USA Junior Team Defeats Russia 8-1

As I reported yesterday, the USA U20 team and the Russian U20 team were facing each other in the first game of an exhibition series last night in Lake Placid. Not only did USA come out on top by a huge score of 8-1, but two Ranger prospects also recorded points in the game. Those prospects were Ryan Bourque, who recorded a goal, and Derek Stepan, who registered an assist. The Rangers 2009 first round pick, Chris Kreider, was apparently a healthy scratch.

As a fan, you hear so many good things about your team's top prospects and how they are developing, but there is no better assurance of how good a player is until they are able to perform in a competitive tournament like this one, alongside some of the country's best young stars. This tournament will be looked upon as a measuring stick for the Rangers Prospects, and so far so good. The Blueshirts third round draft pick in 2009, Ryan Bourque, seems to really be coming along nicely, and better than some suggested. Ryan, without a doubt, has been the best of the Ranger three-some that is currently with the team up in Lake Placid.

Let me remind of the fact that this tournament is labeled as an "evaluation", meaning that it will decide which players will contend in the World Junior tournament this December for team USA. Hopefully all three Ranger prospects will make it, but as of right now, it looks like Ryan Bourque has his name penciled into a roster spot by coaches already.

I will be sure keep you updated as the tournament progresses.

(Photo courtesy of Getty Images)