NAHL U.S. National Team

Three Detroit Red Wings Join USA Hockey's NTDP For the Toys For Tots Drive

Published on December 14, 2005 under North American Hockey League (NAHL)
U.S. National Team News Release


ANN ARBOR, Mich. - Three members of the Detroit Red Wings, goaltender Jimmy Howard (Ogdensburg, N.Y.), defenseman Brett Lebda (Buffalo Grove, Ill.) and forward Mark Mowers (Whitesboro, N.Y.) have joined USA Hockey's National Team Development Program, an Ann Arbor, Mich., based program, in sponsoring a Toys for Tots drive this month culminating in a final all-day collection drive at the Briarwood Mall on Dec. 21, 2005.

Howard, Lebda and Mowers will team up with members of the U.S. National Under-18 Team on stage in the Sears court at the Briarwood Mall on Dec. 21 to sign autographs for people who donate a toy from 4-9 p.m. In addition, players from Team USA and the United States Marines will be located throughout the mall to encourage donations of new, un-wrapped toys.

The Red Wing players are no strangers to USA Hockey and the National Team Development Program. Howard, a second round selection (64th overall) of Detroit in 2003, played for the NTDP during the 2001-02 season, including leading Team USA to a gold medal at the 2002 International Ice Hockey Federation World Under-18 Championship. Lebda spent two seasons at the NTDP (1998-00) prior to playing collegiate hockey at the University of Notre Dame. In 18 games this season, Lebda has recorded three points (1-2) with a plus-8 rating. Mowers, played on the 2002 U.S. National Team that competed in the IIHF World Championship.

NOTES: Howard ranks second in the NTDP record books for single-season save percentage (.922) ... Current NTDP Assistant Coach Patrick Foley (Milton, Mass.) was a teammate of Lebda during the 1998-99 season with the NTDP ... Founded in 1997, USA Hockey's National Team Development Program was created to prepare student-athletes under the age of 18 for participation on U.S. National Teams and success in their future hockey careers. The program has been instrumental in capturing gold medals at the 2002 and 2005 IIHF World Under-18 Championships and the 2004 IIHF World Junior Championship ... This past summer, 15 NTDP alumni were selected in the NHL Entry Draft. In the seven years NTDP players have been eligible for the NHL draft, 107 players have been selected ... The Toys for Tots program offers an opportunity to provide Christmas toys to children who otherwise might not receive holiday surprises. According to data from the U.S Marine Corps, in 2004 over 19 million toys were distributed nationwide, reaching over 7.5 million children.

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North American Hockey League Stories from December 14, 2005


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