Recruit Profile: Miles Koules

Photo-USHL.com

Current Team:  US National Team Dev. Program Under-18 Team
Anticipated Arrival at UND:  2012
Position:  Forward
Birthday:  June 25th, 1994
Hometown:  Los Angeles, CA
Height:  5'10"
Weight:  187
Shoots:  Right

• Commitment Update: Koules has announced his intention to join the Medicine Hat Tigers of the WHL next season instead of playing for North Dakota.
• Elite Prospect Profile/Stat Page (2011-12 stats are USHL games only)
• 2011-12 USHL/International/College combined statistics can be found via The Recruits stat page
• Future Considerations: Koules Bulking Up
• NHL.com: Koules Watching Koules
• USA Hockey: Koules Realizes Dream as a Member of Team USA
• Dan Sallows: Q&A With Miles Koules
• Brad Schlossman Blog Commitment Post
• NHL Entry Draft Eligible in 2012
• He has gone as high as the first round's 30th overall pick in early 2012 mock drafts.
• Ranked #151 amongst North American skaters in the NHL Central Scouting Service's 2012 Midterm Rankings. Hockey Buzz had this to say about his ranking: "Miles Koules is at 151 on the list, and I couldn't disagree more. The American forward has been greatly misused by the NTDP, and should receive consideration as a 2nd or 3rd round pick. The offensive abilities he has are too much to ignore." 
• Hockey Buzz Scouting Report #1: A UND Commit, Koules is strong on his skate and shows incredible flashes of offensive talent. Not only can he set up linemates and make them better, he's shown a real ability to shoot the puck with accuracy and a quick release. He's not afraid to drive the net, either. Scouting Report #2: Skill and drive describe the son of former Tampa Bay Lightning owner, Oren Koules. An explosive skater who can zig-zag though traffic, Miles shows a high IQ for the game as well as creativity and vision. He's a gifted shooter who always seems to be creating offense. Not to mention he's as humble as they come. 
• He was a member of USA Hockey's undefeated championship-winning team at the 2011 Under-18 Four Nations Cup in Monthey, Switzerland, notching one assist in four games.
• In August of 2011 he and fellow Sioux recruit Jordan Schmaltz took part in the NHL's Research and Development Camp (featuring about 40 of the top 2012 NHL Draft prospects), where he had a very solid performance: The shifty winger impressed several of the scouts with his heady play and his knack around the net. Koules showed off a nice finishing touch, scoring a pair of goals in the scrimmages and clipping eight targets on just 10 shots during the skills competition. He was the winner of the Accuracy Shooting portion of the Skills Competition. Future Considerations scouting report: really caught my eye. He displayed strong puck skills and was at his best with the puck on his stick, creating offense. Although he is somewhat smaller then most of his peers, Koules is not physically intimidated and more then willing to travel into the ‘danger areas’ of the ice.
• 2010-11: He was a member of the USNTDP Under-17 team. Participating in international, USHL, and collegiate exhibition play, he recorded 26 points (14G, 12A) in 42 games.
• At the 2011 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge in Winnipeg, MB, he accounted for eight points (4G, 4A) in 7 games as Team USA earned the tournament's silver medal.
• In November of 2010 he was a member of the Under-17 Four Nations Cup winning team, leading the tournament in scoring by producing seven points (5G, 2A) in four games. Future Considerations filed this scouting report: skates well with explosive bursts that aids his water bug type game darting in and out of traffic…has good creativity and solid hockey sense…has nice vision and ability to generate offensive chances…has an effective shot although the velocity is only average…produced eight points in six games for a skilled USA squad.
• In August of 2010 he played on Team USA's Under-17 Select team that won the Under-17 Five Nations Tournament in Hutwill, Switzerland. He produced four points (3G, 1A) in four games.
• In June of 2010 he attended USA Hockey's Select 16 Development Camp, where he recorded five points (2G, 3A) in six games while being ranked as the camp's #10 forward by US Hockey Report: deceptive, sneaky player with a good stick. He's strong on the puck, wins a ton of  50/50 battles, and has a good shot. 
• 2009-10: Competed for the Shattuck-St. Mary's Under-16 team, producing 58 points (20G, 38A) in 53 games. 
• In July of 2009 he attended USA Hockey's Select 15 Development Camp, where he recorded four points (4G, 0A) in five games.
• In July of 2008 he participated in USA Hockey's Select 14 Development Camp, picking up two assists in five games.