What to Expect at the 2023 CCM 68

The 10th annual combine will showcase the top 2009-born youth hockey players from all of North America

The CCM 68 Combine will once again feature some of the top prospects at the 14U age level, but this time, with a twist. For the first time in the event’s 10-year history, elite-level boys and girls from Canada will also compete in front of scouts and evaluators in Chicago. What once featured the 68 best boys and girls youth hockey players from the U.S., has now expanded to include 68 more boys and girls from north of the border as well. 

In total, 272 14-year-olds will be in attendance to showcase their skills and compete amongst the best players in the 2009 birth year. That includes a media night, on-ice and off-ice testing, practices with junior, college and professional coaches as well as three highly competitive games. 

From the Combine to the Draft; CCM 68 Offers First Look at Rising Stars

More than 220 past participants of the CCM 68 have gone on to continue their playing careers at the junior, college and professional levels. That includes some of the biggest names in the game today, like the New York Rangers K’Andre Miller, Montreal Canadiens Cole Caufield and Anaheim Ducks’ Trevor Zegras. Additionally, prospects like 2021 OHL Draft first overall pick Quentin Musty was one of the top performers among ‘05-born combine attendees.

If you’re a top American hockey player of the past decade, odds are you’ve been named one of the CCM 68. In fact, 13 of the 2007-born players named to the U.S. National Team Development Program (USNTDP) roster for the ‘23-24 season are just two years removed from the CCM 68 Combine. 

With the addition of 136 top Canadian youth hockey players in the mix this summer, expect that alumni footprint to expand significantly. Participants from this inaugural camp will likely be top names called in the coming OHL and WHL Drafts, as well as representatives of Team Canada on the international stage.

Among the list of participants this year are 2009-born prospects from across the Canadian provinces and U.S. states. Click here to view the CCM 68 Boys and CCM 68 Girls.

CCM 68 Participants to Undergo Extensive Testing and Training

Part of the CCM 68 Combine’s festivities is putting youth hockey players through on-ice and off-ice training similar to what prospects endure before the NHL Draft. 

Sport Testing Atlantic will be on-site to provide training. It is run by Mark Fitzgerald, who’s the former strength and conditioning coach of the Anaheim Ducks. During the on-ice portion, participants will be tested in three different skating exercises. The first will be a series of 30-meter sprints forwards, backwards, with no puck and while handling a puck. One more exercise — the weave agility — will test players’ ability to slalom their way in and out of cones. The final test is the transition agility, where players change directions from forward to backward and back again.

Once that is completed, the ‘09s will also work in strength and agility training off the ice as well. That includes grip strength, chin-ups, standing broad jump, vertical jump, 20-meter sprint and pro agility. All results are shared individually with participants, as well as the Top 20 performers in each category being made public online.

Neutral Zone Partnership adds to an Already Extensive CCM 68 Experience

In January, Neutral Zone partnered with 200×85 to provide in-depth coverage of the CCM 68 Combine. The scouting service will be on-site, completing evaluations of all 272 participants and delivering assessments of top performers on their website NeutralZone.net. 

Their presence at the combine adds to an already deep list of scouts and evaluators who regularly attend the combine. Members from major junior leagues, NCAA coaches, pro scouts and national team programs regularly attend the annual event.

“We are excited to partner with 200×85 Hockey to add additional resources, support and evaluation to various aspects of the well-known CCM 68 Combine,” said Steve Wilk, President and Founder of Neutral Zone. “The CCM 68 Combine has been long-known for assembling the top 14U hockey players in the United States, and Neutral Zone is thrilled to become an official partner for the event as it expands this year to include the very best 14U prospects from across Canada as well.”

Neutral Zone aided in the process of identifying top 2009-born prospects for the upcoming CCM 68 Combine. Evaluators at NZ and 200×85 worked closely, hand-selecting participants to ensure the event remained at an elite level for all involved.