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NAHL U.S. National Team

USNTDP players 'equal' to the pros - Yzerman

December 9, 2004 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
U.S. National Team News Release


Picture it: You are a with U.S. National Team Development Program (NTDP) Under-18 squad and you have been asked to play a charity game to help Mott's Children's Hospital in Ann Arbor, Michigan. "Great!" you say.

Now they tell you who you will be playing.

You have just swallowed your gum, because you have been told you will be playing Chris Chelios, Sergei Samsonov. Kris Draper, Manny Legace, Kip Miller, Kevin Miller, Brian Rolston, Chris Tamer and "The Captain" -- Steve Yzerman -- to name a few!

Awestruck, you arrive at the rink to find out that a late addition to the pro roster is Sergei Federov.

Now, with deer-in-the-headlight eyes, you become even more starstruck, because you have learned the coaches for the pros will be Kid Rock, Tara Reid and Detroit Tigers outfielder Bobby Higginson.

Over 6,500 people, a capacity crowd, paid $10 per ticket for the game to raise money for Ann Arbor's Mott's Children's Hospital and see future NHL stars take on current and former NHL stars. All proceeds from the event, which also included a silent auction for autographed sticks, pucks, posters, pictures and other memorabilia, benefited the "Champions for Children" campaign to build a new C.S. Mott Children's Hospital.

"It's unbelievable out there, looking at the players you have grown up watching" stated U.S. forward Phil Kessel who, after several post-game interviews, showered and changed in record time so he could get autographs from the pro players.

As for the game, the pros won 6-2, but the NTDP players garnered the attention of the pros.

"The kids (NTDP players) were pretty quick," said Yzerman. "Their ability to skate is probably equal to any of us for the most part."

U.S. goaltender Jeff Frazee stole the show with several acrobatic saves that brought the fans to their feet. Of his many saves, he twice stoned a cherry-picking Chris Chelios on breakaways, after Chelios moved to the center position in the second period.

Kris Draper led the charge for the pros as he netted a hat trick. Phil Kessel and Andreas Vlassopolous scored for the Under-18 Team.

Many of the NHLers played for the University of Michigan, but the game also had a strong NAHL connection. The Under-18 team plays in the NAHL, of course, and Rolston and the Miller brothers are all graduates of the NAHL -- Kevin Miller with the Redford Royals, and Rolston and Kip Miller with Detroit Compuware Ambassadors. In addition, Bryan Smolinski is serving this season as the official spokesman for the Toldeo IceDiggers.

Dave Roberts, a former U-M hockey club member and professional hockey player, organized the event to get his fellow hockey players and former U-M teammates back on the ice for a good cause. Roberts decided to make the Mott campaign the focus of the charity event following a conversation with his former hockey coach at U-M, Red Berenson.

The "Champions for Children" campaign, lead by co-chairs University of Michigan head football coach Lloyd Carr, University of Michigan Regent David A. Brandon and wives Laurie Carr and Jan Brandon, kicked-off in May 2004 to build for the future of children's and women's health in Michigan. The "Champions for Children" campaign is part of the $2.5 billion "Michigan Difference" campaign-taking place throughout the University.

Designed in the 1950s, Mott is currently struggling to keep up with recent advances in medical technology, patient care and research due to space limitations. Although its patients are small, Mott's needs are great. Mott hopes by increasing its capacity and clinic space, it will be able to meet that need by providing sick and injured children in Michigan, the United States and across the globe with even greater access to U-M's world-class medical care.

Next action: The Under-18 team will take on the Toledo IceDiggers on Tuesday, December 7, at the Ann Arbor Ice Cube. Toledo will broadcast the game at www.icediggers.com. This weekend the U-18's travel for a pair games against of Division I opponents. On December 11, they play the University of New Hampshire Wildcats in Durham, New Hampshire, and December 12, a contest against the Dartmouth Big Green in Hanover, New Hampshire.

united states national under-17 team

The U.S. Under-17 Team fell twice on the road to the Youngstown Phantoms, 3-2 on Friday, December 3 and 5-3 on Saturday, December 4.

NEXT ACTION: The U-17 team travels to Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, for a pair against the Soo Kewadin Casino Indians. Face-off for both games, Friday, December 10 and Saturday, December 11, will be 7:00 p.m. and will be broadcast by the Soo Indians. The broadcast can be accessed at www.sooindians.com.

PREVIOUS WEEK RECAP: Friday, December 3 – USA, 2, Youngstown, 3.

USA goaltender Joseph Palmer (Yorkville, New York) highlighted the game as he stopped 37 shots including 17 in the third period, and held the Phantoms scoreless on four power play attempts, but the U.S fell just short in a 3-2 loss to Youngstown.

The U.S. opened the scoring as Jim O'Brien tallied at 11:16 mark of the second period The Phantoms struck back in the final minute of second period, as defenseman Drew Fortney beat Palmer, who was screened in front, to tie it at 1-1 at the 19:10 mark.

In the third period, Mike Maltese gave the Phantoms a 2-1 lead at the 2:54 mark. His centering pass was blocked and redirected right back to him, and he then fired a wrist shot over Palmer's right shoulder. The lead lasted less than five minutes as Danny Fardig (Ann Arbor, Michigan) jammed the puck past Phantoms' goaltender Jerry Kuhn at 7:49, tying the game at 2-2. With 4:05 remaining in the game, Maltese came across the right face-off circle before firing a quick wrist shot that beat Palmer over his left shoulder for the game-winning goal.

Scoring:

USA: O'Brien (G), Fardig (G), Sweatt (A), Kane (A), Squires (A), Montgomery (A)

Phantoms: Maltese (2G), Fortney (G), O'Shell (A), Menzione (A), Meyer (A), Zarbro (A)

Saturday, December 4 – USA, 3, Youngstown, 5.

The Youngstown Phantoms gained sole possession of first place in the NAHL North Division by registering a 5-3 victory over the USA National Team. A hat trick by Aaron Rhyner helped the Phantoms up their season record to 15-6-2 (32 points) and leapfrog over Team USA (15-7-1, 31 points).

Youngstown jumped out in front early, scoring two goals in the first six minutes of the contest. Mike Maltese got the Phantoms on the scoreboard at the 1:05-mark of the opening period when he knocked the rebound of an Owen Meyer shot past Team USA goaltender Joseph Palmer (Yorkville, NewYork). Then a breakaway goal by Rhyner at 5:54 increased Youngstown's lead to 2-0.

Michael Carman (Apple Valley, Minnesota) got the U.S. on the board with a power play goal at 8:49 of the second period Rhyner scored his second goal of the night for the Phantoms on a power play at the 10:56 mark to restore the Phantoms' two-goal cushion.

A Patrick Kane (Buffalo, New York) even-strength tally at 12:43 of the middle period, made it 4-2 Youngstown. In the final period, USA pulled to within a goal when Danny Fardig (Ann Arbor, Michigan) scored his first-ever shorthanded goal with the NTDP at the 8:47 mark. An empty net goal late in the third would give the Phantoms a 5-3 lead and the win.

Scoring:

USA: Carman (PPG, A), Kane (G, A), Fardig (SHG), Ratchuk (A), Squires (A), Rakhshani (A)

Phantoms: Ryhner (PPG, 2G), Maltese (G, A), Meyer (G, A), Rassey (3A), Smith (2A), Canzaneri (A),

ALUMinnesotaI NEWS: Porter named CCHA Rookie of the Week. Umberger named AHL Rookie of the Month

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North American Hockey League Stories from December 9, 2004


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