NAHL U.S. National Team

U.S. Nat'l Under-18 Team Set To Host NCAA Division I Canisius, Travel to Division III Colby

November 21, 2006 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
U.S. National Team News Release


THIS WEEK: The U.S. National Under-18 Team will host NCAA Division I Canisius College at the Ann Arbor Ice Cube (Ann Arbor, Mich.) on Wednesday (Nov 22) at 7:00 p.m. EST. Team USA will then travel to the state of Maine to compete in the Colby/Bowdoin Faceoff Classic, where it will first face NCAA Division III Colby University in Waterville, Maine, on Saturday (Nov. 25) at 5:30 p.m. Day two of the Classic will pit Team USA versus NCAA Division III Bowdoin University in Brunswick, Maine, on Sunday (Nov. 26) at 6:30 p.m.

U.S. HEAD COACH RON ROLSTON ON THE WEEKEND AHEAD: "We've got a big week ahead of us. It's a great opportunity for us to play a Division I opponent at our home rink to start things off. Then, going to the Maine will give us another big test versus a pair of quality college opponents. Our team is excited about the challenging week."

GAME NOTES - CANISIUS: The U.S. National Under-18 Team topped Canisius 5-2 last season at the Ann Arbor Ice Cube. Forward Patrick Kane (Buffalo, N.Y./2004-06) led the offense for Team USA with two goals, including the eventual game-winning goal in the second period. Chris Atkinson (Sparta, N.J./2004-06) and Greg Squires (White Plains, N.Y./2004-06) also had two points for Team USA ... The U.S. National Under-18 Team is 3-0-0 in the past three meetings between the two teams, dating back to the 2004-05 season.

GAME NOTES - COLBY/ BOWDOIN CLASSIC: The U.S. National Under-18 Team did not compete in the Colby/Bowdoin Faceoff Classic last season ... Team USA won the championship at the event each year from 2001-04 ... Team USA topped Colby 5-1 in Waterville, Maine, on Nov. 28, 2004, after defeating Bowdoin the night before by the same count in Brunswick, Maine.

U.S. NATIONAL UNDER-18 TEAM NOTES: U.S. National Under-18 Team members James vanRiemsdyk (Middletown, N.J.), Colin Wilson (Greenwich, Conn.), Ryan Hayes (Syracuse, N.Y.) and Cade Fairchild (Duluth, Minn.) will receive championship rings in a ceremony prior to Wednesday's game versus Canisius for their participation on the gold-medal winning U.S. National Under-18 Team at the 2006 International Ice Hockey Federation World Under-18 Championship in Angelholm, Sweden ...vanRiemsdyk is currently ranked second in 2007 NHL entry draft projections by International Scouting Services. vanRiemsdyk has recorded 12 points (7-5) in nine games versus NCAA opponents.

NTDP ALUMNI UPDATE: Twenty-four NTDP alumni will be in action this weekend with their current teams at the College Hockey Showcase in Minneapolis, Minn., and Madison, Wis. The showcase features the University of Minnesota, the University of Wisconsin, the University of Michigan and Michigan State University will all be competing. Wisconsin and Minnesota will host both Michigan schools on either Friday or Saturday nights ... Michigan forward T.J. Hensick (Howell, Mich./2001-03) leads the nation in assists with 18.

LAST WEEK: The U.S. National Under-18 Team tied NCAA Division I opponent Robert Morris University, 2-2, at the RMU Island Sports Arena in Moon Township, Pa. Forwards James vanRiemsdyk and Colin Wilson both recorded a goal and an assist in the contest. Goaltender Brad Phillips (Farmington Hills, Mich.) stopped 30 shots between the pipes for the National Team.

UP NEXT: The U.S. National Under-18 Team will travel to Grand Forks, N.D., to face off against the No. 9 NCAA Division I North Dakota Fighting Sioux at Ralph Engelstad Arena on Friday, December 1, at 8:35 p.m. EST. The following evening (Dec. 2) the National Team will take on the Fargo-Moorhead Jets of the North American Hockey League at the Carlson Coliseum in Fargo, N.D, at 9:00 p.m.

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 eight years NTDP players have been eligible for the draft, 124 players have been selected, including the number one overall selection in both 2000 (Rick DiPietro) and 2006 (Erik Johnson).

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North American Hockey League Stories from November 21, 2006


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