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NAHL U.S. National Team

U.S. National Under-18 Team Weekly

December 5, 2007 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
U.S. National Team News Release


THIS WEEK: The U.S. National Under-18 Team will travel to the Boston area this weekend for games against Boston University Saturday (Dec. 8) and Harvard University Sunday (Dec. 9). Saturday's game will be played at Agganis Arena, while Sunday's contest will take place at the Bright Hockey Center. Both games are scheduled to start at 7 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 137-96-9-8 (W-L-T-OTL).

COACH HYNES ON THE TRIP TO BEANTOWN: "This weekend will present another set of challenging games. These are the experiences and challenges that will teach us lessons we will need to have mastered for our world championships in April."

SERIES HISTORY WITH BOSTON UNIVERSITY: The U.S. National Under-18 Team has played the Terriers two other times. BU won the last meeting between the two teams, 3-2, in overtime, back on Oct. 29, 2006, at Agganis Arena. Team USA was defeated by a score of 4-1 in the first-ever matchup against the Terriers on Jan. 8, 2005, in Boston.

ABOUT THE TERRIERS: Boston University (4-9-2, 3-5-1 HE) is a member of the Hockey East Association, and is coming off an appearance in the NCAA Tournament a year ago. The Terriers are tied for eighth in the Hockey East standings with eight points.

BU's roster is dotted with seven former NTDP players, which represents the highest total of any NCAA Division I hockey program. Brett Bennett (2004-06), Colby Cohen (2005-06), Jason Lawrence (2003-05), Luke Popko (2004-06), Kevin Shattenkirk (2005-07), Brian Strait (2004-06) and Colin Wilson (2005-07) all spent at least one year with NTDP. Bryan Ewing leads the Terriers' offensive attack with 17 points (6-11), while Pete MacArthur is second with 16 points (8-8).

Bennett (4-4-2, 3.42, .863) has seen a team-high 596:55 of action in net for BU. Karson Gillespie (0-5-0, 3.84, .831) has also earned 312:19 of playing time.

SERIES HISTORY WITH HARVARD: The U.S. National Under-18 Team is 0-2-0 all-time vs. the Crimson, in a series that began in the 2001-02 campaign. Harvard notched a 7-4 win in the last matchup against Team USA on Oct. 30, 2004, and was victorious in the first meeting between the two squads on Jan. 26, 2002. Both previous games were played at the Bright Hockey Center.

ABOUT THE CRIMSON: Harvard (6-3-1, 5-3-1 ECACH) plays in ECAC Hockey, where it currently ranks second in the league standings with 11 points.

Jimmy Fraser (2003-05) and Chad Morin (2003-05) both skated for the NTDP for two seasons. Michael Biega and Kyle Richter have each compiled seven points to pace the Crimson offense. Kyle Richter (6-3-1, 1.39, .955) has been a mainstay between the pipes.

COACH HYNES RETURNS TO HIS ROOTS: John Hynes, head coach of the U.S. National Under-18 Team, was a three-year letterwinner for Boston University. He participated in four straight NCAA Frozen Four Tournaments, and was a member of the 1995 national championship team.

U.S. NATIONAL UNDER-18 NOTES: Danny Kristo (Eden Prairie, Minn.) has moved into a tie for first on Team USA's points list with 16 (11-5). Kristo provided his second game-winning goal of the year, on the power play, last Saturday (Dec. 1) at Yale ... Jordan Schroeder (Prior Lake, Minn.) was one of 22 players selected to compete on the 2008 U.S. National Junior Team at the International Ice Hockey Federation World Junior Championship Dec. 26-Jan. 5 in Pardubice and Liberec, Czech Republic.

UP NEXT: The U.S. National Under-18 Team will travel to the Twin Ports of Duluth, Minn., and Superior, Wis., next weekend for games against the University of Minnesota Duluth Friday (Dec. 14) and the University of Wisconsin-Superior Saturday (Dec. 15). Friday's game will be played at the Duluth Entertainment and Convention Center, while Saturday's contest will take place at Wesseman Arena. Both games will start at 7:05 p.m. ET.

SHARING THE WEALTH: The U.S. National Under-18 Team has received game-winning goals from seven different players in the 2007-07 campaign. Jordan Schroeder has contributed a team-best two game-winners.

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.

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.

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.

ATLANTIC HOCKEY ASSOCIATION NOTES: Tom Dickhudt (2001-03) tallied his fifth assist of the year in helping Bentley earn a 2-2 overtime tie vs. Rochester Institute of Technology (Dec. 1).

COLLEGE HOCKEY AMERICA NOTES: John Vadnais (2002-03) chipped an assist and a season-best +3 rating in Bemidji State's 5-1 win at Niagara (Nov. 30).

CENTRAL COLLEGIATE HOCKEY ASSOCIATION NOTES: Michigan's Kevin Porter (2002-04) has been named the RBC Financial Group CCHA Player of the Month for November. Porter leads the nation in goals (16) and overall points (26). He chipped in 18 points (12-6) in leading Michigan to an 8-1-0 record during November ... Fellow Wolverine Chad Kolarik (2002-04) tallied two goals for the third time this season against Ohio State (Nov. 30) ... Matt Rust (2005-07) notched his third multi-point game of the year with a goal and an assist in Michigan's 4-2 victory over Ohio State (Dec. 1) ... Bryan Lerg (2002-04) Lerg, who netted three goals in Michigan State's weekend sweep at Lake Superior State (Nov. 30-Dec. 1), was honored as the CCHA Offensive Player of the Week (Dec. 3) ... Mike Ratchuk (2004-06) filed four points (1-3) in helping the Spartans pick up a pair of wins against the Lakers ... Mike Nesdill (2000-02) amassed four points (1-3), including a career-high three assists in Bowling Green's weekend sweep of Wayne State (Nov. 30-Dec. 1).

ECAC HOCKEY NOTES: Billy Blase (2003-05) ranks ninth in the country with a 1.75 goals against average, and is 13th nationally with a .935 save percentage.

HOCKEY EAST ASSOCIATION NOTES: Nathan Gerbe (2003-05) was recognized as Hockey East's CCM/RBK Player of the Week after recording seven points (4-3) in a weekend sweep of Boston University (Nov. 30-Dec. 1). He posted his first career hat trick in Friday's 6-2 win, and tied a career high with four points (1-3) on Saturday at BU. Three of his four goals on the weekend came shorthanded. Mike Brennan (2002-04) pitched in one assist, and finished with a +6 rating in BC's two-game weekend sweep of BU ... Colin Wilson (2005-07), who ranks third among league rookies with 11 points (4-7), distributed assists on three of BU's five goals in the home-and-home series against BC ... New Hampshire forward James vanRiemsdyk (2005-07) is tied for fourth among all rookies nationally with 15 points (6-9).

WESTERN COLLEGIATE HOCKEY ASSOCIATION NOTES: Blake Geoffrion (2004-06) gained WCHA Offensive Player of the Week accolades (Dec. 4.) He tallied one goal and three assists, and finished with a +3 rating in Wisconsin's two-game home sweep of St. Cloud State (Nov. 30-Dec. 1) ... Jamie McBain (2004-06) added two assists for the Badgers against the Huskies ... Ryan Flynn (2004-06) contributed a goal and an assist in Minnesota's home split vs. Michigan Tech last weekend ... Teammate, Jeff Frazee (2003-05), backstopped the Golden Gophers to a 3-1 victory on Saturday after making 18 saves against the Huskies.

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

KANE LEADS NHL ROOKIES IN POINTS: Patrick Kane (2004-06) leads all NHL rookies with 27 points (7-20). The second-youngest player in the NHL, Kane handed out a career-high three assists, including a helper on the Chicago Blackhawks game-winner against Tampa Bay (Nov. 28).

Kane finished with 16 points (5-11) last month, and 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. He is the first NTDP player to be recognized as the rookie of the month by the NHL.

OTHER NHL NOTES: New York Islanders goaltender Rick DiPietro (1997-99) is tied for fourth in the NHL with 12 wins, and is tied for 12th in the league with a 2.40 goals against average ... Nick Foligno (2003-04) of the Ottawa Senators dished out his first assist of the year Nov. 29 ... Ryan Kesler (2000-02) tied a career high with two goals for the Vancouver Canucks Nov. 27 ... Mike Komisarek (1999-2000) has appeared in a team-high 147 consecutive games for the Montreal Canadiens ... Peter Mueller (2003-05) of the Phoenix Coyotes is tied for sixth among NHL rookies with 10 points (6-4) ... Patrick O'Sullivan (2000-01) has doled out three assists in his last five games for the Los Angeles Kings ... David Steckel (1998-2000) is tied for first among Washington Capitals with a +3 rating. Steckel leads all rookies, and is in the top 20 overall in faceoffs ... Ryan Suter (2001-03) has tied a career high with four points (1-3) in his last three games. He leads the Nashville Predators' defensemen with 11 points (3-8), and is tied for first on the squad in power-play points (6 assists) ... David Tanabe (1997-98) registered his first goal of the 2007-08 season with the Carolina Hurricanes Dec. 3 ... R.J. Umberger (1998-2000) has generated six points (1-5) in his last five games with the Philadelphia Flyers.

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