THIS WEEK: The U.S. National Under-18 Team will head to the Empire State for a three-game weekend against NCAA opponents starting with a Friday night contest at Utica College at 7 p.m. EDT. The U18s then travel to Ithaca, N.Y., Saturday for a date with No. 6-ranked Cornell University of ECAC Hockey at Lynah Rink at 7 p.m. EDT. Team USA will wrap-up the three-game set with a Sunday matinee at Colgate University, also of ECAC Hockey, at Starr Rink in Hamilton, N.Y., at 2 p.m. EDT ... The U.S. National Under-17 Team takes its longest road trip of the season to date when it heads out to Sioux City, Iowa, Friday for a meeting with the Sioux City Musketeers at the Tyson Events Center at 7:00 p.m. CDT. On Saturday, Team USA will meet the Cedar Rapids Rough Riders for the first time at the Cedar Rapids Ice Arena at 7:05 p.m. CDT.
UNDER-18 HEAD COACH KURT KLEINENDORST: Kurt Kleinendorst is in his first season at the NTDP. Prior to coming to Ann Arbor, Kleinendorst spent three seasons (2006-09) as the first-ever head coach for the American Hockey League's Lowell Devils, top minor-league affiliate of the New Jersey Devils. Kleinendorst also spent one season as an assistant coach with the NHL's Devils in 2000-01. He has led the U.S. National Under-18 Team to a 3-5-0-1 (W-L-T-OTL) record this season.
UNDER-17 HEAD COACH RON ROLSTON: Ron Rolston is in his sixth season as a head coach at the NTDP. Rolston has compiled a career record of 195-117-7-16 (W-L-T-OTL).
U.S. NAT'L U18 TEAM NOTES: Six players with NTDP ties, including four current players, were listed in International Scouting Services' October rankings, listing the top 30 NHL Entry Draft-eligible players. Those listed include No. 2 Cam Fowler (2007-09), No. 11 Jon Merrill (Brighton, Mich.), No. 15 Derek Forbort (Duluth, Minn.), No. 23 Jarred Tinordi (Millersville, Md.), No. 26 Jason Zucker (Las Vegas, Nev.) and No. 29 Emerson Etem (2008-09) ... Brandon Saad (Gibsonia, Pa.) continued his consistent scoring pace with two points over the weekend. He currently leads the NTDP with nine points (5-4). He is tied with Justin Faulk (South St. Paul, Minn.) for the team high with five goals and also tied with Merrill with a team-best four assists ... Four of Faulk's five goals have come on the power-play ... Merrill (2-4) and Faulk (5-1) each are tied for second on the team and first among blueliners with six points apiece ... Andy Iles (Ithaca, N.Y.) will carry a 2.26 goals-against average into the weekend, while Jack Campbell (Port Huron, Mich.) holds a .921 save percentage.
U.S. NAT'L U17 TEAM NOTES: Ryan Haggerty (Stamford, Conn.) continues to lead the way for the U.S. National Under-17 Team with seven points, including a team-high four goals ... Rocco Grimaldi (Rossmoor, Calif.) and Robbie Russo (Westmont, Ill.) pace Team USA with four assists each ... Matt Van Voorhis' (Edina, Minn.) five points (2-3) are best among the squad's defensive unit ... Alexx Privitera (Old Tappan, N.J.) registered his team-leading second power-play goal against Sioux City last Friday ... Netminder Matt McNeely (Burnsville, Minn.) has made 121 saves in his last three starts and has been steadily lowering his goals-against average to 4.86.
NTDP ALUMNI UPDATE: Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Matt Carle (2000-02) is off to a hot start with eight points (1-7) in just six games ... Carle's teammate and the 2007 2nd overall draft pick James van Riemsdyk (2005-07) made his NHL debut this season. In his first four games, he has four assists ... Colin Wilson (2005-07) of the Nashville Predators, also made his NHL debut earlier this month. Wilson has appeared in four games thus far ... 2006 1st overall pick Erik Johnson (2004-06) has shaken off a knee injury that cost him his 2008-09 season. The St. Louis defenseman has seven assists in his first seven games ... Three original NTDP players, Brett Englehardt (1997-98), J.D. Forrest (1997-2000) and Jon Insana (1997-98) were named to the roster for the U.S. Men's Select Team that will compete at the 2009 Deutschland Cup ... In Tuesday night's game between the University of Notre Dame and Boston University, 11 NTDP alumni suited up between the two clubs. Brad Phillips (2005-07) earned the shutout in Notre Dame's 3-0 win at BU, while Sean Lorenz (2006-08) had an assist for the Irish.
• Discuss this story on the United States Hockey League message board...
• Digg this story
• Add to Del.icio.us
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
