockey Club • 5/16/2005 • 6-2/185 • R • Chetek, Wis.
A 2022 NCDC Entry Draft selection of the Rockets, Timm made the NCDC roster with his debut in November and he has remained since, coming out of a strong Team Wisconsin program. He has posted a 3-4-7 line in 19 NCDC games.
Kyle Rohrer
C • Rockets Hockey Club • 1/26/2005 • 5-11/169 • L • Oregon, Wis.
SIOUX CITY MUSKETEERS (USHL) 2021 Futures Draft Pick
A former Team Wisconsin teammate of Adam Timm, Rohrer was the 10th overall selection in the 2022 NCDC Entry Draft. That selection has paid huge dividends as Rohrer is not far off of point per game pace with 17 points in 21 games, good enough for seventh in Rockets team scoring. Fun fact: Timm and Rohrer were also both former Team Wisconsin teammates of Young Guns Team National goaltender Hayden Rising (of the Boston Junior Bruins).
Jonas Dobnig
LW • Rockets Hockey Club • 3/10/2004 • 5-10/181 • L • Trebesing, Austria
SIOUX CITY MUSKETEERS (USHL) 2021 Entry Draft Pick
Dobnig was a second-time member of Team Austria at the 2023 World Junior Championships and earned “Fastest Skater” honors from the Preliminary Round in the company of Team USA, Canada, et al. With the Rockets this year, Dobnig has posted a 4-7-11 line in 31 games.
Nikita Ushakov
RW • Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights • 3/20/2005 • 6-2/197 • Dauphin, Pa.
A 2022 NCDC Entry Draft selection for the Knights’ first team, the former Little Caesars AAA standout made the inaugural season roster and has been a key two-way contributor. In his 24 games, he has posted a 2-3-5 line as well as 29 defensive takeaways.
Niko Benjamin
LW • Utica Jr. Comets • 9/8/2004 • 5-7/155 • L • Phoenix, Ariz.
Benjamin was a 2021 NCDC Entry Draft selection who made the NCDC squad in his first camp in 2021, posting 11 points in 46 games last year. Benjamin returned for another season with Utica and has 3-5-8 through 32 games so far.
