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NAHL U.S. National Team

U.S. National Under-18 Team Weekly

November 6, 2007 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
U.S. National Team News Release


THIS WEEK: The U.S. National Under-18 Team (6-7-1-1) travels to Huttwil, Switzerland, where it will play in the Under-18 Four Nations Tournament Nov. 9-11. Team USA faces Finland, Sweden and Switzerland in the event.

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 133-92-9-8 (W-L-T-OTL).

COACH HYNES ON THE WEEKEND: "We are looking forward to getting back to competition against our own age group at the interntional level."

FOUR NATIONS TOURNAMENT HISTORY: The U.S. National Under-18 Team owns an 8-3-2 record in four prior appearances at the Four Nations Tournament. Team USA won the event in 2004 and took second in 2003 and 2005.

The U.S. National Under-18 Team went 1-2-0 at the 2006 Under-18 Four Nations Tournament in Pitea, Sweden. Team USA defeated Finland (4-0) in the opening game of the tournament, but was defeated by Sweden (3-2) and Switzerland (3-1).

U.S. NATIONAL UNDER-18 TEAM NOTES: The U.S. National Under-18 Team snapped a seven-game winless streak with its 5-1 victory over Traverse City last Saturday (Nov. 3) ... Team USA plays its next 13 games away from the Ann Arbor Ice Cube ... Patrick Gaul (Pittsburgh, Pa.) leads the U.S. National Under-18 Teams with 10 points (4-6) ... Danny Kristo (Eden Prairie, Minn.) leads the club with five goals, while Colin Reddin (Corona Del Mar, Calif.) has amassed a team-best six assists ... Reddin recorded three helpers last weekend, including two on Saturday ... Sam Lofquist (Faribault, Minn.) is pacing the U.S. National Under-18 Team with three power-play goals. Lofquist filed his first game-winner of the season last Saturday ... Six different players have scored game-winning goals for Team USA this year.

FOLLOW THE U.S. NATIONAL UNDER-18 TEAM AT THE FOUR NATIONS TOURNAMENT: Live in-game statistics will be available through the Swiss Ice Hockey Association's web site at www.swiss-icehockey.ch.

HAYES PLAYING FOR U.S. JUNIOR SELECT TEAM: Jimmy Hayes (Dorchester, Mass.) was one of 21 players chosen to suit up for the 2007 U.S. Junior Select Team. The squad will compete at the 2007 World Junior A Challenge from Nov. 5-11 in Trail and Nelson, B. C. The lone non-USHL player on the roster, Hayes was a member of the U.S. Under-18 Select Team that finished second at the 2006 Memorial of Ivan Hlinka.

THREE FORMER NTDP PLAYERS SET TO PLAY FOR DEUTSCHLAND CUP: USA Hockey has announced the roster for its 2007 U.S. Men's Select Team that will play at the 2007 Deutschland Cup from Nov. 8-11, in Hannover, Germany. Three alumni of the NTDP - Mike Carman (Apple Valley Minn./2004-06), Adam Hauser (Bovey, Minn./1997-98) and Dwight Helminen (Hancock, Mich./1999-2001) - are among the list of 20 players selected to compete for Team USA in the event. Carman is a sophomore at the University of Minnesota, Hauser is a member of the Manheim Eagles in the German Ice Hockey League and Helminen skates for the JyP Jyvaskyla of the Finnish National Hockey League.

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 respresented between the U.S. Natonal Under-17 and Under-18 Teams.

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 67 in the 2007-08 season. Boston University (6), Michigan (6) and Minnesota (6) have the highest number of former NTDP players on their respective rosters. The full list of Division I players with ties to the NTDP can be found on page four of the attached PDF.

WILSON RECOGNIZED IN MCKEEN'S NHL DRAFT RANKINGS: Colin Wilson (Greenwich, Conn.), who played for the National Team Devlopment Program from 2005-07, ranks 20th in McKeen's Preliminary top 30 rankings for the 2008 NHL Entry Draft. Wilson is currently a freshman at Boston University.

NHL CENTRAL SCOUTING RELEASES FALL RANKINGS: A total of 22 players from the U.S. National Under-18 Team were recognized as "Players to Watch" for the 2008 National Hockey League Entry Draft, according to NHL Central Scouting's fall rankings released Oct. 24. NHL Central Scouting will announce its midseason rankings in January before releasing its final rankings in April. The 2008 NHL Entry Draft will be held on June 21-22 at Scotiabank Place in Ottawa, Ontario. The list of players from the U.S. National Under-18 Team highlighted in the rankings can be found on page two of the attached PDF.

UP NEXT: The U.S. National Under-18 Team starts a 15-game stretch against NCAA compeition Nov. 24 when it travels to Brunswick, Maine, for a dual with Bowdoin College. Team USA then buses to Waterville, Maine, to challenge Colby College Nov. 25. Both games are slated to start at 5:30 p.m. ET.

NTDP WELL REPRESENTED IN THE NHL: Currently, 30 former players from USA Hockey's National Team Development Program are on active rosters in the National Hockey League.

KANE TABBED ROOKIE OF THE MONTH: Patrick Kane (Buffalo, N.Y./2004-06), who finished with 16 points (5-11) last month, was named the NHL Rookie of the Month for October. His point total was the most by an NHL rookie in October since 1992-93 when Teemu Selanne recorded 20 points.

Kane is the second-youngest player in the NHL and leads all NHL rookies with 17 points (5-12) in 14 games. He is the first NTDP player to be recognized as the rookie of the month by the NHL.

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

Check out the U.S. National Team Statistics



North American Hockey League Stories from November 6, 2007


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