Housley, McClanahan Named Head Coaches for CCM/USA Hockey All-American Prospects Game

Press Release

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Phil Housley and Rob McClanahan will be the head coaches for the first-ever CCM/USA Hockey All-American Prospects Game Sept. 29 in Buffalo, N.Y., it was annouced today by USA Hockey.

The event, which will feature 40 of the top American-born prospects eligible for the 2013 National Hockey League Entry Draft, will be staged at the First Niagara Center, home of the NHL's Buffalo Sabres.

Both Housley and McClanahan were key members of legendary U.S. teams -- Housley helped Team USA win the 1996 World Cup of Hockey championship and McClanahan contributed to the gold-medal effort at the 1980 Olympic Winter Games. Each also played for the Buffalo Sabres.

Housley spent 21 seasons in the National Hockey League. A first-round draft pick (sixth overall) of the Sabres in 1982, he spent the first eight years (1982-90) of his career there and, in 2007, was inducted into the Buffalo Sabres Hall of Fame. Housley also played for the Winnipeg Jets, St. Louis Blues, Calgary Flames, New Jersey Devils, Washington Capitals, Chicago Blackhawks and Toronto Maple Leafs. He concluded his career with 1,232 points (338-894), the most by an American-born defenseman.

Housley will be the head coach of the 2013 U.S. National Junior Team that will compete at the International Ice Hockey Federation World Junior Championship from Dec. 26, 2012 - Jan. 5, 2013, in Ufa, Russia. He has also served as an assistant coach for two (2007, 2011) U.S. National Junior Teams and one (2011) U.S. Men's National Team. In 2011-12, Housley completed his eighth campaign as head coach of the Stillwater (Minn.) High School boys' ice hockey team.

Housley had a remarkable playing career with Team USA, representing his country at 11 international tournaments, winning the 1996 World Cup of Hockey and earning a silver medal at the 202 Olympic Winter Games. He was inducted into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame in 2004 and the International Ice Hockey Federation Hall of Fame in 2012.

McClanahan is famously known for his role in helping the U.S. Olympic Men's Ice Hockey Team capture the gold medal at the 1980 Olympic Winter Games in Lake Placid, N.Y. Following its victory over the Soviet Union in the "Miracle on Ice," Team USA beat Finland to garner the gold medal. McClanahan notched the game-winning goal against the Finns and had five goals in seven Olympic contests. The 1980 U.S. Olympic Men's Ice Hockey Team was inducted into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame in 2003.

Additionally, McClanahan represented the United States at the 1979 International Ice Hockey Federation Men's World Championship and the 1982 Canada Cup.

Selected by the Buffalo Sabres in the 1978 NHL Entry Draft, McClanahan spent parts of two seasons (1980-81) with the Sabres. He also skated for the Hartford Whalers and New York Rangers during his NHL career, which concluded in 1984.

A native of St. Paul, Minn., and an alumnus of the University of Minnesota, McClanahan is now a businessman in Minneapolis.

Notes: Nick Fohr, assistant coach for USA Hockey's National Team Development Program Under-18 Team will serve as an assistant to Housley, while Don Granato, head coach for USA Hockey's NTDP Under-18 Team, will serve at McClanahan's assistant coach ... Players selected to compete in the inaugural CCM/USA Hockey All-American Prospects Game were chosen by USA Hockey in conjunction with NHL Central Scouting ... Players selected to partcipate represent 13 different states. Minnesota leads the way with seven and Illinois and Michigan bring six apiece. Other states include California, Colorado, Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas and Wisconsin ... Four players from the USHL's Waterloo Blackhawks are among the players selected, including two goaltenders ... Of the 40 players, 31 played their most recent season in the USHL, five come from U.S. high schools, two are from the Ontario Hockey League, one comes from the Western Hockey League and one represents the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League ... Uniforms for the event were designed by Nike and can be viewed here.


(Nathan can be reached at nathanfournier@mainehockeyjournal.com)