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NAHL U.S. National Team

U.S. National Under-17 Team Weekly

December 18, 2007 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
U.S. National Team News Release


THIS WEEK: The U.S. National Under-17 Team travels to Boardman, Ohio, for two games against the Mahoning Valley Phantoms this Friday (Dec. 21) and Saturday (Dec. 22) at the Boardman Ice Zone. Both contests are scheduled to begin at 7:15 p.m. ET.

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 133-71-11-7 (W-L-T-OTL).

ROLSTON ON THE WEEKEND: "We have another tough road series against arguably one of the two best teams in our league. Mahoning Valley is very strong on special teams, especially on the power play. It will be a tough environment for us, but that will prepare us well for the second half of the season."

LAST TIME OUT AGAINST THE PHANTOMS: The U.S. National Under-17 Team posted a 6-4 win against Mahoning Valley Nov. 20 at the Ann Arbor Ice Cube. A power-play goal from Danny Kristo (Eden Prairie, Minn.) with 54 seconds left in the third period broke a 4-4 tie, and an empty-netter off the stick of Ryan Bourque (Boxford, Mass.) 32 seconds later secured the victory for Team USA. Bourque (2g), Vinny Saponari (Powder Springs, Ga.) (3a), Beau Schmitz (Howell, Mich.) (1g, 1a) and A.J. Treais (Bloomfield Hills, Mich.) (1g, 1a) each recorded multi-point games. Michael Clemente (Great Falls, Va.) made 20 saves in net for Team USA.

Notes: Patrick Gaul (Pittsburgh, Pa.), Kristo and Saponari made their first appearances of the 2007-08 season with the U.S. National Under-17 Team.

ABOUT MAHONING VALLEY: The Phantoms own an 18-8-3 overall record, and rank second in the North American Hockey League North Division standings with 39 points. Derek Grahm is the top offensive weapon up front for Mahoning Valley with 43 points (23-20). Garrett Bartus (11-3-2, 2.61, .914) has seen the majority of the playing time (1010:38) for the Phantoms in the 2007-08 campaign. Jordan Tibbett (5-5-1, 3.25, .897) has seen 627:48 of game action.

U.S. NATIONAL UNDER-17 TEAM NOTES: The U.S. National Under-17 and Under-18 Teams have combined to field a 14-14-2 record, good for fifth in the NAHL North Division standings ... The U.S. National Under-17 Team is averaging four goals per game in the month of December ... Team USA has won 11 games when it tallies at least four goals ... Eight of Team USA's 13 wins this season have come in games it scored five or more goals ... A total of 15 players from the 2007-08 U.S. National Under-17 Team have verbally committed to play NCAA Division I college hockey.

MORIN ON TORRID OFFENSIVE PACE: Jeremy Morin (Auburn, N.Y.) leads Team USA with 32 points (20-12). Morin is averaging 1.19 points per game, which is the highest such mark by a member of the U.S. National Under-17 Team since Patrick Kane (2004-06) averaged 0.90 points per game in the 2004-05 campaign. Kane finished with 70 points (32-38) in 63 games that year.

SHORE A CONSTANT OFFENSIVE PRODUCER: Drew Shore (Denver, Colo.) has amassed a team-best five points (2-3) in his last four games. He tallied a goal and an assist in helping Team USA record a 6-2 win at Traverse City (Dec. 14). The winger ranks second on the team with 24 points (8-16).

BOURQUE CONTRIBUTES EVEN WHEN SHORTHANDED: Ryan Bourque has compiled a team-high three shorthanded goals. He also has chipped in 22 points (12-10), good for third among Team USA players.

SCHMITZ LEADING DEFENSE IN POINTS: Beau Schmitz is on top of Team USA's points list for defensemen with nine (3-6) after tallying a goal at Traverse City (Dec. 15).

RYAN HAS BREAKOUT WEEKEND: Kenny Ryan (Franklin Village, Mich.) tallied three points (2-1) in last weekend's split at Traverse City (Dec. 14-15). He netted one goal in the series opener, along with a power-play goal, and an assist in series finale. Ryan owns 11 points (5-6) this year, which ranks seventh among Team USA players.

UP NEXT: The U.S. National Under-17 Team travels to London, Ontario, where it will participate in the 2008 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge Dec. 28-Jan. 3.

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.

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.

HOCKEY WEEKEND ACROSS AMERICA: USA Hockey will lead the first-ever Hockey Weekend Across America, a three-day nationwide celebration of the sport set for Feb. 15-17, 2008.

Each of the three days associated with Hockey Weekend Across America has a theme, including Friday's Wear Your Jersey to School Day, Saturday's Bring A Friend to the Rink Day and Sunday's Celebrate Local Hockey Heroes Day.

"We're extremely pleased to be leading this effort," said Dave Ogrean, executive director of USA Hockey. "While we've set up the structure, the success of Hockey Weekend Across America will be driven by those involved in the game across the country activating programs in conjunction with the celebration."

A special website - HockeyWeekendAcrossAmerica.com - has been established to act as the information hub for the event. It features material for download, including the event logo and poster. Additional information will continue to be added, including highlights of activities planned in conjunction with Hockey Weekend Across America from around the country.

"Our sport has a lot to celebrate at all levels and we're looking forward to being a part of Hockey Weekend Across America," said Gary Bettman, commissioner of the National Hockey League.

"We need to do whatever we can to gain visibility for our sport," said Tom Anastos, commissioner of the Central Collegiate Hockey Association and president of the Hockey Commissioner's Association. "All of us involved need to participate in Hockey Weekend Across America in some fashion to both celebrate and help grow the game."

USA Hockey is conducting a contest for best Hockey Weekend Across America programming with the grand-prize winner receiving 25 sets of OneGoal starter equipment ($4,000 value). Additionally, five runner-up prizes of $1,000 cash will be awarded. The entry form can be obtained at HockeyWeekendAcrossAmerica.com.

Details on Hockey Weekend Across America's Great Prize Giveaway will be unveiled later in December.

Notes: All rinks in the country will receive two printed copies of the Hockey Weekend Across America poster. Anyone may download the artwork for the poster at HockeyWeekendAcrossAmerica.com and have posters printed for use in conjunction with the event ... All NHL, minor professional, NCAA Division I and III men's and women's, United States Hockey League and North American Hockey League teams playing at home during Hockey Weekend Across America will receive Hockey Weekend Across America pucks to utilize as part of a ceremonial puck drop to help celebrate the event ... Questions regarding Hockey Weekend Across America may be e-mailed to HockeyWeekendAcrossAmerica@usahockey.org.

Check out the U.S. National Team Statistics



North American Hockey League Stories from December 18, 2007


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