Hull's Bandits to Play Team USA at Scottrade Center
February 21, 2007 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
St. Louis Bandits News Release
On April 3rd join Brett Hull at the Scottrade Center to watch the brightest young hockey talent in the country, when Brett's St. Louis Bandits take on the USA National Team at 7:30pm.
After moving from Texarkana during the off season, the Bandits, who play at the Summit Center in Chesterfield, have been the most dominant force in the South Division. The Bandits are one of seventeen members of the North American Hockey League which is a breeding ground for division 1 college hockey and professional hockey. Current NHL stars such as Doug Weight, Eric Lindros, and Brian Rolston played Junior "A" hockey in the NAHL.
The Bandits success is attributed to some outstanding individuals, and excellent team chemistry under Head Coach, Jon Cooper. Goaltender Pat Nagle boasts the league's best goals against average and the highest save percentage. Nagle is not alone at the top. Forward, and St. Louis native, Pat Maroon is second in the league in scoring. Ironically, this will not be the last time these two will play together. Both have signed DI scholarships with Ferris State University (Michigan) for the 07/08 season.
In addition to Maroon and Nagle, six other current Bandits have signed division 1 scholarships to Michigan, Miami-Ohio, Ferris State, and Canisius College. In Cooper's fourth year as the Bandits Head Coach, 44 players have committed to play college hockey, three have been drafted by the NHL.
Team USA is based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, where its goal is to prepare student-athletes under the age of 18 for participation on U.S. National Teams and future hockey careers. Twenty-eight players from this program are currently in the NHL with more to come. St. Louis Blues number one draft pick, Eric Johnson, who currently plays for the University of Minnesota, developed in the Team USA program.
The game will be emceed by Z1077's Curt Copeland who has helped the Bandits develop a reputation as one of the most fun-filled sports venues in St. Louis. At the conclusion of the game, all fans in attendance will compete in a paper airplane toss for the chance to win an automobile from Bommarito Pontiac, and a custom made St. Louis Bandits pool table from AE Schmidt Billiards Company.
Tickets are available at all Johnny Mac's locations in the St. Louis area and range from $20 in the lower bowl, to $40 for the first six rows. Visit www.johnnymacs.com for the location nearest you. All fans who purchase a ticket in the first six rows will also be invited to a pre-game hockey talk with Blues legend Brett Hull, ESPN's Barry Melrose, and former Blue and Team USA player, Scott Young.
For questions or group tickets, call the St. Louis Bandits front office at 636-536-4882. For more information visit www.stlbandits.com.
North American Hockey League Stories from February 21, 2007
- U.S. National Under-18 Team Returns Home for Three-Game Weekend - U.S. National Team
- Outlaws pick up pace in race for playoffs - North Iowa Outlaws
- Cloutier named Player of the Week - Mahoning Valley Phantoms
- NAHL announces Showcase dates - NAHL
- 149 and Counting - Fargo-Moorhead Jets
- Jets Attendance Significantly Up - Fargo-Moorhead Jets
- Hull's Bandits to Play Team USA at Scottrade Center - St. Louis Bandits
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