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NAHL U.S. National Team

U.S. National Under-18 Team Weekly

February 4, 2008 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
U.S. National Team News Release


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

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 142-102-9-12 (W-L-T-OTL).

FIVE NATIONS TOURNAMENT HISTORY: The U.S. National Under-18 Team owns a 24-10-2 record in nine prior appearances at the Five Nations Tournament. Team USA won the event in 1999, 2005 and 2007, and took second in 2000, 2001, 2002 and 2006.

The U.S. National Under-18 Team went 4-0 at the 2007 Under-18 Five Nations Tournament in Most, Czech Republic. Team USA edged the Czech Republic (3-1) in the opening game of the tournament, before defeating Finland (3-2 shootout), Sweden (3-2 overtime) and Russia (3-2 shootout).

U.S. NATIONAL UNDER-18 TEAM NOTES: Jeremy Morin (Auburn, N.Y.) has totaled six points (four goals, two assists) in four games with the U.S. National Under-18 Team this season. He has compiled a club-high 46 points (28-18) in 37 games with the U.S. National Under-17 Team this year ... Ryan Bourque (Boxford, Mass.) has chipped in three points (1-2) in four games with the U.S. National Under-18 Team, including an assist at Notre Dame (Feb. 1). He has amassed 27 points (15-12) in 38 games with the U.S. National Under-18 Team during the 2007-08 campaign ... Vinny Saponari (Powder Springs, Ga.) ranks second on the U.S. National Under-18 Team with 23 points (9-14) after tallying a goal against the Fighting Irish (Feb. 1) ... David Warsofsky (Marshfield, Mass.) continues to lead the Team USA defensive corps with 21 points (8-13) ... Joe Cannata (Wakefield, Mass.), who stopped 28 of 30 shots at Notre Dame (Feb. 1), is averaging 30.4 saves per game in his last five outings ... Five different players - Sam Lofquist (Faribault, Minn.), Danny Kristo (Eden Prairie, Minn.), Saponari, Warsofsky and David Wohlberg (South Lyon, Mich.) - have each registered three power-play goals for Team USA this year

SCHROEDER LEADING THE OFFENSE: Jordan Schroeder (Prior Lake, Minn.) has compiled a team-best 24 points (8-16), including an assist at Notre Dame (Feb. 1). 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.

FOLLOW THE U.S. NATIONAL UNDER-18 TEAM AT THE FIVE NATIONS TOURNAMENT: Log on to www.usahockey.com to access the most up-to-date information about the 2008 Five Nations Tournament, including post-game releases, box scores and updated stats. Live in-game statistics will be available through the Finnish Ice Hockey Association's web site at www.finhockey.fi.

UP NEXT: Team USA will compete in the North American Hockey League's first annual Top Prospects Tournament, set for February 17-19 at the Ice Cube in Ann Arbor, Mich. The event will feature all-star teams from the NAHL's Central, North and South Divisions, as well as a team from the U.S. National Team Development Program, competing in a three-game, round-robin tournament.

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.

NATIONAL TEAM DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM TRYOUTS: USA Hockey's National Team Development Program Tryout Camp will be held on March 22-25 at the Ann Arbor Ice Cube in Ann Arbor, Mich. A total of 46 players from the 1992 age group will be in attendance at the camp.

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.

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) leads all rookies with 45 points (12-33). He also ranks first in the NHL with five shootout goals ... Peter Mueller (2003-05) of the Phoenix Coyotes is third among NHL rookies with 33 points (15-18) ... Erik Johnson (2004-06) has compiled 17 points (3-14) with the St. Louis Blues, which ranks fourth among NHL rookie defensemen. He is second among rookie defensemen with +5 rating ... Philadelphia Flyer R.J. Umberger (1998-2000) ranks third on his team with 36 points (9-27).

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 University of Michigan's Kevin Porter (2002-04) leads all of NCAA Division I with 42 points (23-19) ... Bryan Lerg (2002-04) was named the Central Collegiate Hockey Association Offensive Player of the Week as a result of his five-point weeked in Michigan State University's split against the University of Nebraska Omaha. He scored a goal in a 5-4 overtime loss to UNO on Friday (Feb. 1), before notching two goals and two assists in the Spartans' 4-2 victory over the Mavericks on Saturday (Feb. 2) ... University of Alaska netminder Wylie Rogers (2002-03) garnered CCHA Goaltender of the Week accolades after stopping 75 of the 79 shots he faced in the Nanooks first sweep of the season vs. Western Michigan (Feb. 1-2) ... Boston College senior captain Mike Brennan (2002-04) played in his 149th collegiate game last Friday (Feb. 1), and is tied for 29th on the school's all-time list.

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North American Hockey League Stories from February 4, 2008


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