NAHL U.S. National Team

National Team Development Program shines once again

Published on June 28, 2004 under North American Hockey League (NAHL)
U.S. National Team News Release


RALEIGH, N.C. – The United States National Team Development Program (NTDP) placed 16 players in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft this past weekend in Raleigh, N.C., led by a pair of first-round selections and a record number of players (four) selected directly from the NTDP.

University of Michigan goaltender Al Montoya (NTDP 2001-02) was the first goaltender selected in the draft as the New York Rangers made him the sixth overall pick.

"This is truly a dream come true for me," said Montoya. "New York is a great city with tremendous fans and it has always been a dream of mine to play at Madison Square Garden. When you think of New York, you think USA. It's something I've always wanted to be a part of."

Michigan State defenseman A.J. Thelen (NTDP 2002-03), a native of Savage, Minn., was the second former NTDP player chosen in the first round as his home state team the Minnesota Wild selected him 12th overall.

"Unbelievable...It's definitely a surprise," said Thelen about being chosen by the Wild. "The way a draft goes, you never know what is going to happen. I 've dreamed of playing in front of my hometown crowd my whole life, and now I finally get my chance."

A trio of players with NTDP ties were selected in the second round led by Boston College right wing Adam Pineault (NTDP 2001-03), who was taken by the Columbus Blue Jackets with the 46th pick. Michigan State forward David Booth (NTDP 2001-02) was the 53rd overall pick by the Florida Panthers while the Edmonton Oilers, with the 57th pick, took University of Denver recruit Geoff Paukovich, the first of four players taken straight from the NTDP. Paukovich completed the 2003-04 season with the NTDP with 10-11–21 points and helped the United States garner a Silver Medal at the 2004 International Ice Hockey Federation World U-18 Championship in Minsk, Belarus this past April.

In the third round, with the 69th overall choice, the Carolina Hurricanes took current St. Cloud State defenseman Casey Borer (NTDP 2002-03).

The Phoenix Coyotes in the 4th round (119th) took Kevin Porter the second player selected directly from the NTDP in the 2004 draft Porter, who will be an incoming freshman at Michigan in 2004-05, racked up 89 points in two seasons with the NTDP and joined Paukovich on the silver medal winning entry at the 2004 IIHF World U-18 Championship.

In the fifth-round, four former NTDP players were selected as Jacob Dowell (Wisconsin/NTDP 2001-03) was chosen 140th by the Chicago Blackhawks, Michigan State recruit Jim McKenzie (NTDP 2000-01) was taken 141st by the Ottawa Senators, Michigan right wing Mike Brown (NTDP 2001-03) was the Vancouver Canucks choice at the 159th spot while the 2004 Stanley Cup Champion Tampa Bay Lightning took Dusty Collins (Northern Michigan/NTDP 2001-03) with the 163rd pick in the draft.

The final three rounds of the 2004 Draft saw five players singled out as selections NHL member clubs. The Anaheim Mighty Ducks opted for Matt Auffery as their sixth-round (172nd) choice. Auffery became the third player from the 2003-04 NTDP team drafted and will skate for Wisconsin in the fall of 2004. He capped off his time with the NTDP (2002-04) recording 2-3–5 points at the 2004 IIHF World U18 Championship. Robbie Earl (Wisconsin/NTDP 2001-03) went to the Toronto Maple Leafs in the sixth round (187th). Chad Kolarik, who will join Porter at Michigan in 2004 and finished his career at the NTDP with 51 goals and a silver medal from the 2004 World U-18 Championship, completed the foursome of players from the 2003-04 NTDP team, was taken by the Phoenix Coyotes in round seven (199th). Michigan defenseman Matt Hunwick (NTDP 2001-03) was garnered by the Boston Bruins in the seventh round (224th) while J.D. Corbin (Denver/NTDP 2001-03) was taken in the eighth round (249th) by the Colorado Avalanche.

Other notables who played for the NTDP during the 2003-04 season include: Cory Schneider, who was taken by the Vancouver Canucks in the first round (26th overall). Schneider posted a perfect 5-0-0 record with the NTDP prior to helping the USA National Under 18 World team earn a Silver medal at the World Championship in Minsk, Belarus. At the World Championships, Schneider posted five wins with a 1.71 goals against average. The Edmonton Oilers took Robbie Schremp, who played in several games for the NTDP during the 2003-04 season, with the 25th selection in the first round.

In the six seasons NTDP players have been eligible for the NHL Entry Draft and with the sixteen players selected during this years draft pushes the number chosen by NHL clubs is now 92.

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North American Hockey League Stories from June 28, 2004


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