USHL U.S. National Team

National Team Development Program Weekly Update

Published on February 15, 2012 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
U.S. National Team News Release


U17 TEAM RETURNS TO USHL ACTION: The U.S. National Under-17 Team returns to United States Hockey League action this weekend at the Ann Arbor (Mich.) Ice Cube. The Green Bay Gamblers visit Team USA on Friday, Feb. 17 at 7 p.m. EST. Sunday (Feb. 19), the Youngstown Phantoms take on the U.S. at 3:30 p.m. EST and Monday (Feb. 20), the Muskegon Lumberjacks face Team USA in a President's Day matinee at 3:00 p.m. EST.

U18 TEAM TO CLOSE OUT COLLEGE SCHEDULE NEXT: The U.S. National Under-18 Team has a break this weekend before closing out the collegiate portion of its 2011-12 schedule against the University of Alabama-Huntsville. Team USA takes a 5-8-2 record against Division I and III opponents into the tilts on Feb. 24-25. Game times are at 8 p.m. EST and 4 p.m. EST respectively.

U17 TEAM CLAIMS VLAD DZURILLA TOURNAMENT: Evan Allen (Sterling Heights, Mich.) scored one goal and added three assists, as the U.S. National Under-17 Team toppled Slovakia, 8-3, in the 2012 Vlad Dzurilla Under-18 Tournament at the Piestany Ice Arena. With the victory, Team USA finished the tournament with a perfect 3-0-0-0 (W-OTW-OTL-L) record and clinched the tournament title for the third straight year (2010-12). Team USA outscored its opponents, 22-4, in its three games in the tournament.

U18 TEAM : Jared Rutledge (Chicago, Ill.) turned aside 23 shots, as the U.S. National Under-18 Team blanked Russia, 3-0, in the final game at the 2012 Five Nations Tournament at Pori Arena. Quentin Shore (Denver, Colo.) put the U.S. on the board at 1:15 of the final frame. Team USA's lead doubled when Brady Skjei (Lakeville, Minn.) netted a goal off a pass from Miles Koules (Los Angeles, Calif.). Riley Barber (Livonia, Mich.) capped the period and iced the game at 7:01 to give the U.S. a 3-0 victory. With the win, Team USA finished the tournament in third place with a 2-0-0-2 (W-OTW-OTL-L) record.

UNDER-17 TEAM NEWS/NOTES: Hunter Miska (North Branch, Minn.) was named best goaltender of the 2012 Vlad Dzurilla Tournament. Miska posted a .909 save percentage and 2.00 goals-against-average in two victories for the U.S. ... Will Butcher (Sun Prairie, Wis.) was named best defenseman of the tournament. Butcher had one goal and added four assists in three games for Team USA ... Forward Evan Allen led all skaters with 10 points (4-6) in three games. Allen had the most goals, assists and a tournament best plus-11 rating ... Defensemen Anthony Florentino (West Roxbury, Mass.) was second overall with a plus-10 rating.

UNDER-18 TEAM NEWS/NOTES: Forward Riley Barber was second in 2012 Five Nations Tournament scoring with five goals in four games. Barber also ranked third in points (5-1) ... Three U.S. skaters were in the top five in plus-minus ratings over the four-game tournament, including defenseman Brady Skjei, who was tied-for-first at plus-5. Barber and forward Quentin Shore were tied for third with a plus-4 rating ... Connor Carrick (Orland Park, Ill./2-1) and Skjei (1-2) led all defenseman in tournament points with three ... Jared Rutledge was third in both goals-against-average (2.00) and save percentage (.922). The goaltender also earned one shutout victory in two games played at the tournament.

NTDP ALUMNI UPDATE: Toronto Maple Leafs forward Phil Kessel (Madison, Wis./2003-05) has 10 points (4-6) in his past six games dating back to Feb. 4, including the game-winning goal against the Ottawa Senators on Feb. 4 ... Vancouver Canucks forward David Booth (Washington, Mich./2001-02) is on a three-game point streak (2-1) dating back to Feb. 9 ... Anaheim Ducks defenseman Cam Fowler (Farmington Hills, Mich./2007-09) assisted on the game-winning goal versus the Columbus Blue Jackets on Feb. 12 ... Vancouver Canucks forward Ryan Kesler (Livonia, Mich./2000-02) notched the shootout winner on Feb. 13 in a 2-1 victory over the Phoenix Coyotes ... Nashville Predators defenseman Ryan Suter (Madison, Wis./2001-03) has six points (2-4) in his past six games dating back to Feb. 2 and is plus-3 in that span ... Columbus Blue Jackets forward R.J. Umberger (Pittsburgh, Pa./1998-2000) netted two goals, including the game-winning tally, in a 3-1 win over the Minnesota Wild on Feb. 11 ... Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Justin Faulk (South St. Paul, Minn./2008-10) earned an assist on the game-winning goal against the Montreal Canadiens on Feb. 13 ... Florida Panthers forward Jack Skille (Madison, Wis./2003-05) scored one goal in a 4-1 win over the New York Islanders on Feb. 12.

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United States Hockey League Stories from February 15, 2012


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