NAHL U.S. National Team

U.S. National Under-17 Team Hosts Two NAHL North Division Foes This Week

Published on December 6, 2006 under North American Hockey League (NAHL)
U.S. National Team News Release


THIS WEEK: The U.S. National Under-17 Team will host three games in four days at the Ann Arbor Ice Cube. Team USA will face-off against the Alpena Ice Diggers on Thursday (Dec. 7) at 7:00 p.m. EST before hosting the Traverse City North Stars on Saturday (Dec. 9) at 7:00 p.m. and Sunday, (Dec. 10) at 3:00 p.m..

U.S. HEAD COACH JOHN HYNES: John Hynes is in his fourth season with USA Hockey's National Team Development Program. He has amassed a career record with the NTDP of 109-63-8-4 (W-L-T-OTL). Hynes has earned a gold (2006) and a silver medal (2004) at the International Ice Hockey Federation World Under-18 Championships as a head coach and a gold (2002) as an assistant. In 2005, Hynes led the U.S. National Under-17 Team to a first-place NAHL North Division regular-season finish and a North Division playoff championship, marking the first time this double feat was accomplished by the NTDP. Prior to his arrival in Ann Arbor, he spent time as an assistant coach at the University of Massachusetts Lowell and the University of Wisconsin.

U.S. HEAD COACH JOHN HYNES ON THE WEEK AHEAD: "Nearly every weekend this season we've been battling top competition. That's the case once again this week. Alpena continues to play well, with 19 wins in 26 games and an 11-4 road record. Then we host Traverse City who is also just in front of us in the league standings. We've had some great meetings with them already this year and we are looking forward to a few more exciting contests this weekend."

GAME NOTES - ALPENA: The Ice Diggers (39 points) are second only to Mahoning Valley (41 points) in the NAHL's North Division. Alpena has two games in hand on the Phantoms ... Alpena has a 19-6-1 record through 26 games this season ... The last meeting between Alpena and the U.S. National Under-17 Team saw the Ice Diggers skate to a 4-1 victory on Saturday, November 25, at the Ann Arbor Ice Cube ... Alpena forward Todd Rudasill currently leads the NAHL in scoring with 45 points (16-29). Forwards Nolan Craner (16-22-38) and Drew Pierson (12-19-31) also rank amongst the league's top-ten in scoring ... Alpena's power play is tops in the league, operating at 21.50% efficiency. The Ice Diggers have recorded a league-leading 46 power-play goals.

GAME NOTES - TRAVERSE CITY: The last meeting between the U.S. National Under-17 Team and the North Stars resulted in a 5-4 overtime victory for Team USA. Team USA rallied from a three-goal deficit to overcome the North Stars last Sunday (Nov. 26) at the Ann Arbor Ice Cube ... The Under-17 Team is 2-1 versus Traverse City this season ... Traverse City is 2-7-2 on the road this season.

TIS' THE SEASON: USA Hockey's National Team Development Program is once again in the middle of its Toys For Tots drive. The NTDP is offering two tickets for the price of one for fans who support this cause by bringing a new toy to any of the three games this weekend.

INTERNATIONAL FESTIVITIES ON THE HORIZON: The U.S. National Under-17 Team will host the Toys For Tots Four Nations Cup at the Ann Arbor Ice Cube from December 29, 2006 through January 2, 2007. National teams from Finland, Germany, and Sweden will join Team USA as the NTDP hosts its second Four Nations event of the season. Team USA will play December 29 (Germany), December 30 (Finland), and January 1 (Sweden). The third-place and championship games will be held on January 2. Tickets for the event are available by calling (734) 327-9251 extension 16.

ALUMNI UPDATE: Fifteen members of the 2007 U.S. National Junior Team, which was announced by USA Hockey on Tuesday (Dec. 5), have spent time with the NTDP, including Mike Carman (Apple Valley, Minn./2004-06), Jim Fraser (Port Huron, Mich./2003-05), Jeff Frazee (Burnsville, Minn./2003-05), Blake Geoffrion (Brentwood, Tenn./2004-06), Nate Gerbe (Oxford Mich./2003-05), Erik Johnson (Bloomington, Minn./2004-06), Jack Johnson (Ann Arbor, Mich./2003-05), Patrick Kane (Buffalo, N.Y./2004-06), Kyle Lawson (New Hudson, Mich./2004-05), Jamie McBain (Faribault, Minn./2004-06), Peter Mueller (Bloomington, Minn./2003-05), Jack Skille (Madison, Wis./2003-05), Ryan Stoa (Bloomington, Minn./2003-05), Bill Sweatt (Elburn, Ill./2004-05) and James vanRiemsdyk (2005-present).

LAST WEEK: The U.S. National Under-17 Team dropped a pair of road contests to NAHL North Division leader Mahoning Valley in Boardman, Ohio. Despite the setbacks, Team USA was lead offensively by Colin Reddin (Corona Del Mar, Calif.), David Wohlberg (Washington, Mich.), Vinny Saponari (Powder Springs, Ga.), and Kevin McCarey (Baldwinsville, N.Y.). Each player tallied a goal during the weekend.

UP NEXT: The U.S. National Under-17 Team will host the Marquette Rangers on Friday, December 15 and Saturday, December 16 at the Ann Arbor Ice Cube. The weekend series marks the first time that the Rangers will take on Team USA in Ann Arbor. Both games are slated to begin at 7:00 p.m. EST.

ABOUT THE NTDP: Founded in 1996, 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. Its efforts focus not only on high-caliber participation on the ice, but creating well-rounded individuals off the ice. Located in Ann Arbor, Mich., the 46 players in the program are split into two squads - the U.S. National Under-18 and Under-17 Teams. In the eight years NTDP players have been eligible for the draft, 124 players have been selected, including the number one overall selection in both 2000 (Rick DiPietro) and 2006 (Erik Johnson).

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North American Hockey League Stories from December 6, 2006


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