Friday, August 19, 2011

2011-12 U.S. National Under-17 Team Roster and Schedule Announced

Press Release

ANN ARBOR, Mich. - USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program, which celebrates its 15th season on ice this season, today announced the roster and schedule for its 2011-12 U.S. National Under-17 Team. The squad, comprised of some of the top American-born players in the 1995 birth year, will compete against teams from the United States Hockey League and North American Hockey League, in addition to taking part in three international competitions during the course of the season.

The 21-player roster features seven defensemen, including Gage Ausmus (Grand Forks, Minn.), Will Butcher (Sun Prairie, Wis.), Trevor Hamilton (Grosse Pointe Farms, Mich.), Clint Lewis (Burnsville, Minn.), Steven Santini (Mahopac, N.Y.), Scott Savage (San Clemente, Calif.) and Keaton Thompson (Devil’s Lake, N.D.).

The 12 forwards include Evan Allen (Sterling Heights, Mich.), Connor Chatham (Belleville, Ill.), J.T. Compher (Northbrook, Ill.), Dawson Cook (Cadillac, Mich.), Hudson Fasching (Burnsville, Minn.), John Hayden (Greenwich, Conn.), Tyler Kelleher (Longmeadow, Mass.), Kevin Lebanc (Staten Island, N.Y.), Anthony Louis (Winfield, Ill.), Michael McCarron (Macomb, Mich.), Tyler Motte (St. Clair, Mich.) and Luke Voltin (Blaine, Minn.).

Backstopping Team USA will be Curtis Frye (Northwood, N.H.) and Hunter Miska (North Branch, Minn.).

Don Granato is in his first season at the NTDP and will serve as the head coach of the U.S. National Under-17 Team for the 2011-12 season, while Chadd Cassidy, who worked with the U.S. National Under-18 Team last season, will serve as assistant coach.

The U.S. National Under-17 Team kicks off the 2011-12 campaign on the road with a NAHL exhibition contest Sept. 10 against the Kalamazoo Jr. K-Wings. It will begin its 34-game USHL regular-season schedule Sept. 30 at the Ann Arbor Ice Cube against the Youngstown Phantoms.

The U.S. will compete internationally at the 2011 Four Nations Cup Nov. 5-13 in Russia; at the 2011 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge in Windsor, Ont., from Dec. 18, 2011-Jan. 6, 2012; and at the 2012 Vlad Dzurilla Under-18 Tournament Feb. 7-13 in Piestany, Slovakia.


(Nathan can be reached at fourniern@students.nescom.edu)

No comments: