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NAHL U.S. National Team

U.S. National Under-17 Team To Host Cleveland Barons For Conclusion of NAHL's North Division Final

April 25, 2006 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
U.S. National Team News Release


ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The U.S. National Under-17 Team will host the Cleveland Barons for game six of the North American Hockey League north division finals on Thursday, April 27, at the Ann Arbor Ice Cube (Ann Arbor, Mich.). Game time for Thursday's contest is set for 7:00 p.m. The National Team currently leads the best-of-seven series 3-2.

The U.S. National Under-17 Team will be aided by the return of its top leading scorers. Forwards Ryan Hayes (Syracuse, N.Y.), James vanRiemsdyk (Middletown, N.J.), and Colin Wilson (Greenwich, Conn.) return to the lineup for game six versus Cleveland after spending the past three weeks at the 2006 International Ice Hockey Federation World Under-18 Championships in Ängelholm, Sweden, where the U.S. National Under-18 Team captured gold for the second consecutive year. Defenseman Cade Fairchild (Duluth, Minn.), who was also a member of the gold medal winning team in Sweden, will return to patrol the blue line for the Under-17 Team this week.

In the 2006 NAHL playoffs the National Team has been led by defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk (New Rochelle, N.Y.) and forwards Tony Mosey (Apple Valley, Minn.) and Brennan Vargas (Coon Rapids, Minn.). Shattenkirk is tied for most points by a defenseman in this year's playoffs with eight (3G-5A).

Between the pipes goaltender Josh Unice (Toledo, Ohio) has saved some of his best hockey for the end of the season. Unice has five wins in six postseason games and boasts a goals against average of 1.48, down from 2.99 during the 2005-06 regular season.

"One of the main objectives of the program is to put out kids in challenging situations during the two years they are with us," expresses U.S. National Team Coach Ron Rolston. "Game six on Thursday night will be just that - another pressure situation that will test our young kids. We need to play great hockey if we are going to advance to the National Championships."

The winner of the USA/Cleveland series will advance to the NAHL National Championships in Boardman, Ohio, and will play for the 2006 Robertson Cup beginning on May 10. Southern Minnesota (central division champion), Texas (south division champion), and Mahoning Valley (host club) have already qualified for the NAHL tournament.

If necessary, the National Team will return to the Ann Arbor Ice Cube for game seven on Friday, April 28, at 7:00 p.m.

NAHL North Division Finals: U.S. National Under-17 Team vs. Cleveland Barons
Game 1 Friday, April 14 USA 3 vs. Cleveland 2 (OT)
Game 2 Saturday, April 15 USA 1 vs. Cleveland 2
Game 3 Friday, April 21 USA 3 at Cleveland 2
Game 4 Saturday, April 22 USA 4 at Cleveland 3 (OT)
Game 5 Sunday, April 23 USA 2 at Cleveland 4
Game 6 Thursday, April 27 7:00 p.m. @ Ann Arbor Ice Cube
Game 7 Friday, April 28, 7:00 p.m. @ Ann Arbor Ice Cube*
*if necessary

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North American Hockey League Stories from April 25, 2006


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