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NAHL U.S. National Team

Fourteen NTDP Alumni On NHL Opening Day Rosters

October 5, 2005 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
U.S. National Team News Release


ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- On Tuesday, the National Hockey League announced its teams' 2005-06 opening day rosters. As USA Hockey's National Team Development Program enters its ninth season, a record 14 alumni will start the season playing in the NHL.

Eight of the 14 NTDP alumni played together in Ann Arbor during the program's inaugural season in 1997-98. Of the 14 alumni, 5 were first round selections, including Rick DiPietro (Winthrop, Mass.), the first overall selection of the 2000 NHL Entry Draft by the New York Islanders. DiPietro will start in goal for the Islanders tonight. The group of 14 NTDP alumni has played a combined 869 games in the NHL.

Since 1997-98 the NTDP has added 22 new players to the program each season. Of the 154 NTDP alumni, 16 have played in the NHL. The oldest NTDP alumni are currently 25 years old.

NOTES: 15 NTDP alumni were selected in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft, including two top-ten selections (Jack Johnson, third overall, Carolina Hurricanes; Jack Skille, seventh overall, Chicago Blackhawks) ... In the 1999-2000 season, David Tanabe (Minneapolis, Minn.) became the first NTDP alumni to play in the NHL ... Tanabe was one of only four 1999 first-round draft picks to play in NHL that season.

NTDP Alumni on NHL Opening Day Rosters

Name Position Team NTDP Hometown

Keith Ballard Defense Phoenix 1999-01 Baudette, Minn.
Rick DiPietro Goaltender NY Islanders 1997-99 Winthrop, Mass.
Adam Hall Forward Nashville 1997-98 Kalamazoo, Mich.
James Howard Goaltender Detroit 2001-02 Ogdensburg, N.Y.
Andrew Hutchinson Defense Carolina 1997-98 Rochester Hills, Mich.
Ryan Kesler Forward Vancouver 2000-02 Livonia, Mich.
Mike Komisarek Defense Montreal 1999-00 Islip Terrace, N.Y.
Brett Lebda Defense Detroit 1998-00 Buffalo Grove, Ill.
Jordan Leopold Defense Calgary 1997-98 Golden Valley, Minn.
John-Michael Liles Defense Colorado 1997-99 Zionsville, Ind.
Freddy Meyer Defense Philadelphia 1997-00 Sanbornville, N.H.
Ryan Suter Defense Nashville 2001-03 Madison, Wis.
David Tanabe Defense Phoenix 1997-98 White Bear Lake, Minn.
Brad Winchester Forward Edmonton 1997-99 Madison, Wis.

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