NTDP cruises to sweep
Published on February 27, 2007 under North American Hockey League (NAHL) News Release
The U.S. Under-17 Team moved closer to a postseason berth last weekend after a convincing three-game sweep of Traverse City.
"We had a solid team effort from the goal out," said Team USA coach John Hynes, whose team improved to 22-24-4 in the NAHL. "The team played hard, they played smart and they played as a team."
The NTDP opened its weekend on Friday with a 5-1 triumph over the North Stars. Robbie Czarnik notched two goals, including the game-winner, and an assist in the victory, while Patrick Gaul potted two goals of his own. Between the pipes, Adam Murray turned aside 32 shots.
The next night, the U.S. skated to a 7-2 win. Seven different players scored for the U-17's, with Colin Reddin recording the game-winner and two assists. Colin Moore (pitcured left), Steven West and Kevin McCarey each netted a goal and two helpers in the triumph, while Murray made 23 saves.
Moore's natural hat trick in the second period paced the U.S. squad to a 9-4 win over the North Stars on Sunday. McCarey added two goals and an assist, with Justin Florek and Joe Marciano each scoring a goal and two assists. In goal, Micheal Clemente stopped 28 shots.
"It was nice to be rewarded with some wins," said Hynes. "The team has worked hard and expects to play its best hockey at this point in the season."
The U.S. team's offense was rolling on all cylinders last weekend, outscoring Traverse City, 21-7. Its nine goals on Sunday was the most the Under-17 team has put home in a game all season.
"We were able to produce offensively because the team played smart with the puck and worked very hard without it," said Hynes.
No player did more damage than Moore, who rang up five goals and four assists in the three-game sweep. The Medfield, Mass., native now has eight goals for 19 points in 39 NAHL games.
"He played very well it was nice to see him - and our team - rewarded for their hard work," said Hynes. "Colin is a smart player who plays the game with great intelligence."
Murray and Clemente were just as effective at the other end of the ice.
"Our goaltending was solid," said Hynes. "Both Adam and Micheal gave us a chance to win. They were mentally strong and aware for 60 minutes."
Next weekend, the U-17's heads to Alpena for two games against the IceDiggers, the team they trail by 15 points for second place in the NAHL's North Division standings.
"We'll continue to do what we've done all year long, and that's focus day to day," said Hynes. "Nothing changes this time of year. We have to stay committed to our team identity and work to get better each day and focus on the task at hand, whether that's a game or practice.
"If we focus on the now, the future will take care of itself."
STANDINGS/LEADERS
North Division
TEAM GP W-L-OTL PTS PCT GF GA
xMahoning Valley 50 39-10-1 79 .790 232 128
xAlpena 52 30-19-3 63 .606 183 170
USNTDP 50 22-24-4 48 .480 174 168
Marquette 51 20-27-4 44 .431 151 185
Traverse City 54 17-32-5 39 .361 160 241
South Division
TEAM GP W-L-OTL PTS PCT GF GA
xSt. Louis 51 37-11-3 77 .755 189 119
xSanta Fe 50 33-13-4 70 .700 169 115
xTexas 51 31-15-5 67 .657 169 141
Fairbanks 52 30-19-3 63 .606 198 171
Wichita Falls 52 20-27-5 45 .433 148 181
Alaska 50 13-31-6 32 .320 120 193
Central Division
TEAM GP W-L-OTL PTS PCT GF GA
xFargo-Moorhead 50 34-13-3 71 .710 192 156
So. Minnesota 54 30-21-3 63 .583 170 150
North Iowa 51 21-25-5 47 .461 141 171
Springfield 52 21-27-4 46 .442 144 161
Bismarck 52 20-26-6 46 .442 160 192
Alexandria 50 20-27-3 43 .430 131 166
x - clinched playoff berth
LEADING SCORERS
PLAYER TEAM P GP G A PTS
Maroon, Pat STL F 47 27 48 75
Rudasill, Todd ALP F 51 26 48 74
Echternach, Jesse FMH F 49 32 41 73
Schmidt, Kyle FBX F 52 43 28 71
Shean, Joe FBX F 52 19 52 71
Connolly, Chris FMH F 50 18 51 69
Cloutier, Dustin MVY F 41 32 32 64
Craner, Nolan ALP F 49 21 36 57
(three players tied with 56)
LEADING GOALTENDERS
PLAYER TEAM GPI MINS W-L-OTL GAA SPCT
Hopper, Nick SFE 40 2314:27 25-10-3 2.07 .913
Nagle, Pat STL 29 1731:13 20-6-3 2.15 .925
Zapolski, Ryan MVY 44 2577:02 36-7-1 2.28 .929
Tragust, Thomas TXS 41 2322:19 24-10-5 2.48 .905
Clark, Jay NIO 21 1151:40 8-10-2 2.50 .916
GOALS
PLAYER TEAM P GP G
Schmidt, Kyle FBX F 52 43
(three players tied with 32)
ASSISTS
PLAYER TEAM P GP A
Shean, Joe FBX F 52 52
Connolly, Chris FMH F 50 51
(two players tied with 48)
Moore, Reiter, McLeod named Sherwood Players of the Week
NORTH PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Team USA forward Colin Moore struck for five goals and four assists last weekend as the U-17 team cruised to a three-game sweep over Traverse City. On Friday, the 16-year-old recorded a goal and an assist in USA's 9-4 win over the North Stars. The next night, Moore tallied a goal and two assists in a 7-2 triumph. On Sunday, the Medfield, Mass., native recorded a natural hat trick, including the game-winner, and an assist as the U.S. skated to a 9-4 win.
SOUTH PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Fairbanks goaltender Kenny Reiter backstopped the Ice Dogs to two wins in his two starts last weekend, turning aside 67 of 70 shots as the Ice Dogs fashioned a 3-0 mark against Alaska. On Friday, the 20-year-old made 25 saves in Fairbanks' 2-1 victory. The next night, the Pittsburgh native, who was traded from St. Louis earlier this season, stopped 42 shots in a 3-2 Ice Dogs win over the Avalanche.
CENTRAL PLAYER OF THE WEEK
North Iowa forward Steve McLeod registered four assists last weekend as the Outlaws split two games with Alexandria. On Friday, the 21-year-old rang up three assists in North Iowa's 5-1 win over the Blizzard. The next night, the Atikokan, Ontario, native assisted on the Outlaws' lone goal in a 2-1 loss. The second-year McLeod is first player in the Outlaws' two-year history to record 100 points for his career (102).
HONORABLE MENTION: Fargo-Moorhead goaltender Austing Lee; North Iowa forward Joe Harcharik and Max Mobley; Texas forward Sean Roadhouse and goaltender Stephen Ritter; USA U-17 goaltender Adam Murray
LAST WEEK'S SCORES/HIGHLIGHTS...
Monday, February 19
Bismarck 3 @ Fargo-Moorhead 4 (FM: Brodeen, 2G)
Tuesday, February 20
Mahoning Valley 5 @ USNTDP 3 (MV: Fairbanks, 2G)
Friday, February 23
Fairbanks 2 @ Alaska 1 (FBX: Lennartson, GWG)
North Iowa 5 @ Alexandria 1 (NI: Mobley, 2G, A)
Wichita Falls 3 @ Springfield 2 (WF: Aman, GWG)
Texas 1 @ Santa Fe 4 (SF: Jendras, 2G, A)
Fargo-Moorhead 2 @ Southern Minnesota 4 (SM: Willms, 2G)
USNTDP 5 @ Traverse City 1 (USA-17: Czarnik, G, GWG, A)
Marquette 0 @ USNTDP 5 (USA-18: Phillips, 20 saves)
Saturday, February 24
Fairbanks 3 @ Alaska 2 (OT) (FBX: Hoog, GWG)
Texas 3 @ Santa Fe 1 (TEX: Roadhouse, GWG, A)
Fargo-Moorhead 4 @ So. Minnesota 3 (FM: Etchernach, GWG, A)
North Iowa 1 @ Alexandria 2 (ALX: Gottsacker, GWG)
USNTDP 7 @ Traverse City 2 (USA-17: Reddin, GWG, 2A)
Marquette 0 @ USNTDP 8 (USA-18: Unice, 20 saves)
Wichita Falls 6 @ St. Louis 4 (WF: Krefski, 2G, A)
Sunday, February 25
Wichita Falls 1 @ St. Louis 2 (STL: Vaughan, GWG)
Fairbanks 5 @ Alaska 0 (FBX: Beggs, 35 saves)
Alpena 1 @ USNTDP 4 (USA-18: Wilson, G, A)
USNTDP 9 @ Traverse City 4 (USA-17: Moore, 2G, GWG, A)
AROUND THE NAHL...
2007 SHOWCASE DATES ANNOUNCED: The fifth annual NAHL Showcase Tournament has been scheduled for Wednesday, Sept.19 through Saturday, Sept. 22 at the Schwan Super Rink in Blaine, Minn.
ROADRUNNERS RELOCATING TO TOPEKA: The NAHL's Board of Governors has approved the relocation of Santa Fe to Topeka, Kansas, for the 2007-08 season. The team will be called the Topeka RoadRunners and play its home games out of the Kansas Expocentre, Landon Arena.
PLAYOFF BOUND: Both Fargo-Moorhead and Texas clinched postseason berths last weekend, joining Alpena, Mahoning Valley, Santa Fe and St. Louis as the other NAHL teams to date headed to the Robertson Cup playoffs.
DYNAMIC DUO: The addition of Stephen Ritter, who started the season with Marquette, alongside Thomas Tragust, has given Texas one of the top goaltending tandems in the NAHL. "Either one is capable of winning a game on his own," said Tornado coach-GM Tony Curtale of the 20-year-olds.
JANECYK TO EAU CLAIRE: Springfield forward Ross Janecyk, 20, has committed to the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire (NCHA) for the 2007-08 season. After 43 games this year, the second-year NAHLer from Grand Rapids, Mich., has 10 goals for 22 points.
USA, BANDITS TO PLAY AT SCOTTRADE: The U.S. Under-17 Team and the Bandits will play an exhibition game on Tuesday, April 3, at St. Louis' Scottrade Center, home of the NHL's Blues. The game is a prelude to the NCAA Men's Frozen Four that will take place at Scottrade on April 5 and 7.
NIFTY 150: Fargo-Moorhead's 4-3 victory over Southern Minnesota on Saturday marked the 150th win in franchise history. "It's a great accomplishment for the players and organization," said Jets coach Chad Johnson. "However, truthfully I don't think it's something the players think at all about until they are fishing on a boat somewhere during the summer."
CENTURY CLUB: Second-year North Iowa forward Steve McLeod, 21, became first player in the Outlaws' two-year history to record 100 points (102) for his career after the Ontario native's four-assist effort in a two-game split with Alexandria last weekend.
THE WEEK AHEAD...
Thursday, March 1
Fargo-Moorhead @ Bismarck, 7:05 pm
Friday, March 2
Bismarck @ Fargo-Moorhead, 7:35 pm
Alexandria @ Fairbanks, 7:30 pm
St. Louis @ Springfield, 7:30 pm
Southern Minnesota @ North Iowa, 7:05 pm
Santa Fe @ Wichita Falls, 7:05 pm
USNTDP @ Alpena, 7:00 pm
Marquette @ Mahoning Valley, 7:00 pm
Saturday, March 3
Alexandria @ Fairbanks, 7:30 pm
Santa Fe @ Texas, 7:30 pm
Fargo-Moorhead @ Bismarck, 7:05 pm
Southern Minnesota @ North Iowa, 7:05 pm
USNTDP @ Alpena, 7:00 pm
Marquette @ Mahoning Valley, 7:00 pm
St. Louis @ Springfield, 7:00 pm
Sunday, March 4
Alaska @ Fairbanks, 7:30 pm
Wichita Falls @ Texas, 6:00 pm
Marquette @ Mahoning Valley, 1:00 pm
(all times local)
North American Hockey League Stories from February 27, 2007
- U.S. Nat'l Under-18 Team Plays Final Two NCAA Contests of the Season - U.S. National Team
- Bobcat Happenings - Bismarck Bobcats
- NAHL expands to Kenai Peninsula - NAHL
- IceDiggers return home to host USA U-17 team - Alpena IceDiggers
- NTDP cruises to sweep - NAHL
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