Sports stats

USHL U.S. National Team

National Team Development Program Weekly Update

March 3, 2010 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
U.S. National Team News Release


THIS WEEK: Both National Team Development Program squads will be in action at the Ann Arbor Ice Cube. The weekend marks the U.S. National Under-18 Team's last home games of the 2009-10 campaign... The U.S. National Under-18 Team will take on the Sioux Falls Stampede Saturday at 7:05 p.m. EST... The U.S. National Under-17 Team will play the Stampede in the opener of Sunday's doubleheader at 3:05 p.m., with the U18s meeting the Des Moines Buccaneers in the night cap at 7:05 p.m. EST... The Under-17s will close out the four-game stand Monday against Des Moines at 7:05 p.m. EST.

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 32-16-0-2 (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 206-134-7-20 (W-L-T-OTL). In January, he led the U.S. National Under-17 Team to its third gold medal at the 2010 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge.

ZUCKER, ILES HONORED BY USHL: Jason Zucker (Las Vegas, Nev.) was named the USHL's Reebok Offensive Player of the Week for his seven-point performance last weekend. Zucker netted six goals over the weekend, including a hat trick against Lincoln Saturday... Andy Iles (Ithaca, N.Y.) was named the USHL's Goaltender of the Week after allowing just two goals in 120 minutes of action. Iles did not allow an even-strength goal on the weekend and recorded a 21-save shutout against Sioux City on Sunday.

U.S. NAT'L U18 TEAM NOTES: The U.S. National Under-18 Team is coming off a three-game sweep of USHL opponents... Brandon Saad (Gibsonia, Pa.) has continued putting up points and still paces the U.S. with 44, including 22 goals and 22 assists... Jason Zucker's six-goal weekend ties him with Saad for the team lead with 22... Austin Czarnik's (Washington, Mich.) 12-game USHL point streak came to an end Sunday, however Czarnik still produced some points, adding to his team-best assist total, which now sits at 27 helpers... Matthew Nieto (Long Beach, Calif.) is tied with Czarnik for third on the team with 40 points. Nieto's 21 goals are third best on the team... Nick Shore (Denver, Colo.) posted another good weekend with four points (1-3) to up his season total to 41 (16-25), good for second on the team... Adam Clendening (Niagara Falls, N.Y.) notched his 30th point (9-21) Sunday. He leads Team USA's defenseman in that department... Andy Iles lowered his goals-against average to 1.98 over the weekend, while earning his third shutout of the season. Iles has a 16-5-1 record and.924 save percentage as well... Jack Campbell (Port Huron, Mich.) has posted a 14-10-1 record, 2.44 goals-against average and.907 save percentage... Bill Arnold (Needham, Mass.) had another solid weekend, posting four points (1-3) and a team-best plus-7 rating. He is sixth on the team with 37 points (13-24)... The U.S. National Under-18 Team has outscored its opponents 223-121 this season. As a team, the U18s have scored on 14.1% of the shots its taken.

U.S. NAT'L U17 TEAM NOTES: The U.S. National Under-17 Team is coming off of a sweep at the hands of defending champion Indiana... With leading scorer Rocco Grimaldi (Rossmoor, Calif.) now playing with the U.S. National Under-18 Team, the U17s have gotten an uptick in points from J.T. Miller (East Palestine, Ohio). Miller tied Grimaldi's team high with his 14th goal Sunday and is second on the squad with 29 points... Tyler Biggs (Cincinnati, Ohio) scored his second shorthanded goal of the season Sunday. He now has 13 goals on the season, good for third on the team... Robbie Russo (Westmont, Ill.) continues to provide offense from the blue line. Russo is third on the team with 26 points, which includes 19 assists, second most on the squad. He paces the U17s with six power-play markers this season.

NTDP AT THE OLYMICS: Seven players with ties to the National Team Development Program earned the silver medal at the 2010 Olympic Winter Games with the U.S. Olympic Men's Ice Hockey Team... Patrick Kane (2004-06) had two assists in the gold-medal match-up against Canada. He totaled five points (3-2)in the tournament... Ryan Kesler (2000-02) scored Team USA's first goal against Canada in the gold-medal game. He recorded two goals in the tournament, both of which came against the Canadians... Ryan Suter (2001-03) logged more minutes of ice time than any other U.S. player, averaging 22:50 per game. He recorded four assists in the tournament and led the squad with a plus-9 rating... Erik Johnson (2004-06) was another reliable defenseman for Team USA. He notched one goal, while posting a plus-3 rating... Jack Johnson (2003-05) logged an average of 19:57 per game, which was third-best on the team. He also recorded an assist and a plus-2 rating... Phil Kessel (2003-05), the NTDP's all-time leading scorer, posted a goal and an assist while earning a plus-2 rating at the Olympics... Ryan Whitney (2000-01) played solidly for Team USA as the squad's seventh defenseman.

NTDP ALUMNI UPDATE: As of today, 45 NTDP Alumni have suited up in at least one NHL game this season... Robbie Earl (2001-03) was called up to the Minnesota Wild today. The forward has five goals in 22 games with the Wild this season... Patrick Kane's (2004-06) 70 points and 44 assists lead all American-born NHLers and is eighth overall in the league... Erik Johnson (2004-06) has posted 29 points (6-23) this season, which is second-best among American defensemen... James van Riemsdyk (2005-07) is third in the NHL among rookies with 33 points (14-19). He is also a plus-8 on the season... Colin Wilson (2005-07) was called up to the Nashville Predators for a five-day stint prior to the Olympic break. While in the AHL, Wilson has posted 29 points (10-19) in 22 games with the Milwaukee Admirals... Nathan Gerbe (2003-05) is posting another solid AHL season with the Portland Pirates. He has 28 points (8-20) in 32 games... Jerry D'Amigo (2007-09), of RPI, was named to the ECAC Hockey All-Rookie Team.

Check out the U.S. National Team Statistics



United States Hockey League Stories from March 3, 2010


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.

Other Recent U.S. National Team Stories



Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central