RD Hunter Brzustewicz - Kitchener Rangers, WHL (2023, 75th, VAN; traded to CAL)

[UrbanImpact]

Brandt Clarke D+1 OHL points-per-game: 1.07

Hunter Brzustewicz D+1 OHL points-per game: 1.64

 

[LeProspector]

I like that you're agreeing with yourself about an incorrect point, haha. Hunter didn't ditch the NTDP.

Thanks, going to Ontario definitely hindered his chances at making this team.

Brandt Clarke D+1 OHL points-per-game: 1.07

Hunter Brzustewicz D+1 OHL points-per game: 1.64

he‘s a late birthday, so you should be comparing Hunters season this year to Brandt’s last year

 

[William H Bonney]

I mean he wasn't even invited to camp. That's pretty much saying he wasn't considered even their 5-6th best RHD which is outrageous. Again, Hunter isn't some pure offensive Dman, he does play defense effectively as well.

He wasn't invited to the final camp. He was in the main camp. The intent of the two camps is not the same. The final camp is more about finalizing roles and lines, making the final couple of roster decisions, and developing chemistry. Not inviting Hunter could be an unprovable mistake, but he's not there because they didn't see a role for him, which is something USAH followers have been trying to make you all aware of for awhile.

Thanks, going to Ontario definitely hindered his chances at making this team.

Just like it hurt Hayes, Terrance, and Hillebrandt yeah?

 

[Sergei Shirokov]

I think it was just a strong roster this year more-so than politics. He an offensive player & it's going to hard to overtake Hutson/Buium.

Even look at the forward group re; guys like Musty & Eiserman. Surprised those guys weren't included either but it's hard to argue when you look how many top names are on the list.

This USA team is going to be really good. Huge credit to Hagens making it as a '25 DE.

 

[WetcoastOrca]

Its their gold medal.

Frankly its a stupid bias, at least Hockey Canada is not susceptible to it.

They probably want to deter players from opting out of the US college route.

 

[WarriorofTime]

USA Juniors has a long history of USNDTP kids that played major juniors and weren’t penalized. Hunters issue is he he is in a weird spot as a small offensive guy that won’t pass up Hutson or Casey. That being said, I definitely think it’s stupid to not put him at camp and let him show what he can do there rather than hyper focusing on roles and roster construction. From a BPA standpoint, he should have had a camp invite.

 

[docbenton]

USA Juniors has a long history of USNDTP kids that played major juniors and weren’t penalized. Hunters issue is he he is in a weird spot as a small offensive guy that won’t pass up Hutson or Casey. That being said, I definitely think it’s stupid to not put him at camp and let him show what he can do there rather than hyper focusing on roles and roster construction. From a BPA standpoint, he should have had a camp invite.

14	Aram Minnetian	5-11 (180)	194 (88)	2005-03-19	R	Woodcliff Lake, N.J.	Boston College (HEA)	DAL (’23, 4th rd., 125th overall)
23	Eric Pohlkamp	5-11 (180)	205 (93)	2004-03-23	R	Brainerd, Minn.	Bemidji State University (CCHA)	SJS (’23, 5th rd., 132nd overall)

Okay about Hutson or Casey, but what about these other undersized RHD who were invited? Are they supposed to be shutdown defensemen?

I'm fine with him not being on the team, I don't think he's been spectacular necessarily despite the points, but not getting an invite does beg the question of why these other players were invited instead.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

I think it was just a strong roster this year more-so than politics. He an offensive player & it's going to hard to overtake Hutson/Buium.

Even look at the forward group re; guys like Musty & Eiserman. Surprised those guys weren't included either but it's hard to argue when you look how many top names are on the list.

This USA team is going to be really good. Huge credit to Hagens making it as a '25 DE.

It’s not Buium, it’s Casey. Casey is a RHD that plays the same role. Casey made it last year and was a lock this year, unless he had a weak start to the year (and he didn’t). Combine that with Hutson, that gave him almost no chance. Brzustewicz might be better, but Casey had the edge because of last year. Thats how it goes.

Also to the people saying it’s an-anti CHL thing, there are CHL players like Hayes and Terrance who have no business making it, so it’s closer to that USAH always needs to have a few controversial decisions.

 

[William H Bonney]

14	Aram Minnetian	5-11 (180)	194 (88)	2005-03-19	R	Woodcliff Lake, N.J.	Boston College (HEA)	DAL (’23, 4th rd., 125th overall)
23	Eric Pohlkamp	5-11 (180)	205 (93)	2004-03-23	R	Brainerd, Minn.	Bemidji State University (CCHA)	SJS (’23, 5th rd., 132nd overall)

Okay about Hutson or Casey, but what about these other undersized RHD who were invited? Are they supposed to be shutdown defensemen?

I'm fine with him not being on the team, I don't think he's been spectacular necessarily despite the points, but not getting an invite does beg the question of why these other players were invited instead.

They're players you don't know much about who bring different elements than Hunter. It's too simplistic to reduce it to an offensive vs defensive defenseman binary. Minnetian is more well rounded, think a style like Brock Faber. Pohlkamp brings a lot of offensive like Hunter but unlike Hunter he's also really strong, stocky, and physical

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

14	Aram Minnetian	5-11 (180)	194 (88)	2005-03-19	R	Woodcliff Lake, N.J.	Boston College (HEA)	DAL (’23, 4th rd., 125th overall)
23	Eric Pohlkamp	5-11 (180)	205 (93)	2004-03-23	R	Brainerd, Minn.	Bemidji State University (CCHA)	SJS (’23, 5th rd., 132nd overall)

Okay about Hutson or Casey, but what about these other undersized RHD who were invited? Are they supposed to be shutdown defensemen?

I'm fine with him not being on the team, I don't think he's been spectacular necessarily despite the points, but not getting an invite does beg the question of why these other players were invited instead.

They make stupid decisions. No one is questioning that.

It’s not an anti-CHL thing. Why are Terrance and Hayes there over Stramel, Eiserman, Lund?

Pohlkamp is also very physical and built like a bowling ball. Minnetian has no business being there. Don’t disagree.

 

[LeProspector]

He wasn't invited to the final camp. He was in the main camp. The intent of the two camps is not the same. The final camp is more about finalizing roles and lines, making the final couple of roster decisions, and developing chemistry. Not inviting Hunter could be an unprovable mistake, but he's not there because they didn't see a role for him, which is something USAH followers have been trying to make you all aware of for awhile.



Just like it hurt Hayes, Terrance, and Hillebrandt yeah?

and I guarantee you the 2 forwards are among the 2 cuts. I know it‘s a difficily thing to hear, but USA hockey doesn't like it when their kids go CHL.

 

[William H Bonney]

and I guarantee you the 2 forwards are among the 2 cuts. I know it‘s a difficily thing to hear, but USA hockey doesn't like it when their kids go CHL.

Maybe they are. I don't need to hear what USAH fans already know. But there's a difference between them preferring the NCAA route and them blacklisting CHL players, which is what you need to understand.

 

[Warh1ppy]

USA Juniors has a long history of USNDTP kids that played major juniors and weren’t penalized. Hunters issue is he he is in a weird spot as a small offensive guy that won’t pass up Hutson or Casey. That being said, I definitely think it’s stupid to not put him at camp and let him show what he can do there rather than hyper focusing on roles and roster construction. From a BPA standpoint, he should have had a camp invite.

Hunter is small?

He lists as 6 foot + and 190+ pounds. That's bigger than Makar, Fox. Hughes, Letang + Karlsson in their draft years.

Feel like there's a lot of talk made about defensemen needing to be monsters but the truth is 6 ish feet and 190-210 pounds is that sweet spot for modern defensemen

 

[Jersey Fan 12]

He wasn't invited to the final camp. He was in the main camp. The intent of the two camps is not the same. The final camp is more about finalizing roles and lines, making the final couple of roster decisions, and developing chemistry. Not inviting Hunter could be an unprovable mistake, but he's not there because they didn't see a role for him, which is something USAH followers have been trying to make you all aware of for awhile.



Just like it hurt Hayes, Terrance, and Hillebrandt yeah?

The exclusion of Hunter has the chance to really look bad in five years while the three you mention all have the potential to be cited as indicative of the "politics" sometimes shown by USA Hockey.

Is he being left off to prevent him from out playing some of the legacy players during camp and in the pre tournament games; forcing the team organizers to make hard decisions?

 

[Coaches Coroner]

I think it was just a strong roster this year more-so than politics. He an offensive player & it's going to hard to overtake Hutson/Buium.

Even look at the forward group re; guys like Musty & Eiserman. Surprised those guys weren't included either but it's hard to argue when you look how many top names are on the list.

This USA team is going to be really good. Huge credit to Hagens making it as a '25 DE.

It's actually a weaker roster than last season, they just have a legitimately good coach now...last year they had Chris Dennis is was horrific, with a very strong roster that performed horribly. With less talent, the new coach Ahokas is getting much, much more out of everyone and seems to have systems that he actually knows how to put into practice.
Edit: just realized now you meant team USA, not Kitchener. Mod can delete or leave it up for posterity lol

 

[SimGrindcore]

They've seen him plenty. The reality is he's behind two locks (Casey, Chesley) on the right side, the RHD options are deep, and they want more diverse player roles than Hunter would offer on a team that will have plenty of offensive talent from the backend.

There is no agenda against Hunter or the CHL. USAH is more familiar and experienced with Hunter than they are the CHLers they invited to camp.

Hunter would make the team in most tournaments. It's just bad timing for him as it's a tournament with a lot of RHD / offensive defenseman options, which isn't always the case, especially with the former.

Not inviting him could be a mistake. But it doesn't mean there's some conspiracy at hand.

There is no way he's not the 3rd best RD. He deserved an invite, at least. Same for Musty and Eiserman.

 

[Flamesfan62]

I think it was just a strong roster this year more-so than politics. He an offensive player & it's going to hard to overtake Hutson/Buium.

Even look at the forward group re; guys like Musty & Eiserman. Surprised those guys weren't included either but it's hard to argue when you look how many top names are on the list.

This USA team is going to be really good. Huge credit to Hagens making it as a '25 DE.

He plays defense well too. It’s stupid to not invite him with an already lacking D corps.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

He plays defense well too. It’s stupid to not invite him with an already lacking D corps.

Lacking? Not exactly.

 

[BCNate]

He is not the only notable omission. I get it is real hard to put these types of teams together, but it seems like USA Hockey is really overthinking things, Leaving Eiserman off doesn't make any sense.

 

[WetcoastOrca]

He probably should have got an invite but every team has to make tough decisions as to who makes the team and sometimes it’s based on building the best team based on a variety of skill sets. It would be a nice reward for his great play this year but at the end of the day it won’t affect his future as a prospect.

 

[William H Bonney]

He is not the only notable omission. I get it is real hard to put these types of teams together, but it seems like USA Hockey is really overthinking things, Leaving Eiserman off doesn't make any sense.

He's 17 and it's a loaded forward group. Eiserman was in the running for an invite but it's not exactly a surprise that he didn't make it.

 

[Siludin]

So USA hockey didn't want to stress out poor Hutson and Casey by bringing the big boy Brzustewicz in.
That's some silver medal energy.

 

[BCNate]

He's 17 and it's a loaded forward group. Eiserman was in the running for an invite but it's not exactly a surprise that he didn't make it.

Understood that they have a strong forward group, but it is rare that a top 3 pick doesn't even make the prelim roster.

 

[LemonSauceD]

They’ll get wiped by Canada anyway

 

[Flamesfan62]

Lacking? Not exactly.

It’s the weakest D they’ve had in a long time.