2017-18 American Family Insurance ALL-USA Preseason Boys Hockey Team

The 2017-18 American Family Insurance ALL-USA preseason boys hockey team was selected based on past performance, level of competition and strength of schedule.

Jack Rathbone, a defenseman from Dexter Southfield (Brookline, Mass.) was a Second Team selection last spring and is the only returnee from the 2016-17 ALL-USA team. He is one of five Massachusetts skaters on the preseason team. Minnesota leads the way with an impressive 13 selections, including a pair of senior defensemen from Edina in Jake Boltmann and Michael Vorlicky. New Hampshire has three picks while Connecticut has two.

ALL-USA WATCH: Five more players to know

LOOKBACK: 2016-17 ALL-USA Boys Hockey Teams

Click through the slideshow below to meet the players.

Robert Christy School: St. Thomas Academy (St. Paul, Minn.) Year: Junior Height: 6-2 College: Uncommitted Noteworthy: Christy was a member of the gold-medal winning U.S. team at the Under-17 Five Nations Tournament in the Czech Republic in August. For the Cadets last winter, he scored 20 goals and dished 27 assists to lead St. Thomas to a fifth-place finish at the Minnesota Class AA state tournament. Photo: St. Thomas Academy

Ryder Donovan School: Duluth East (Duluth, Minn.) Year: Junior Height: 6-3 College: North Dakota Noteworthy: Donovan skated for the U.S. team at the Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament in August, helping the Stars and Stripes to a fifth-place finish. The rugged forward tallied 10 goals and 20 assists a year ago for the Greyhounds, who reached the Minnesota 7AA sectional final. Photo: William Garnett

Jack Jensen School: Eden Prairie (Minn.) Year: Junior Height: 6-3 College: Minnesota Noteworthy: Jensen shined at the CCM All-American Prospects Game, dishing out two assists in the game involving 42 potential draft picks. For the Eagles a year ago, he was a Honorable Mention All-State selection after picking up 18 goals and 25 assists to lead Eden Prairie to a third-place finish at the Class AA state tournament. Photo: Shannon Jensen

Blake McLaughlin School: Grand Rapids (Minn.) Year: Senior Height: 5-11 College: Minnesota Noteworthy: The top returning scorer for the Thunderhawks, who won the 2016 Class AA state championship. Scored four goals in two state tournament games and finished the season with 22 goals, 38 assists. He was a member of the U.S. team at the Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament and skated in the CCM All-American Prospects Game. Photo: Kyle Nelson, Harold Review

Brady Meyer School: North Branch (Minn.) Year: Junior Height: 6-5 College: Minnesota-Duluth Noteworthy: Meyer scored 33 goals and dished out 25 assists as the Vikings finished the 2016 season at 17-9-1, the best record in school history. An all-conference pick, Meyer was a member of the U.S. team at the Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament in the Czech Republic in August. Photo: Shannon Kratzke

Jay O’Brien School: Thayer (Braintree, Mass.) Year: Senior Height: 5-11 College: Providence Noteworthy: O’Brien was a First Team All-New England selection a year ago after skating his way to 24 goals and 41 assists for the Tigers, who reached the New England Division 1 quarterfinals. O’Brien played in the CCM All-American Prospects Game in Buffalo in September. Photo: Chris Bernstein, CDBphotos.com

Jack Perbix School: Elk River (Minn.) Year: Junior Height: 6-1 College: Notre Dame Noteworthy: The younger brother of 2016-17 First Team ALL-USA defenseman Nick Perbix, Jack scored 17 goals and passed out 23 assists as a center for the Elks. He skated in the CCM All-American Prospects Game in Buffalo in September. Photo: Yuko Larson

Colin Schmidt School: Wayzata (Minn.) Year: Senior Height: 6-4 College: Minnesota Noteworthy: Schmidt was a leader for the Trojans during their improbable run to the Class AA state tournament in 2016 despite a 7-17-1 regular season. Schmidt finished the season with 11 goals and 15 assists. He also skated in the CCM All-American Prospects Game in Buffalo in September. Photo: Stephanie Schmidt

Grant Silianoff School: Shattuck-St. Mary’s (Faribault, Minn.) Year: Junior Height: 5-11 College: Notre Dame Noteworthy: Silianoff scored the game-winning goal as the United States beat the Czech Republic, 5-3, to win the Under-17 Five Nations Tournament in August. Silianoff, who tallied 35 goals and 38 assists for Sabres over the winter, led the U.S. team with four goals and three assists in four games at the tournament. Photo: Shattuck-St. Mary’s HS