USHL U.S. National Team

National Team Development Program Weekly Update

Published on October 3, 2012 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
U.S. National Team News Release


U18 SCHEDULE: The U.S. National Under-18 Team sets out to start its collegiate portion of the 2012-13 season. The U18s first take on the University of Wisconsin on Saturday (Oct. 6). Puck drop is scheduled for 9 p.m. EDT at the Kohl Center. The Badgers are currently ranked No. 15. The following evening (Oct. 7), Team USA squares off against The University of Notre Dame at the Compton Family Ice Arena. The game starts at 6 p.m. EDT. The Fighting Irish are currently ranked No. 10.

U17 TEAM TAKES TO ROAD VERSUS INDIANA: The U.S. National Under-17 Team takes to the road for one game this weekend (Oct. 5) versus the Indiana Ice. Puck drop is scheduled for 8:05 p.m. EDT at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. The U17s are currently 1-1-0 (W-L-OTL) in regular season United States Hockey League play.

U17s SPLIT OPENING WEEKEND IN USHL: The U.S. National Under-17 Team defeated the Des Moines Buccaneers, 6-1, in its first regular season USHL tilt on Sept. 28. Dylan Larkin (Waterford, Mich.) and Chris Wilkie (Omaha, Neb.) notched one goal and added one assist each in the victory. Jack Eichel (North Chelmsford, Mass.) chipped in with two assists. Thatcher Demko (San Diego, Calif.) turned aside 41 shots for Team USA in the win. The following night (Sept. 29), six straight goals by the Muskegon Lumberjacks put the game out of reach despite a three goal comeback attempt in the third period by Team USA. Larkin tallied two goals while Ryan Hitchcock (Manhasset, N.Y.) and Dylan Pavelek (Marysville, Mich.) recorded two assists each in the loss. Kevin Labanc (Staten Island, N.Y.) connected with Wilkie on the only other U.S. goal.

UNDER-18 TEAM NEWS/NOTES: Two players will join the U.S. National Under-18 Team this weekend for its games against the University of Wisconsin and the University of Notre Dame. Ryan Fitzgerald (North Reading, Mass.) and Connor Hurley (Eagan, Minn.) will fill roster spots vacated due to injury. Fitzgerald, a forward currently suiting up for the Valley Jr. Warriors of the Eastern Junior Hockey League, is coming off MVP honors at the CCM/USA Hockey All-American Prospects Game on Sept. 29, at the First Niagara Center in Buffalo, N.Y. He is ranked as a "B" skater on the National Hockey League Central Scouting Services preliminary draft rankings. Hurley is a forward from Edina (Minn.) High School. He is also ranked as a "B" skater on the NHL CSS preliminary draft rankings.

UNDER-17 TEAM NEWS/NOTES: Forward Jack Eichel had his four game point streak (4-5) snapped on Sept. 29 versus Muskegon. He still leads the team in points with nine ... Sonny Milano (Massapequa, N.Y.) also had his point streak snapped on Sept. 29. Milano's goal on Sept. 28 gave him points in four straight. The forward is tied for second on the team in points (3-3) ... Chris Wilkie now has at least one point in each of Team USA's first five games. The forward has six points (2-4), which is tied for second most on the squad ... After being held off the scoresheet in the first three tilts this season, Dylan Larkin put up back-to-back, two-point games. The forward now has three goals and one assist in five games.

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United States Hockey League Stories from October 3, 2012


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