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U.S. National Under-18 Team Opens New Year With Games Against Ferris State and Geneseo State

January 2, 2008 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
U.S. National Team News Release


THIS WEEK: The U.S. National Under-18 Team resumes its NCAA schedule with a trip to Big Rapids, Mich., where it will play Ferris State University on Friday (Jan. 4) at Ewigleben Arena. The team returns to the Ann Arbor Ice Cube on Saturday (Jan. 5) to host Geneseo State University. Opening faceoff is slated for 7:05 p.m. ET against FSU. The Geneseo State game had originally been scheduled for 7 p.m. ET, but it has been moved back to 8 p.m. ET.

U.S. HEAD COACH JOHN HYNES: John Hynes is in his fifth season with USA Hockey's National Team Development Program. He has amassed a career record of 140-97-9-8 (W-L-T-OTL).

SERIES HISTORY WITH FERRIS STATE: The U.S. National Under-18 Team and the Bulldogs will be facing off for the first time on Friday (Jan. 4).

ABOUT THE BULLDOGS: Ferris State (9-8-1, 6-6-0 CCHA) is a member of the Central Collegiate Hockey Association, and ranks fifth in the conference standings with 12 points.

Cody Chupp leads the offensive attack for the Bulldogs with 15 points (4-11). Mitch O'Keefe (4-3-1, 1.80, .938) and Pat Nagle (5-4-0, 2.09, .918) have split time between the FSU net.

SERIES HISTORY WITH GENESEO STATE: The U.S. National Under-18 Team is 2-0-0 all-time against the Knights. Team USA recorded a 7-0 win Jan. 23, 2005, and a 5-4 victory Oct. 24, 2003. Both games were played at Wilson Ice Arena in Geneseo, N.Y.

ABOUT THE KNIGHTS: Geneseo State (5-8-0, 4-5-0 SUNYAC) is an NCAA Division III institution, and it competes in the State University of New York Athletic Conference. The Knights are currently tied for fourth in the league standings with eight points.

Mathieu Cyr is GSU's top sniper with 13 points (8-5). Derek Jokic is the top goaltender for the Knights (4-7-0, 3.11, .907).

U.S. NATIONAL UNDER-18 TEAM NOTES: The U.S. National Under-18 Team defeated Minnesota Duluth, 2-1, back on Dec. 14, marking Team USA's first-ever win against a Western Collegiate Hockey Association opponent ... Team USA has tied a season high with a three-game winning streak ... The U.S. National Under-18 Team is 5-2-0 in its last seven games against NCAA competition ... Vinny Saponari (Powder Springs, Ga.) tallied his first game-winner of the year at UMD (Dec. 14) ... Robbie Czarnik (Washington, Mich.) amassed a season-high three points, including the game-winning marker, at Wisconsin-Superior (Dec. 15). He has amassed six points (4g, 2a) in his last four games ... Jimmy Hayes (Dorchester, Mass.) and Sean Lorenz (Littleton, Colo.) each chipped in their first multi-point games of the 2007-08 slate against UWS (Dec. 15) ... Ryan Hegarty (Arlington, Mass.) and Nick Pryor (Woodbury, Minn.) each netted their first power-play goals of season at UWS (Dec. 14).

?UPDATE FROM THE IIHF WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP: John Hynes, head coach of the U.S. National Under-18 Team, is currently serving as the head coach of the 2008 U.S. National Junior Team that is competing at the 2008 International Ice Hockey Federation World Junior Championship in Pardubice and Liberec, Czech Republic. Team USA finished 4-0-0 in the preliminary round of the tournament and earned a bye to Friday's (Jan. 4) semifinal, where it will face Canada ... Jordan Schroeder (Prior Lake, Minn.), a member of the U.S. National Under-18 Team, is tied for second among point getters in the tournament with seven assists.

NTDP PLAYERS CONTRIBUTING AT THE IIHF WORLD JUNIORS: Sixteen members of the 2008 U.S. National Junior Team spent time with USA Hockey's National Team Development Program, including Mike Carman (2004-06), Ian Cole (2005-07), Cade Fairchild (2005-07), Ryan Flynn (2004-06), Blake Geoffrion (2004-06), Jamie McBain (2004-06), Kevin Montgomery (2004-05), Joe Palmer (2004-05), Rhett Rakhshani (2004-06), Matt Rust (2005-07), Schroeder, Brian Strait (2004-05), Chris Summers (2004-05), Billy Sweatt (2004-05), James vanRiemsdyk (2005-07) and Colin Wilson (2005-07) ... vanRiemsdyk leads all players with 10 points (4-6) at the 2008 IIHF World Junior Championship in Pardubice and Liberec, Czech Republic ... Wilson (6g, 1a) and Schroeder (7a) are tied for second among point getters in the tournament ... Fairchild and McBain have each filed +5 ratings, good for a share of second among all players.

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. Natonal Under-17 and Under-18 Teams.

UP NEXT: The U.S. National Under-18 Team begins next week with a duel against the University of Michigan on Tuesday (Jan. 8) at Yost Arena. The puck will drop at 7:35 p.m. ET. The squad then travels to Columbus, Ohio, where it will challenge the Ohio State Buckeyes on Friday (Jan. 11) at Value City Arena. Opening faceoff is set for 7:05 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.

- A total of 22 players from the 2007-08 U.S. National Under-18 Team have verbally committed to play NCAA Division I college hockey.

HOCKEY WEEKEND ACROSS AMERICA: The first-ever Hockey Weekend Across America, a three-day nationwide celebration of the sport of hockey, will take place Feb. 15-17, 2008. The announcement came from USA Hockey, the national governing body for the sport of ice hockey in the United States.

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 at a further date.

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.

?NCAA DIVISION I TEAMS TAP NTDP PLAYERS: The number of former NTDP players suiting up for NCAA Division I ice hockey programs has grown to 68 in the 2007-08 season. Boston University (7) has the highest number of former NTDP players on its roster. The full list of Division I players with ties to the NTDP can be found on page four.

NTDP WELL REPRESENTED IN THE NHL: Over 35 former players from USA Hockey's NTDP have played in the National Hockey League this season.

KANE LEADS NHL ROOKIES IN POINTS: Patrick Kane (2004-06) leads all NHL rookies with 37 points (9-28). The second-youngest player in the NHL, Kane is in the middle of a four-game point streak (1g, 4a) with the Chicago Blackhawks.

Kane finished with 16 points (5-11) in October, and was named the NHL Rookie of the Month. His point total was the most by an NHL rookie in October since 1992-93 when Teemu Selanne recorded 20 points. He is the first NTDP player to be recognized as the rookie of the month by the NHL.

OTHER NHL NOTES: Matt Carle (2000-02) tallied a goal and an assist, including the game-winner, against Nashville (Dec. 29) ... Jake Dowell (2001-03) netted his second goal of the season in the Chicago Blackhawk's 3-2 overtime win over the Los Angeles Kings (Dec. 30) ... Ron Hainsey (1997-99) is on a four-game point streak (5a) with the Columbus Blue Jackets. He is tied for 18th among NHL defensemen with 21 points (3-18) ... Tampa Bay Lightning veteran Doug Janik (1997-98) registered an assist in back-to-back games vs. Philadelphia (Dec. 27) and Montreal (Dec. 29), tying his career best ... St. Louis Blues' blueliner Erik Johnson (2004-06) provided his third game-winning marker of the year against the Detroit Red Wings (Dec. 31) ... Phil Kessel (2003-05) chipped in his 11th goal of the season, and fourth power-play tally, in helping Boston secure a 5-2 victory over Atlanta (Dec. 31) ... Matt Lashoff (2002-03) registered his first career goal, on the power play, in the Bruins' win vs. the Thrashers (Dec. 31) ... Jordan Leopold (1997-98) turned in his second goal of the 2007-08 campaign in Colorado's 3-1 loss to Los Angeles (Dec. 29) ... Peter Mueller (2003-05) recorded an assist and contributed the game-winning goal in Phoenix's shootout victory over Colorado (Dec. 31) ... L.A. Kings forward, Patrick O'Sullivan (2000-01), netted his first game-winner of the year vs. Chicago (Jan. 1) ... Mark Stuart (2000-02) posted his first game-winning goal of the season against Atlanta (Dec. 31) ... Nashville's Ryan Suter (2001-03) was placed on injured reserve Dec. 31.

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