Sports stats

NAHL U.S. National Team

U.S. Nat'l Under-17 Team Weekly

January 28, 2008 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
U.S. National Team News Release


THIS WEEK: The U.S. National Under-17 Team hosts the Traverse City North Stars this Tuesday (Jan. 29) at the Ann Arbor Ice Cube. Opening faceoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET.

U.S. HEAD COACH RON ROLSTON: Ron Rolston is in his fourth season with USA Hockey's National Team Development Program. He has amassed a career record of 143-78-11-7 (W-L-T-OTL).

SEASON SERIES AGAINST THE NORTH STARS: The U.S. National Under-17 Team is 3-2 against Traverse City this season. Team USA is 2-2 in Traverse City and 1-0 vs. the North Stars at the Ann Arbor Cube. The U.S. National Under-17 Team split its last series with the North Stars in Traverse City (Jan. 25-26). After dropping a 4-1 decision in the series opener, Team USA responded with a 3-2 shootout win in the series finale.

ABOUT TRAVERSE CITY: The North Stars are 12-18-10 overall, and rank sixth in the North American Hockey League North Division standings with 34 points.

Harrison Niemann is the top offensive producer for Traverse City up front with 44 points (17-27). Brandon Stephenson (5-11-4, 3.60, .877) has seen the bulk of the playing time (1216:59) for the North Stars this year, but Chris Paliafito (3-6-5, 3.36, .890) has also garnered 891:48 of game action.

U.S. NATIONAL UNDER-17 TEAM NOTES: The U.S. National Under-18 and Under-17 Teams have combined to field a 20-18-2 record in the NAHL North Division standings, good for fifth place with 42 points. Team USA is three points behind fourth-place Marquette. The top four teams in the division will qualify for the NAHL playoffs ... The U.S. National Under-17 Team has won 16 games when it tallies at least four goals ... Eleven of Team USA's 23 wins this year have come in games it scored five or more goals ... Team USA is 2-2 in shootouts during the 2007-08 slate ... The U.S. National Under-17 Team has received game-winning goals from 12 different players in the 2007-08 campaign ... Chris Brown (Flower Mound, Texas), Kevin Lynch (Grosse Pointe, Mich.) and Jeremy Morin (Auburn, N.Y.) lead the U.S. National Under-17 Team with three game-winning goals apiece ... Zach Golembiewski (St. Clair, Mich.) contributed two goals in last weekend's series at Traverse City (Jan. 25-26) ... Beau Schmitz (Howell, Mich.) increased his season point total to 12 (4-8) with a goal against the North Stars (Jan. 26). He ranks second among Team USA defensemen in points ... Jerry D'Amigo (Binghamton, N.Y.) notched his first game-winner of the year in Team USA's 3-2 shootout victory at Traverse City (Jan. 26) ... D'Amigo and Jeremy Morin competed as RBC Future All-Stars 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 ... Nick Maricic (Alta Loma, Calif.), who played in his first game with the U.S. National Under-17 Team of the season last Saturday (Jan. 26), made 21 saves in Team USA's 3-2 shootout win ... A total of 15 players from the 2007-08 U.S. National Under-17 Team have verbally committed to play NCAA Division I college hockey.

MATTSON OFFENSIVE ON THE BLUE LINE: Nick Mattson (Chanhassen, Minn.) has compiled one goal and 18 assists this season after handing out two helpers in Team USA's 3-2 shootout win at Traverse City (Jan. 26). His 19 points ranks first among Team USA defensemen. Born on Oct. 25, 1991, Mattson is the the second-youngest player on the the U.S. National Under-17 Team. Only Cam Fowler (Farmington Hills, Mich.), who was born on Dec. 5, 1991, is younger.

DUO STRONG IN NET: Adam Murray (Anchorage, Alaska) and Brandon Maxwell (Winter Park, Fla.) are a combined 8-5 in their last 13 games. Murray stopped 47 of the 48 he shots he faced in back-to-back wins over Marquette (Jan. 19, 21) at the NAHL Showcase in Boardman, Ohio. He secured his first shutout of the year Jan. 19, and followed that performance up by stopping 21 of 22 shots in a 4-1 victory Jan. 21. Maxwell is 6-3 in his nine eight games and 12-11 overall this season. He recorded Team USA's other shutout in an 8-0 win over Canada's Team Atlantic (Dec. 29) at the 2008 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge in London, Ontario.

UP NEXT: The U.S. National Under-17 Team travels to Piestany, Slovakia, where it will compete in the Vlad Dzurilla Four Nations Tournament Feb. 7-9.

FOLLOWING THE U.S. NATIONAL UNDER-17 TEAM: Log on to www.nahl.com/b2.cfm to access B2 Networks, which provides live video broadcasts for each of Team USA's games against NAHL opponents.

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.

- 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.

HOCKEY WEEKEND ACROSS AMERICA: USA Hockey will lead the first-ever Hockey Weekend Across America, a three-day nationwide celebration of the sport set for Feb. 15-17, 2008.

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.

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.

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.

Check out the U.S. National Team Statistics



North American Hockey League Stories from January 28, 2008


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

Other Recent U.S. National Team Stories



Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central