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NAHL U.S. National Team

U.S. National Under-18 Team Weekly

January 31, 2008 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
U.S. National Team News Release


THIS WEEK: The U.S. National Under-18 Team travels to Notre Dame, Ind., for a game against the University of Notre Dame this Friday (Feb. 1) at the Joyce Center. Opening faceoff is set for 7:35 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 142-101-9-8 (W-L-T-OTL).

SERIES HISTORY WITH NOTRE DAME: The U.S. National Under-18 Team and the Fighting Irish have met on three prior occasions, dating back to the 2001-02 season. Team USA is 1-2 in the series, with its victory (7-2) coming on Nov. 19, 2004. Notre Dame recorded a 3-2 victory on Dec. 21, 2001, and a 4-0 triumph on Nov. 14, 2003. All three previous contests have taken place at the Joyce Center.

ABOUT THE FIGHTING IRISH: Under the direction of former National Team Development Program head coach (1996-2000), Jeff Jackson, Notre Dame (20-9-1, 13-6-1 CCHA) currently ranks fourth (27 points) in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association standings. Notre Dame is currently ranked eighth in the USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine Men's College Hockey Poll. (Jan. 28). The Fighting Irish posted a 32-7-3 overall record a year ago, and was the CCHA regular-season and tournament champion and made its second NCAA Tournament appearance in program history.

A total of 19 former NTDP players have donned Fighting Irish uniforms, including five current members of Notre Dame's team - Ian Cole (2005-07), Kyle Lawson (2004-05), Jordan Pearce (2002-04), Brad Phillips (2005-07) and Teddy Ruth (2005-07).

Eric Condra is the top offensive producer for the Fighting Irish with 30 points (11-19). Pearce (16-8-1, 1.93, .915) has amassed 1520 minutes of time between the pipes, while Phillips (4-1-0, 1.53, .923) has seen 275 minutes of game action.

U.S. NATIONAL UNDER-18 TEAM NOTES: Jeremy Morin (Auburn, N.Y.) has totaled six points (four goals, two assists) in three games with the U.S. National Under-18 Team this season ... Patrick Gaul (Pittsburgh, Pa.) compiled his first two-goal game of the year, and third multi-point performance of the season, in a 5-2 win at Northern Michigan (Jan. 26) ... David Warsofsky (Marshfield, Mass.), who tallied a goal and an assist at NMU (Jan. 26), continues to lead the Team USA defensive corps with 21 points (8-13) ... David Wohlberg (South Lyon, Mich.) netted a goal against the Wildcats (Jan. 26) in his first appearanace with the U.S. National Under-18 Team since Jan. 8. He notched six points (5-1) in six games with the U.S. National Under-17 Team during that stretch ... The U.S. National Under-18 Team has amassed one win against three of the six NCAA Division I men's hockey conferences this season - one against Yale University and Harvard University (ECAC Hockey -- Dec. 1, Dec. 9), one vs. the University of Minnesota Duluth (Western Collegiate Hockey Association -- Dec. 14) and another at Northern Michigan University (Central Collegiate Hockey Association -- Jan. 26).

SCHROEDER LEADING THE OFFENSE: Jordan Schroeder (Prior Lake, Minn.) has compiled a team-best 23 points (8-15), including an assist at NMU (Jan. 26). Not only is Schroeder pacing the U.S. National Under-18 Team in points, he finished second on the U.S. National Junior Team with eight points (1-7), and was tied for first among all players in assists at the 2008 International Ice Hockey Federation World Junior Championship in Pardubice and Liberec, Czech Republic (Dec. 26-Jan. 5). In addition, Schroeder was the youngest player on the 2008 U.S. National Junior Team roster.

MORIN PARTICIPATES IN AHL ALL-STAR GAME: Jeremy Morin competed as a RBC Future All-Star at the 2008 AHL All-Star Classic in Binghamton, N.Y. on Jan. 27. The RBC Future All-Stars participated alongside the AHL All-Stars in select events during the 2008 AHL All-Star Skills Competition.

UP NEXT: Team USA will travel to Varkaus, Finland, for the 2008 Five Nations Tournament Feb. 6-10. The U.S. National Under-18 Team opens the event next Wednesday (Feb. 6) against Sweden at 11:30 a.m. EST.

HOCKEY WEEKEND ACROSS AMERICA: Hockey Weekend Across America, a new initiative led by USA Hockey to celebrate the game at all levels and expose hockey to new audiences, is set for Feb. 15-17.

Each of the three days of the weekend has a theme including Friday's (Feb. 15) Wear Your Favorite Hockey Jersey to School Day; Saturday's (Feb. 16) Bring a Friend to the Rink Day; and Sunday's (Feb. 17) Celebrate Local Hockey Heroes Day.

Fans are encouraged to visit the event website at HockeyWeekendAcrossAmerica.com to learn more about the weekend and also enter for a chance to win great prizes in Hockey Weekend Across America's Great Prize Giveaway. One grand prize winner each day will receive a Reebok Hockey Head-to-Toe prize package valued at $3,000.

NTDP WELL REPRESENTED IN THE NHL: Over 40 former players from USA Hockey's National Team Development Program have played in the National Hockey League this season.

NHL NOTES: Chicago Blackhawk, Patrick Kane (2004-06), the second-youngest player in the NHL, leads all rookies with 45 points (12-33) ... Peter Mueller (2003-05) of the Phoenix Coyotes is tied for third among NHL rookies with 32 points (15-17) ... Erik Johnson (2004-06) has compiled 17 points (3-14) with the St. Louis Blues, which ranks fourth among NHL rookie defensemen ... Washington Capital David Steckel (1998-2000) is tied for 31st among NHL newcomers with nine points (4-5) ... Ron Hainsey (1997-99) of the Columbus Blue Jackets is tied for 23rd among NHL blueliners with 24 points (5-19).

AHL NOTES: T.J. Hensick (2001-03), Jimmy Howard (2001-02), Matt Lashoff (2002-03), Greg Moore (2000-02) and Brett Sterling (2000-02) were all selected to the Planet USA roster for the 2008 American Hockey League All-Star Game (Jan. 28).

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 (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.

NCAA NOTES: The Universiry of Michigan's Kevin Porter (2002-04) leads all of NCAA Division I with 39 points (22-17). He has been listed as one of three potential finalists for the Hobey Baker Memorial Award by Inside College Hockey ... Nathan Gerbe (2003-05) ranks third nationally with 37 points (19-18) for Boston College. He is also listed as one of three potential finalists for the Hobey Baker Memorial Award by Inside College Hockey.

NHL CENTRAL SCOUTING'S MID-TERM RANKINGS: A total of 13 players with ties to the NTDP were recognized as potential draft picks for the 2008 National Hockey League Entry Draft, according to NHL Central Scouting's mid-term rankings (Jan. 9). NHL Central Scouting will announce 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 NTP are highlighted in the rankings below.

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.

- 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.

Check out the U.S. National Team Statistics



North American Hockey League Stories from January 31, 2008


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