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NAHL U.S. National Team

U.S. National Under-17 Team Weekly

November 14, 2007 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
U.S. National Team News Release


THIS WEEK: The U.S. National Under-17 Team is back on the road for a pair of games against the St. Louis Bandits this Friday (Nov. 16) and Saturday (Nov. 17) at the Summit Center. The puck will drop at 7:05 p.m. CT both nights.

U.S. HEAD COACH RON ROLSTON: Ron Rolston is in his fourth season with USA Hockey's National Team Development Program. He has amassed a career record of 128-65-11-6 (W-L-T-OTL).

COACH ROLSTON ON THE WEEKEND: "St. Louis is certainly one of the premier teams in the NAHL. They are a difficult team to play against, and beating them at home is a tough task. We will have to play well together to have success. This weekend opens up a crucial stretch in the league race so we just have to focus on one game at a time."

LAST TIME OUT AGAINST ST. LOUIS: The U.S. National Under-17 Team and the Bandits have met four times this season. After Team USA won the first meeting between the two teams, 6-4, back on Sept. 14 in Ann Arbor, St. Louis has been victorious in the last three games. The Bandits picked up a 5-4 victory Sept. 15, and swept Team USA, 8-0, 3-1, Oct. 26-27 at the Summit Center.

ABOUT THE BANDITS: St. Louis (16-3-0) is all alone on top of the North American Hockey League North Division standings with 32 points. The Bandits are undefeated at home (10-0-0). They are coming off a pair of road victories at Alexandria (Minn.) Nov 9-10.

Sam Bozoian leads the offensive attack for St. Louis with 26 points (10-16), while Mike Leone ranks second with 23 points (5-18--23) ... Mike Johnson (7-1-0, 1.97, .922) and Cal Heeter (8-2-0, 2.62, .901) have shared time between the pipes.

U.S. NATIONAL UNDER-17 TEAM NOTES: The U.S. National Under-17 Team took second at the 2007 Four Nations Tournament in Dmitrov, Russia, last week (Nov. 9-11). Team USA went 2-1-0 in the event, and also picked up a win in a pre-tournament game vs. Russia (Nov. 7).

MORIN ON SCORING TEAR: Jeremy Morin (Auburn, N.Y.) leads Team USA with 18 points (14-4) after tallying seven points (5-2) in four international games last week. Morin, who tallied four points (2-2) in three games at the Four Nations Tournament, was named the best forward in the tournament. He has notched 11 points (9-2) in his last seven games.

PALMIERI A CONSTANT UP FRONT: Kyle Palmieri (Montvale, N.J.) is second on the U.S. National Under-17 Team with 16 points (10-6). Palmieri recorded four points (2-2) in four international games last week. He is one of two Team USA players with six multi-point performances this season.

GOLEMBIEWSKI PICKS UP SCORING PUNCH: Zach Golembiewski (St. Claire, Mich.) amassed five points (2-3) in the Four Nations Tournament, including two goals against Switzerland (Nov. 9) and three assists vs. Slovakia (Nov. 10). As a result of his five-point tournament, Golembiewski has moved to fourth on the squad with 12 points (3-9--12).

WALTERS PITCHES IN ASSIST DURING INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION: Ryan Walters (Rosemount, Minn.), who joined the U.S. National Under-17 Team at the Four Nations Tournament last week, doled out one assist in four games. A sophomore forward at St. Thomas (Minn.) Academy, Walters is currently playing for the Des Moines Buccaneers in the United States Hockey League. He has verbally committed to the University of Minnesota (WCHA).

STATES OF HOCKEY: In the 11-year history of the National Team Development Program, players from 27 states have donned the Team USA uniform. This season 15 different states are represented between the U.S. National Under-17 and Under-18 Teams.

UP NEXT: The U.S. National Under-17 Team returns to the Ann Arbor Ice Cube next week, where it will play four games in a six-day stretch. Team USA opens its busy schedule next Tuesday (Nov. 20) or a dual with Mahoning Valley at 7:30 p.m. ET. The Marquette Rangers take on Team USA next Friday (Nov. 23) at 7:30 p.m., and again on Saturday (Nov. 24) at 7 p.m. ET. Alpena will be the final opponent of the weekend for the U.S. National Under-17 Team on Sunday (Nov. 25) at 3 p.m. ET.

NTDP TO HELP WITH COMMUNITY ANGEL TREE TOY DRIVE: The USA Hockey National Team Development Program is doing its part to support the Angel Tree toy drive hosted by The Salvation Army of Washtenaw County (TSA-WC) and TalkRadio 1600 WAAM. The toy drive takes has begun and it will run through December 14.

The NTDP will be collecting toys at its home games at the Ann Arbor Ice Cube arena during Thanksgiving week. The team will offer a two-for-one ticket price for those who bring in a toy to donate.

"We have made it a priority throughout the 11-year history of the NTDP to give back to the community," said Scott Monaghan, director of operations of the National Team Development Program. "The Angel Tree toy drive is another way for this program to provide help where it is needed."

Requested donations include new and unwrapped books, board games, hats, gloves, toys and undergarments for children newborn through 12 years old. The Angel Tree toy drive goal is to obtain 1,600 toys for 1,600 girls and boys this holiday season.

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 nine years NTDP players have been eligible for the draft, 141 players have been selected, including the number one overall selection in 2000 (Rick DiPietro), 2006 (Erik Johnson) and 2007 (Patrick Kane).

- A total of 16 players with connections to the NTDP were selected in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft, including five players in the first round.

- Patrick Kane and James vanRiemsdyk became the first two American-born players selected first and second in the 2007 NHL Draft.

- Kane's selection, added with the St. Louis Blues' choice of Erik Johnson in the 2006 NHL Draft, represented the first time American-born players have been chosen first overall in consecutive years.

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North American Hockey League Stories from November 14, 2007


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