NAHL U.S. National Team

U.S. National Under-18 Team Weekly

Published on December 11, 2007 under North American Hockey League (NAHL)
U.S. National Team News Release


THIS WEEK: The U.S. National Under-18 Team will travel to the Twin Ports of Duluth, Minn., and Superior, Wis., this 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 Wessman Arena. Both games will start at 7:05 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 138-97-9-8 (W-L-T-OTL).

COACH HYNES ON THE TRIP TO THE TWIN PORTS: "We have to be even better than we were last weekend. Our team has to continue to develop and strengthen our team identity, mental toughness and team camaraderie."

SERIES HISTORY WITH MINNESOTA DULUTH: The U.S. National Under-18 Team dropped its lone matchup against the Bulldogs back on Jan. 7, 2006, at the DECC.

ABOUT THE BULLDOGS: Minnesota Duluth (6-6-4, 5-6-3 WCHA) is a member of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association, and ranks third in the conference standings with 13 points.

Former NTDP defenseman Trent Palm (2004-06) has tallied five points (1-4) for the Bulldogs this year. UMD features three players with 11 points - Matt McKnight, Jason Garrison and Josh Meyers. Alex Stalock (6-6-4, 2.42, .910) has logged a WCHA-high 965:39 minutes of action in net.

SERIES HISTORY WITH WISCONSIN-SUPERIOR: The U.S. National Under-18 Team and Wisconsin-Superior skated to a 5-5 overtime tie in the lone meeting between the two teams back on Jan. 6, 2006, at Wessman Arena.

ABOUT THE YELLOWJACKETS: The Yellowjackets (5-4-4, 2-3-1 NCHA ) are an NCAA Division III institution, and they compete in the Northern Collegiate Hockey Association. They are currently tied for fifth in the league standings with five points.

Eric Bausano leads the UWS offensive attack with nine points (5-4). Derek Paige is the leading point-getter on the blue line with eight (5-3). Chad Beiswenger (4-2-2, 1.56, .929) and Mike Rosett (1-2-2, 2.65, .888) have shared time between the pipes for the Yellowjackets.

UP NEXT: The U.S. National Under-18 Team will take a break from competition until the first week of January. Team USA resumes its NCAA schedule with a bus trip to Big Rapids, Mich., where it will play Ferris State University on Jan. 4 at Ewigleben Arena. The team returns to the Ann Arbor Ice Cube Jan. 5 to host Geneseo State University. Opening faceoff is slated for 7:05 p.m. ET against FSU and 7 p.m. ET vs. GSU.

U.S. NATIONAL UNDER-18 TEAM NOTES: Jordan Schroeder (Prior Lake, Minn.) continues to lead the U.S. National Under-18 Team with 18 points (7-11). He tallied one assist at Boston University (Dec. 8), and another at Harvard (Dec. 9) ... Danny Kristo (Eden Prairie, Minn.) owns a team-best 11 goals, including two power-play markers ... Robbie Czarnik (Washington, Mich.) posted three points (2-1) last weekend at BU and Harvard. He netted his first game-winning goal against the Crimson ... Kevin McCarey (Baldwinsville, N.Y.) chipped in his first two-goal performance of the season in Team USA's victory over Harvard ... David Wohlberg (South Lyon, Mich.) filed his first multi-point effort of the 2007-08 campaign at Harvard.

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 and Danny Kristo have each 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 a goal for Bentley against Sacred Heart (Dec. 5), while also adding an assist vs. UMass-Lowell (Dec. 8).

COLLEGE HOCKEY AMERICA NOTES: John Vadnais (2002-03) ranks second among Bemidji State defensemen with four points (1-3), and has helped the Beavers post a four-game unbeaten streak. BSU is in first place in the CHA standings with 14 points.

CENTRAL COLLEGIATE HOCKEY ASSOCIATION NOTES: Wylie Rogers (2002-03) was named CCHA Goaltender of the Week (Dec. 10) after he posted 32 saves in helping Alaska record a 3-0 victory over No. 1-ranked Miami (Dec. 8) ... Teammate Nathan Lawrence (2003-04) tallied a power-play goal in the Nanooks' win over the RedHawks ... Michigan's Kevin Porter (2002-04) is in the midst of his second eight-game point streak of the season. He tallied two goals and an assist in a sweep of Bowling Green (Dec. 7-8). Porter has 17 points (9-8) in his most recent point streak. He leads the nation in goals (18) and points (29) ... Fellow Wolverine Chad Kolarik (2002-04) tallied a goal and an assist against BGSU (Dec. 7) ... Chris Summers (2004-06) chipped in the game-winning goal at Bowling Green (Dec. 7).

ECAC HOCKEY NOTES: Billy Blase (2003-05) of Yale ranks seventh in the country with a 1.68 goals against average, and is eighth nationally with a .937 save percentage ... Chad Morin (2003-05) doled out his first assist of the year in Harvard's 2-2 tie against Vermont (Dec. 8).

HOCKEY EAST ASSOCIATION NOTES: Nathan Gerbe (2003-05) of Boston College is tied for fifth among Hockey East players with 16 points (9-7) ... New Hampshire's James vanRiemsdyk (2005-07) is tied for first among Hockey East freshmen with 15 points (6-9).

WESTERN COLLEGIATE HOCKEY ASSOCIATION NOTES: Rhett Rakhshani (2004-06) was recognized as the Inside College Hockey Player of the Week (Dec. 10) and the WCHA Offensive Player of the Week (Dec. 11) after he amassed four goals in a weekend sweep of St. Cloud State. Rakhshani scored one goal Friday night, and followed that up with a natural hat trick in a six-minute span during the third period of Saturday night's contest. One of his goals was shorthanded, and another was the game-winning tally. Mike Hoeffel (2006-07) contributed two goals to help Minnesota top North Dakota (Dec. 8).

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 28 points (7-21). 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) 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: Phoenix Coyote defenseman Keith Ballard (1999-2001) netted his first game-winner of the season against the Los Angeles Kings (Dec. 8) ... Matt Hunwick (2001-03) registered his first point in the NHL, an assist, vs. Toronto (Dec. 8) ... Peter Mueller (2003-05) chipped in a season-high three points (1-2) against the L.A. Kings. He ranks sixth among NHL rookies with 15 points (8-7) ... Ryan Suter (2001-03) provided the game-winning goal vs. the Anaheim Mighty Ducks (Dec. 8). He has amassed five points (2-3) in his last seven games.

USA HOCKEY "HOCKEY WEEKEND ACROS 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 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.

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North American Hockey League Stories from December 11, 2007


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