NAHL U.S. National Team

U.S. Nat'l Under-17 Team Weekly

Published on April 4, 2008 under North American Hockey League (NAHL)
U.S. National Team News Release


TEAM USA BEGINS NAHL ROBERTSON CUP PLAYOFFS: The U.S. National Under-18 and Under-17 Teams have combined to field a 28-26-4 record in the North American Hockey League North Division standings, good for fourth place with 60 points. Team USA is one of four teams in the division that has qualified for the NAHL Robertson Cup Playoffs. The U.S. National Under-17 Team will represent the National Team Development Program in the postseason.

THIS WEEK: The U.S. National Under-17 Team will open a best-of-five series against top-seeded St. Louis on Friday, April 4. The first three meetings of the series will be played at the Hardee's Ice Plex in Chesterfield, Mo. Game time is set for 7:15 p.m. CDT Friday (April 4) and Saturday (April 5), and 5 p.m. CDT on Sunday (April 6).

U.S. NATIONAL UNDER-17 TEAM HEAD COACH RON ROLSTON: Ron Rolston is in his fourth season with USA Hockey's National Team Development Program. He has compiled a career record of 149-86-11-7 (W-L-T-OTL).

SEASON SERIES AGAINST THE BANDITS: The U.S. National Under-17 Team is 3-5 against St. Louis in the 2007-08 slate. Two of Team USA's three wins vs. the Bandits have come away from the Ann Arbor ice Cube. The two squads split that last series between the two teams in St. Louis March 14-15.

ABOUT ST. LOUIS: The Bandits (47-9-2) finished the regular season on top of the NAHL North Division Standings with 96 points. Ben Warda is the Bandits' top point getter with 74 (31-43). Cal Heeter (25-6-1, 2.43, .917) and Mike Johnson (21-3-1, 2.56, .909) have split time in net for St. Louis.

U.S. NATIONAL UNDER-17 TEAM NOTES: Team USA has won 18 games when it tallies at least four goals in 2007-08 ... Thirteen of the U.S. National Under-17 Team's 30 wins this year have come in games it scored five or more goals ... Team USA has received game-winning goals from 17 different players this year ... The U.S. National Under-17 Team is 2-2 in shootouts during the 2007-08 slate ... Assistant Coach Chadd Cassidy will serve as the head coach of the U.S. National Under-17 Team this weekend in St. Louis ... Goaltender Nick Maricic (Alta Loma, Calif.) turned aside a season-high 39 shots in the team's 4-1 victory at St. Louis (March 14) ... Chris Brown (Flower Mound, Texas) recorded a season-high three points, including two goals and an assist vs. the Bandits (March 14). He also picked up his fourth game-winning marker of the 2007-08 campaign ...Grant Scott (Sewickley, Pa.) chipped in two points (1-1) at Mahoning Valley (March 28-29), including his first power-play tally of the year ... Drew Shore (Denver, Colo.) recorded two points (1-1) vs. the Phantoms (March 29).

UP NEXT: If the U.S. National Under-17 Team wins at least one of its weekend games at St. Louis it will resume play against the Bandits next Saturday (April 12) at the Ann Arbor Ice Cube. If necessary, the fifth game of the series is set for Sunday (April 13). Saturday's game is slated for 7 p.m. EDT faceoff, while the start time for Sunday's contest will be announced at a later date.

?FOLLOWING THE U.S. NATIONAL UNDER-17 TEAM: Log on to www.nahl.com/b2.cfm to access B2 Networks, which provides live video broadcasts for each of Team USA's games against NAHL opponents.

GOLEMBIEWSKI LETHAL ON THE POWER PLAY: Zach Golembiewski (St. Clair, Mich.) has tallied six goals with a man advantage in the 2007-08 slate, good for second on the squad. Jeremy Morin (Auburn, N.Y.) leads the club with seven power-play markers. Golembiewski also doled out an assist in a 4-1 win at St. Louis (March 14). He is fourth among Team USA point getters with 30 (13-17).

LYNCH PROVIDING TIMELY GOALS: Kevin Lynch (Grosse Pointe, Mich.) leads Team USA with five game-winning goals after he netted the go-ahead marker at Alpena (March 7). He has totaled 23 points (17-6) this year, including one power-play goal and one shorthanded tally.

D'AMIGO A CONSTANT IN THE LINEUP: Jerry D'Amigo (Binghamton, N.Y.) has skated in each of the U.S. National Under-17 Team's 61 games this year, a feat only he has achieved. The forward has compiled four points (1-3) in his last four games, and owns 26 points (10-16) this season.

TREAIS STEPPING UP: A.J. Treais (Bloomfield Hills., Mich.) has amassed nine points (5-4) in his last 16 games, including a goal at Mahoning Valley (March 28). The forward ranks fifth on the U.S. National Under-17 Team with 28 points (12-16), and is tied for third on the squad with five power-play goals.

MATTSON OFFENSIVE ON THE BLUE LINE: Nick Mattson (Chanhassen, Minn.) has compiled a team-best 20 points (1-19) this season. Born on Oct. 25, 1991, Mattson is the the second-youngest player on the the U.S. National Under-17 Team. Only Cam Fowler (Farmington Hills, Mich.), who was born on Dec. 5, 1991, is younger.

ABOUT THE NTDP: Founded in 1996, USA Hockey's National Team Development Program was created to prepare student-athletes under the age of 18 for participation on U.S. National Teams and success in their future hockey careers. Its efforts focus not only on high-caliber participation on the ice, but creating well-rounded individuals off the ice. Located in Ann Arbor, Mich., the 46 players in the program are split into two squads - the U.S. National Under-18 and Under-17 Teams.

- In the nine years NTDP players have been eligible for the draft, 141 players have been selected, including the number one overall selection in 2000 (Rick DiPietro), 2006 (Erik Johnson) and 2007 (Patrick Kane).

- A total of 16 players with connections to the NTDP were selected in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft, including five players in the first round.

- Patrick Kane and James vanRiemsdyk became the first two American-born players selected first and second in the 2007 NHL Draft.

- Kane's selection, added with the St. Louis Blues' choice of Erik Johnson in the 2006 NHL Draft, represented the first time American-born players have been chosen first overall in consecutive years.

- A total of 14 players from the 2007-08 U.S. National Under-17 Team have verbally committed to play NCAA Division I college hockey.

- In the 11-year history of the National Team Development Program, players from 27 states have donned the Team USA uniform. This season 15 different states are represented between the U.S. National Under-17 and Under-18 Teams.

PORTER AND GERBE AMONG HOBEY HAT TRICK: University of Michigan senior Kevin Porter (2002-04) and Boston College junior Nathan Gerbe (2003-05) have been tabbed as two of the three finalists for the 2008 Hobey Baker Memorial Award, announced this week.

Porter, who was named the 2007-08 College Hockey News Player of the Year and the Central Collegiate Hockey Association Player of the Year, is the nation's leader in goals. The forward ranks second in the nation with 15 power-play goals, has recorded 18 multiple-point games and has a +33 rating. He was a First-Team CCHA honoree and was a finalist for the CCHA's Best Defensive Forward award. Michigan's team captain, Porter was also named the Hockey Commissioners January National Player of the Month. Porter and the Wolverines will play the University of Notre Dame in the semifinals of the NCAA Frozen Four April 10 at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colo.

Gerbe has compiled 30 goals and 30 assists in 41 games to rank second in the nation in scoring. He has chipped in with 12 points in six playoff games as BC seeks its third national title. Honored with numerous awards, Gerbe has already been named First Team Hockey East, was named the league's playoff MVP, The Dodge Holiday Classic MVP and was the Hockey Commissioners December National Player of the Month when he tallied 16 points in just four games. Gerbe and the Eagles will take on the University of North Dakota in the semifinals of the NCAA Frozen Four April 10.

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North American Hockey League Stories from April 4, 2008


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