Muskegon Lumberjacks left wing Tom Marchin, a C-rated skater on NHL Central Scouting's preliminary players to watch list for September, will play at Brown University in 2015-16.

Marchin, a 6-foot-2, 200-pound power forward from Algonac, Mich., is in his first season with the Lumberjacks. He has two goals, four points and a plus-6 rating in five United States Hockey League games.

"I've always wanted to go to an Ivy League school and that's why I prided myself in getting good grades during high school to go to an institution like this with the academics that they have to offer," Marchin told the USHL website. "Their hockey program continues to be on the upswing, and the coaching staff is a bunch of great guys that are genuinely interested in me, which I like a lot."

There's no doubt Boston University center Jack Eichel and Erie Otters center Connor McDavid will be engaged in an anything-you-can-do-I-can-do-better competition all season long leading up to the 2015 NHL Draft.

Both players are considered to be top-two picks in the draft and each received an A rating on NHL Central Scouting's preliminary players to watch list for September.

In Erie's four straight victories to open the season, McDavid had five goals, 12 points and a plus-7 rating. He was named the first star of the game Saturday when he had two goals and four points in a 7-3 victory against the Sarnia Sting. As first star he was honored with wearing the Super Player of the Game suit.

Defenseman Zachary Werensky, an A-rated prospect on NHL Central Scouting's preliminary players to watch list for the 2015 NHL Draft, will become the youngest player to play at the University of Michigan in the Red Berenson era on Saturday when the Wolverines visit Ferris State at Ewigleben Arena in Big Rapids, Mich.

Werenski, 17, accelerated his studies in high school in order to graduate after three years and join Berenson as a true freshman this season. The 6-foot-2, 214-pound left-handed shot will join a pretty formidable defensive corps that includes NHL draftees Michael Downing (Florida Panthers), Brennan Serville (Winnipeg Jets) and Nolan De Jong (Minnesota Wild).

Berenson enters his 31st season behind the bench at Michigan.

Each Thursday, NHL.com will highlight three prospects to watch for the 2015 NHL Draft. This week, the focus is on three players who competed in the 2014 CCM/USA Hockey All-American Prospects Game in Buffalo on Sept. 25.

The 2014 CCM/USA Hockey All-American Prospects Game on Sept. 25 provided a positive glimpse of what the future holds for American-born players eligible for the 2015 NHL Draft.

"I think it was a great showcase," winning coach Mike Grier said at the end of the game. "You see the talent that is out there and you can put it up there against any country in the world. You see kids from California, Georgia, Texas … kids from all over the place. The game is growing and the fact NHL Network was here to telecast the game shows you how big it is so we're right there with being able to compete with any other country for sure."

Hockey Hall of Fame member Bobby Orr and longtime NHL broadcaster Don Cherry will return as coaches for the 2015 CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game on Jan. 22, 2015 in St. Catharines, Ontario.

The 20th edition of the game, which will feature 40 of the top prospects for the 2015 NHL Draft playing in the Canadian Hockey League, will be played at the Meridian Centre, the new home of the Niagara IceDogs of the Ontario Hockey League.

"When this event began in 1996 it was the support of Don Cherry and Bobby Orr that helped build this showcase of top draft-eligible CHL players into a prestigious annual event," CHL president David Branch said. "The CHL is honored that Don and Bobby will participate behind the bench in the 2015 BMO CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game in what will truly be a special experience for the 40 players competing on the ice, and for hockey fans in St. Catharines and across the CHL."

Erie Otters center Connor McDavid isn't the only top prospect from the team eligible for the 2015 NHL Draft and exciting scouts this season.

Dylan Strome, the brother of New York Islanders forward Ryan Strome, is off to a great start in Erie. The 6-foot-3, 187-pound left-shot center was named the player of the week in Ontario Hockey League after leading the league with 10 points (one goal, nine assists) in three straight road wins to open 2014-15.

BUFFALO -- Defenseman Caleb Jones has a message for every NHL scout in attendance at the third annual CCM/USA Hockey All-American Prospects Game at First Niagara Center on Thursday (7 p.m. ET, NHL Network).

"I want to prove that Caleb Jones is a good player," he said. "I'm not just here because of [my brother] Seth Jones, and I don't mind saying that. I'm going to try to prove a point here in this game. It was an honor to get to this game and I feel I definitely deserve to be here like everyone else."

Unlike his brother, who was selected in the first round (No. 4) by the Nashville Predators at the 2013 NHL Draft, Caleb Jones enters the All-American Prospects Game as a C-rated skater on NHL Central Scouting's preliminary players to watch list for September. When Seth played in the AAPG two seasons ago, he was an A rated player.

BUFFALO -- If there's one person involved in the CCM/USA All-American Prospects Game who gets what it's like to be an American player, it's Ed Olczyk.

Olczyk will be behind the bench at First Niagara Center in Buffalo on Thursday night (7 p.m. ET, NHL Network) for the annual showdown between two sides of the best prospects in the United States, and as a former member of the United States Olympic team, seeing the number of top young stars is encouraging.

"It speaks to where USA Hockey has come, really in a short period of time when you look at the big picture. The size aspect of it is amazing," Olczyk said. "Just being out on the ice with them for 30 minutes kind of puts it all in perspective, because when you watch them through the glass or watch them from the press box or in the stands as a hockey parent -- you understand, because, I mean, I lived it -- but once you're out there with them up close in a practice or like looking forward to tonight, you get a true appreciation for the talent level and the want to, and that's something that really separates a lot of these kids."

BUFFALO -- Mike Grier wasn't happy when informed that opposing coach Ed Olcyzk was seen spying on his practice in preparation for the third annual CCM/USA Hockey All-American Prospects Game at First Niagara Center on Thursday (7 p.m. ET, NHL Network).

For Grier, it's a homecoming of sorts since he played three-plus seasons as a right wing for the Buffalo Sabres. He's not only excited to have an opportunity to coach 21 of the top American-born prospects eligible for the 2015 NHL Draft, but to be back behind the Sabres bench.

"[Olcyzk] has got to ask for permission to come out and scout things," Grier said with a big smile.

BUFFALO -- University of Michigan defenseman Zachary Werenski is one of three college freshmen competing in the CCM/USA Hockey All-American Prospects Game hoping to hear his name called in the first round of the 2015 NHL Draft on June 26.

The 6-foot-1, 201-pound left-handed shot joins center Jack Eichel (Boston University) and defenseman Noah Hanifin (Boston College) as legitimate first-year collegians with plenty to offer NHL scouts. Werenski will play for Team Mike Grier, alongside Eichel. Hanifin will play for Team Ed Olczyk.