Blackhawks prospect Mason West focusing on hockey with Team USA in sight

Chicago Blackhawks prospect Mason West doesn't get enough credit for the athletic journey he is on. Instead of diving headfirst into hockey after the Blackhawks drafted him in the first round of the 2025 draft, West decided to play out the remainder of his football career at Edina High, one of the top football programs in Minnesota. He led his school to a state championship as starting quarterback, earning him a three-star ranking and some pitches from Power Five schools.

From the outset, it seems like an easy decision for West to go the hockey route, as he already has an NHL team awaiting his services, while it would've taken success in the NCAA to have a future in the NFL. Nevertheless, the fact that he even had to decide between the two is a great sign for Chicago and its fans.

West has never focused entirely on hockey in his career, but as he attends Michigan State University in the fall, his development could accelerate at a rapid pace. With West putting all his athletic abilities into his hockey future, the payoff might be huge for the Blackhawks, and the massive forward's first goal is making his country's World Junior team.

Mason West's chances of making Team USA

Despite performing well at the World Junior Summer Showcase, The Athletic bluntly left West off their projected roster for the tournament. While that has no bearing on whether he will actually make the team, the normally tuned-in Scott Wheeler not having him there might be a good indictment that he isn't on management's radar just yet.

The good news for West is that he has half of a college season to prove that he is worthy of that spot. Despite not showing up on The Athletic's roster, Daily Faceoff projects West to be on the team's third line, alongside another massive forward in Brooks Ragowski. The pair were an imposing force together in the showcase, and Steven Ellis believes that it will carry over into their roster selection.

West recorded 25 points in 38 USHL games last season after winning his state championship. It might take a bit more offensive push in the first half of his season with the Spartans to get himself a spot on Team USA, but with this being the first offseason where he only has hockey to train for, most are expecting a bit of a breakout this fall.

West will impress people if he adds more offense, but being a physical force in his freshman season at Michigan State should also get Team USA's management thinking about his potential as a bottom-six forward. Standing at 6-foot-6, 220 pounds, West wouldn't get pushed around on the World stage, and he'd likely be one of the most physically intimidating players in the tournament.

While West's spot isn't guaranteed just yet, it'd be hard to count out a player who is only now focusing on a single sport and earned a WJSS invite after just half of a USHL season.

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