Team USA to Join USHL
Published on February 26, 2009 under United States Hockey League (USHL) News Release
The United States Hockey League in conjunction with USA Hockey is pleased to announce that the USA Hockey National Team Development Program (NTDP) will become full-time members of America's Tier I league, effective the 2009-10 season. This will mark the second foray for Team USA into the United States' top league as a full-time member. They were previously a part of the USHL in the 1998-99 and 1999-00 seasons.
"The re-association of America's only Tier I program with the national program in place in Ann Arbor will yield a powerhouse league second to none in the United States - and the strongest opportunity ever developed for the world'selite 17, 18, 19 and 20-year-old hockey players to develop their skills on their way to college and professional distinction," USHL Commissioner Skip Prince said.
In addition to Commissioner Prince, Executive Vice President Gino Gasparini, Chairman of the Board Jim Kronschnabel, Waterloo President Butch Johnson, and USHL coaches Jeff Blashill (Indiana) and P.K. O'Handley (Waterloo) worked closelywith senior USA Hockey management, including Executive Director Dave Ogrean, on the details of their membership agreement.
"We're extremely pleased to have the NTDP join the USHL," said Dave Ogrean, executive director of USA Hockey. "It's a positive step and something that will be mutually beneficial. The NAHL has been a wonderful home and we feel fortunate to have been part of that league for more than a decade."
The move effectively realigns USA Hockey and the USHL in a joint effort to promote and grow the American Development Model - i.e., the commitment to developing world-class hockey players, and world-class hockey competition, while protecting the amateur status and collegiate eligibility of the country's brightest young stars. "The combination of education and professional playing opportunities the USHL offers its players - including, we're now proud to say, the NTDP, as it competes for our championship -is unmatched by any league in North America,said Prince. "There's nothing like this anywhere else in hockey, or for that matter, in amateur sports, and we're proud to take this major USA Hockey initiative forward with them."
Team USA will play a full, 60-game schedule in the USHL, as well as maintain its commitment to international and college competition. They will compete for the Anderson Cup in the regular season, and will be a participant in the Clark Cup playoffs. Team USA will also participate in the annual USHL Fall Classic, which has evolved to become the most heavily scouted and most significant try-out showcase event in hockey. The USHL expects that nearly 200 scouts will participate in this year's showcase in Sioux City, Iowa, home of the USHL Sioux City Musketeers.
Team USA's move represents a departure from full-time affiliation with another vital block in the USA Hockey elite pyramid, the North American Hockey League, but USA Hockey and USHL management continue to work to develop opportunities for showcasing the NAHL and its players as part of the American Development Model.
The USHL is celebrating its 30th season of junior hockey in 2008-09. With over 150 players already committed to NCAA Division I schools and 16 NHL Draft picks playing in the league, the USHL is the nation's foremost producer of junior hockey talent. For more information, visit us on the web at www.ushl.com.
United States Hockey League Stories from February 26, 2009
- Hawks Dump Des Moines - Waterloo Black Hawks
- Bucs Fall to Waterloo 5-1 - Des Moines Buccaneers
- Team USA to Join USHL - USHL
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.
