NAHL U.S. National Team

U.S. National Under-17 Team Weekly

Published on December 26, 2007 under North American Hockey League (NAHL)
U.S. National Team News Release


THIS WEEK: 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. 4.

TEAM USA HISTORY AT WORLD UNDER-17 HOCKEY CHALLENGE: Since the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge began in 1986, Team USA has won two gold medals (2001, 2002) and three silver medals (1994, 1998, 2006). In its most recent appearance at the 2006 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge in Regina, Saskatchewan, Team USA gained a silver medal after falling to Canada in the championship game of the tournament. Team USA will look to add its sixth medal in 2008.

ABOUT THE WORLD UNDER-17 HOCKEY CHALLENGE:The World Under-17 Hockey Challenge is held annually in Canada and does not operate during years in which the Canada Winter Games are held. The World Under-17 Challenge is held three out of every four years and is organized by Hockey Canada.

The inaugural World Under-17 Hockey Challenge took place in Quebec in 1986. At that time, the tournament was called the Quebec Esso Cup and was comprised of ten teams - five regional teams from Canada, Finland, Czechoslovakia, USA, Sweden, and the USSR.

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 134-72-11-7 (W-L-T-OTL).

ROLSTON AT THE WORLD UNDER-17 HOCKEY CHALLENGE: Rolston will be making his second appearance at the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge. He was behind the bench for Team USA's second-place finish at the 2006 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge in Regina, Saskatchewan.

WHITNEY TO JOIN TEAM FOR INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION: Steven Whitney (Reading, Mass.) will suit up for the U.S. National Under-17 Team at the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge this week. He played for Team USA against the Boston Jr. Bruins (Oct. 19) and New Hampshire Jr. Monarchs (Oct. 20). Whitney also donned a Team USA sweater with current NTDP goaltender Brandon Maxwell (Winter Park, Fla.) on the Under-17 Select Team that took second at the U-17 Five Nations Tournament in Strakonice, Czech Republic. The winger currently skates for Lawrence (Mass.) Academy. His brother, Joe, is a freshman at Boston College (HEA). Steven has verbally committed to BC.

FOLLOWING THE WORLD UNDER-17 HOCKEY CHALLENGE: Log on to www.usahockey.com and www.hockeycanada.ca to access the most up-to-date information about the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge, including post-game releases, box scores and updated stats.

LAST INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION RESULTS: The U.S. National Under-17 Team took second at the 2007 Four Nations Tournament in Dmitrov, Russia, 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).

U.S. NATIONAL UNDER-17 TEAM NOTES: Chris Brown (Flower Mound, Texas), Jeremy Morin (Auburn, N.Y.) and Kyle Palmieri (Montvale, N.J.) share the team lead with three game-winners ... Palmieri converted on Team USA's first penalty shot of the year against Mahoning Valley (Dec. 21) ... Kevin Lynch (Grosse Pointe, Mich.) recorded his first shorthanded goal of the season at Mahoning Valley (Dec. 21) ... Zach Golembiewski (St. Claire, Mich.) and A.J. Treais (Bloomfield Hills, Mich.) each finished with a goal and an assist vs. Mahoning Valley (Dec. 21) ... Nick Mattson (Chaska, Minn.) distributed two assists last weekend (Dec. 21-22), and has moved into a tie for second among Team USA defensemen with eight points (1-7) ... The U.S. National Under-17 Team is averaging four goals per game in the month of December ... Team USA has received game-winning goals from 11 different players in the 2007-08 campaign ... Team USA has won 12 games when it tallies at least four goals ... Nine of Team USA's 14 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 leads Team USA with 36 points (21-15) after he notched one goal and three assists in last weekend's split at Mahoning Valley (Dec. 21-22). Morin is averaging 1.24 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.

RYAN IS STREAKING: Kenny Ryan (Franklin Village, Mich.) is in the midst of a team-high five-game point streak (3g, 3a) after he netted two power-play goals, and an assist last weekend. For the year, Ryan owns 13 points (6-7), which ranks seventh among Team USA players.

BOURQUE CONTRIBUTES EVEN WHEN SHORTHANDED: Ryan Bourque (Boxford, Mass.) has compiled a team-high three shorthanded goals. He also has chipped in 23 points (12-11), good for third among Team USA players.

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

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 travels to Boardman, Ohio, for two games against the Mahoning Valley Phantoms Jan. 11-12 at the Boardman Ice Zone. Both contests are scheduled to begin at 7:15 p.m. ET.

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.

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.

Check out the U.S. National Team Statistics

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North American Hockey League Stories from December 26, 2007


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