McCoshen talks USHL prospects game win

Ian McCoshen is in his third season with the Waterloo Black Hawks of the United States Hockey League. The 6-foot-2.5, 207-pound defenseman, No. 21 on NHL Central Scouting's midterm list of the top draft-eligible North American skaters, has six goals, 22 points and a plus-23 rating in 27 games this season.

On Wednesday, McCoshen participated in his second straight USHL/NHL Top Prospects game in Muskegon, Mich. He didn't register a point but did deliver some big hits and registered three shots on goal. After the game, McCoshen submitted his monthly blog for NHL.com recapping the event.

Hello, hockey fans!

It was nice to come away with a big win in the USHL Top Prospects Game on Wednesday, 2-1. After getting to Michigan on Tuesday, it was nice to just get acquainted with my teammates and then get on the ice for practice to kind of sort things out.

In the locker room prior to the game, our coaches reminded us that we were at the game for a reason, and that this was a time to prove it. We wanted to be loose, but it's also pretty intense because it's kind of a pressure situation for some of the guys.

I think, compared to last year when some guys looked at this as kind of an all-star type of game, this year had a different feel to it. I felt you had to be on your toes or else something was going to be created off a turnover. So, it was a good game overall.

My defensive partner for the game was Tucker Poolman [Omaha Lancers]. He's sound defensively and he supported really well, so I was fortunate to have him as a partner. It was pretty cool playing with four of my teammates in the game [Taylor Cammarata, Justin Kloos, Eamon McAdam, Cal Petersen]. It's always nice because you already have some chemistry with those players. Having that little connection with them makes things a little easier, but you can't rely on it too much.

I thought it was great that teammate Eamon McAdam was awarded MVP for the team. I was real happy for him and he certainly deserved that honor since he played so well. He made some really good saves, as did Cal Petersen when he entered the game in relief of Eamon in the second period. I was also pleasantly surprised by the hit that teammate Justin Kloos put on a player in the first period -- he was playing the body all night and was very effective.

I think we're all looking forward to the second half of the season here with Waterloo and making that surge towards the playoffs. We obviously have high hopes from our experience last year, and we just have to put together a good push in the end. Hopefully, we can make a solid run.

Offensively, I haven't changed much in my game. I think it's just a matter of having bounces go my way recently, and I'm just trying to be more simple. It's funny, a few bounces here and there and the pucks start going in, so hopefully I can keep that going.

Thanks for reading everyone, and talk to you next month!

Follow Ian McCoshen on Twitter at: @ijmccoshen3