NAHL U.S. National Team

Playoff Time

Published on March 31, 2004 under North American Hockey League (NAHL)
U.S. National Team News Release


Ann Arbor, Mich. – The US National Team Development Program U-17 squad will enter the North American Hockey League (NAHL) playoffs for the first time since the 1999-2000 season after posting the program's best ever record, in NAHL play, (28-21-7).

The U-17 Team will take on the top team in the NAHL North Division, the Soo Kewadin Casino Indians in a best-of-five series. The series begins with the first two games at the Big Bear Arena in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich., Friday, April 2 and Saturday, April 3 with game three at the Ann Arbor Ice Cube, Ann Arbor, Mich., Thursday, April 8. If necessary game four will be Friday, April 9, in Ann Arbor with game five Saturday, April 10 back up in Sault Ste. Marie.

Jason Lawrence (Saugus, Mass.) and Peter Mueller (Bloomington, Minn.) lead the U-17's into the playoffs having scored a team best 30 and 26 points, respectively, in NAHL regular season competition. Mike Stuart (Rome, NY) is the top point man (15) among US blueliners entering the playoffs while Billy Blase (Santa Monica, Calif.) will see the brunt of the work in goal after recording a 3.10-goals against average in the NAHL.

The Indians finished the 2003-2004 regular season with a 44-6-6 record. The Indians, the 2003 USA Gold Cup Junior ‘A' National Champion runner-up, boast the top power-play unit in the league as they connect once of every four (25%) opportunities. The penalty-killing unit is as stingy as the power-play group is prodigious stopping 87% of opponent's extra-man attempts, second best in the league.

Robert Morris recruit Logan Bittle leads the Soo (second in the entire league) with 34-37–71 points, while Stavros Paskaris, who will attend Wayne State, is close behind with 30-38–68 points. Future Ferris State Bulldog netminder Derek McIntyre has posted an astonishing 31-3-2 record with a minuscule 1.77 goals against average for the Soo this season.

John Bell, voice of Indians, will have the call on all US-17 vs. Soo games. The broadcast can be accessed at www.30below.com.

NAHL NORTH FIRST ROUND

DAY DATE TEAMS TIME RINK LOCATION
Friday, April 2, 2004 US-17 at Soo 7:00pm Big Bear Arena Sault Ste. Marie, Mich.
Saturday, April 3, 2004 US-17 at Soo 7:00pm Big Bear Arena Sault Ste. Marie, Mich.
Thursday, April 8, 2004 Soo at US-17 7:05pm Ice Cube Ann Arbor, Mich.
Friday, April 9, 2004 Soo at US-17 7:05pm Ice Cube Ann Arbor, Mich.*
Saturday, April 10, 2004 US-17 at Soo 7:00pm Big Bear Arena Sault Ste. Marie, Mich.*

*if necessary

Check out the U.S. National Team Statistics

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North American Hockey League Stories from March 31, 2004


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