Lunicorn Watch List: Ten 2010-Born Players to Watch at the 15O Nationals in Green Bay who are not on the 2010 NTDP invite list

This list reflects the Lunicorn style, players who embody grit, edge, and compete level not just traditional rankings.

The 2026 Chipotle-USA Hockey Youth Tier I 15O National Championship (March 24–29, 2026, Green Bay) is the kind of event where “almost-NTDP” turns into “problem for everyone else.”

This list is deliberately built around a few 2010-born players who are not included on the publicly posted 45-player roster for the 2026 USA Hockey NTDP Evaluation Camp.

The headliners are the ones who can tilt a short tournament: Lucas Abarquez and Nash Wilford bring pure scoreboard pressure; Carter Felt, Colin Walsh and Drew Short are the River Rats’ triple threat; and Evan Zachgo is the “non-traditional market” storyline with legitimate production.

The Lunicorn style though, transcends recognition of those who are prolific at lighting the lamp. More often than not, these traits become some of the shiniest along the path to the precious title. Players like Will Torres who is a battle-tested goalie with prior-national stage experience, a year of prep success and a well deserved chip on his shoulder. Knox Koukis is cast as the under recognized but highly appreciated two-way center and Liam Day the big-body forward profile that turns clean breakouts into a survival decision.

Tournament and Selection Context

The 2026 Youth Tier I 15O Nationals run March 24–29 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The USA Hockey National Team Development Program published the 45-player evaluation camp roster (born in 2010), the camp helps select the 2026–27 U.S. National U17 team. That list is the “who’s in the room” moment and is complete with 45 players who fully deserve their place on the list. Congratulations! The genesis of this first ever Lunicorn Style Top 10 list was to recognize some of those 2010 players who for whatever reason “are not in that room” but will get a chance this week to make the 15O Nationals their proving ground.

Top Ten Watch List

Below are the Lunicorn-style Top 10 Not chosen for the 2010 NTDP Evaluation Camp roster.

Carter Felt — F, Neponset Valley River Rats / Rivers School

Bio: Age 15 (Aug. 2010); forward; shoots L; 5’9”, 174

Lunicorn scouting summary (values-driven): Felt’s profile screams “feared and admired” because he’s not just producing, he’s doing it across environments (AAA + prep). His production rate is that classic Lunicorn cocktail: Killer Instinct + Physicality + Finesse.

Projected Green Bay impact: Felt is the Lunicorn definition of a 2-way player “Productive and Punishing” whether it is 5v5 or special teams. In a short tournament like this, his game is how you end up with a medal around your neck.

Lunicorn style: Felt plays like somebody who doesn’t just like contact he feeds on it. When the game tightens, he has receipts for being the finisher, not the spectator. He is the guy who is going to bury the 6’+ defenseman in the corner and then bury the one timer in the top corner short side with no time on the clock. Green Bay is built for his kind of hockey: heavy, relentless, and nasty when it matters. If you find yourself on the ice with him don’t just be aware, beware!

Lucas Abarquez — F, Los Angeles Jr. Kings

Bio: Age 15 (Aug. 2010); forward; shoots R; 5’8”, 140

Lunicorn scouting summary (values-driven): This is volume-scoring with teeth, 48 goals are not “nice hands,” it’s repeatable finishing. His time in the box reinforces that he isn’t playing a perimeter points game, he’s living in the dirty spots where goals count and feelings get hurt.

Projected Green Bay impact: If LA’s power play is functional, Abarquez is the type who can fill the rows on the score sheet, one hot stick, one second-period flurry, and you’re chasing the bracket.

Lunicorn style: Abarquez isn’t just “skilled.” He’s a problem with a timer that sooner or later ends up with the puck behind your goalie. Left off the NTDP list? Fine. Looking forward to seeing him make Green Bay seem like his personal grievance tour.

Nash Wilford — F, Buffalo Jr. Sabres

Bio: Age 16 (Feb. 2010); forward; shoots L; 5’8”, 154

Lunicorn scouting summary (values-driven): Wilford is the engine-room playmaker: 54 assists in 49 games are a loud signal that he creates offense for others and can run a group. That’s Lunicorn “team player” with an edge, because high-assist guys still have to win puck battles and survive attention.

Projected Green Bay impact: He’s a “touch the puck every shift” player. If Buffalo makes a run, Wilford will be in the middle of it, especially when games become power-play chess.

Lunicorn style: Wilford doesn’t need to score to hurt you, he hurts you by making everyone else score. Leave him off the NTDP list and you’re basically daring him to weaponize his vision on the biggest stage in the country. That’s not a safe dare.

Colin Walsh — F, Neponset Valley River Rats / Framingham High

Bio: Age 15 (Aug. 2010); forward; shoots L; 6’1”, 180

Lunicorn scouting summary (values-driven): Walsh is the cleanest “chip on shoulder” fit in this entire list: big body, big production, and a public narrative built around proving he belongs. He’s not just scoring, he is using every bit of his size, and his hockey IQ is off the charts.  

Projected Green Bay impact: Walsh looks like a “power forward” who would make a living net-front, down low, along the wall and he does, but not with power, with finesse. He will throw his body around at times, but he is far more deadly when his hands have time and space. Don’t let his size fool you, if you forget about him, he will fill the sheet.

Lunicorn style: Walsh looks like the guy you hate playing in a short tournament: big, persistent, and sneaky smart below the dots. No NTDP invite? Cool. Don’t be surprised if he puts up big numbers and says, “how do you like them apples”?

Evan Zachgo — F, Sioux Falls Power

Bio: Age 15 (Jun. 2010); forward; shoots R; 5’10”, 157

Lunicorn scouting summary (values-driven): Zachgo is the non-traditional market grinder with real cred, Alaska background, big travel, and he still produces at a national level. That blend tends to create the exact Lunicorn DNA: hard work, chip-on-shoulder, and the willingness to do the unglamorous reps.

Projected Green Bay impact: Zachgo is the type who can shock people in pool play, fast-start goals, relentless second efforts, and the tournament turning into a “wait, who is that kid?” situation.

Lunicorn style: Zachgo’s game reads like a passport stamp: Alaska roots, national schedule, no shortcuts. You don’t average that production unless you’re willing to win the dirty races first. Green Bay is where he turns “nice season” into “remember me.”

Drew Short — F, Neponset Valley River Rats / Winchendon

Bio: Age 16 (March 2010); forward; shoots L; 5’11”, 165

Lunicorn scouting summary (values-driven): Short is a Lunicorn favorite because the identity is explicit: He’s the complete 200 ft player. Whether he’s grinding down low in the defensive end or taking a beating net front screening the goalie on the offensive end. His game isn’t flashy or overly physical but rock solid, consistent and productive. Short is one of those guys you might miss until you focus for a minute on him and realize he is the one pulling the train.

Projected Green Bay impact: Short’s value spikes late in tournaments: forecheck pressure, angry net drives, and the willingness to be the villain in someone else’s highlight reel.

Lunicorn style: Short plays as though he enjoys the “hard parts” of the game more than the glory. He’s not out there to look pretty, he’s there to win races, catch you on the backcheck and make your best defenders miserable. His game is responsible, unassuming and leads by example. If the River Rats go deep, expect Short to deliver a moment that swings a game.

Will Torres — G, Minuteman Flames / Rivers School

Bio: Age 15 (April 2010); goalie; catches L; listed 5’10”, 141

Lunicorn scouting summary (values-driven): Torres is one of those rare, very fortunate individuals who was lucky enough to find the exact thing in life he was born to do. His success is an alchemy of elite athleticism, cognitive ability and emotional quotient that will force evaluators to question what qualities are the most important for goalie evaluations. Elite Prospects’ tournament scouting described him as a “workhorse” who played six games in six days at 14U Nationals and posted a .914 SV%, with “explosive legs” and raw athleticism.

Projected Green Bay impact: The easiest way for a “non-favorite” to win this tournament is to have the hottest goalie. Torres has already shown he can be that guy on a national stage when he nearly stole the 14U National title last year.

Lunicorn style: Torres isn’t flashy, he’s cerebral, tactical and stubborn. He thrives on pressure, sees through chaos, and has a history of making the big saves in tight games that inspire the confidence in his team to finish games. If Torres is locked in, Green Bay will be a Will Torres story.

Knox Koukis — F, Woodbridge Wolfpack

Bio: Age 16 (Feb. 2010); forward/center; shoots R; 5’8”, 161

Lunicorn scouting summary (values-driven): The labels matter because they’re consistent with what wins at nationals: two-way centers who lead are the players coaches trust in one-goal games. Even without a full-season public log, the multi-segment stat trail plus “Leader/Two-Way” framing paints a very clear usage picture.

Projected Green Bay impact: If Wolfpack goes on a run, it will look like this: Koukis wins draws, wins matchups, gets greasy points, and is on the ice when the other team pulls the goalie.

Lunicorn style: Koukis is the kind of center you notice because the other team’s best players stop having fun. He plays like a leader, responsible, relentless, and allergic to losing pucks for free. At nationals, that’s a weapon.

Liam Day — F, Fox Motors

Bio: Age 16 (Jan. 2010); forward; shoots R; 6’1”, 170

Lunicorn scouting summary (values-driven): This is the archetype that becomes priceless at nationals: big forward, low-maintenance game, built to wear down skilled teams over five days. Even if the scoring line is modest, the size profile is the “physical / grinder” tool that changes how opponents break out.

Projected Green Bay impact: Day’s impact won’t always show up as points, it’ll show up as defensemen getting hit on retrievals, power plays starting with net-front pain, and opponents’ skill guys playing with their heads up.

Lunicorn style: Day is the kind of forward coaches love in March: big frame, direct habits, and a game that travels when the rink feels smaller and the legs feel heavier. If Fox Motors advances, expect Day to be part of the reason the games feel miserable for the other team.

Nathan Bertz — D, Woodbridge Wolfpack

Bio: Age 16 (Jan. 2010); defense; shoots L; listed at 5’11”, 185

Lunicorn scouting summary (values-driven): Bertz is the Lunicorn defenseman template: Neutral Zone describes a “simple, efficient game,” avoiding high-risk plays, defending rushes, boxing out opponents, steering plays wide, and winning battles with strength. That is grit + team-first + defensive nastiness.

Projected Green Bay impact: Bertz is the type of player who quietly wins you two pool games because your goalie sees pucks and your forwards get clean exits. If Wolfpack makes noise, defensemen like Bertz are why.

Lunicorn style: Bertz plays defense like a bouncer: no drama, no freebies, and you’re not welcome in his crease. The point totals don’t matter if he’s killing rushes and boxing out in March. That’s nationals’ hockey.

Comparison Table

The table below is a quick cross-player snapshot:

Noted contributing sources: https://neutralzone.com/, https://nationals.usahockey.com, https://www.eliteprospects.com, https://minicc.proamhockey.com, https://puckpreps.com, https://myhockeyrankings.com/, https://www.bostonglobe.com, https://www.hnibnews.com

Disclaimer

This article is intended for informational and entertainment purposes only. All player evaluations, projections, and opinions reflect the author’s subjective analysis and are not statements of fact.

Statistics, biographical details, and references have been compiled from publicly available sources believed to be reliable, but accuracy and completeness cannot be guaranteed.

This content does not constitute professional scouting, recruiting, or athletic advising. No guarantees are made regarding player performance, development, selection, or future outcomes.

All athletes referenced are minors participating in amateur competition. This article is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or representative of USA Hockey, the NTDP, or any listed teams, schools, leagues, or organizations.

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