Sunday, March 25, 2012

Hitchcock to USA National Team Development Program

Press Release

NEWARK, NJ – The New Jersey Rockets are pleased to announce that Junior B forward Ryan Hitchcock (’96 birth year/Manhasset, NY & committed to Yale University) has been offered and accepted a place with USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program, based out of Ann Arbor, Michigan after the conclusion of the programs Top-40 camp. The program consists of a U17 and a U18 program, which is combined into one team, which, in addition to its commitment to international and collegiate competition, plays a full-season 60 game schedule in the USHL. (Courtesy of USA Hockey release dated 2/26/09) This is the second year in a row that a New Jersey Rockets player has accepted a place with the NTDP as Hitchcock will follow in the footsteps of Kevin Labanc (’95 birth year/Staten Island, NY & committed to Notre Dame University) who joined the program this past September.

Hitchcock, who recently helped the Junior B’s secure the 2012 MJHL Keegan Cup, has been a constant and steady producer for Head Coach Bob Thornton and all season long with a program high 126 points (56 goals and a program high 70 assists) over 76 games and was named the Most Valuable Player of the Metropolitan Junior Hockey League.
“This is an unbelievable way to conclude your first year of Junior Hockey,” commented Thornton. “To be named the most valuable player, score over 120 points, win a league championship, get a Division One commitment and add to that suiting up in the Red, White and Blue. It doesn’t get any better from an accomplishment standpoint. All the credit in the world goes to Ryan because he has put in a tremendous amount of time, effort and energy into this past season and his hard work has paid off and then some. He is a fine example and role model for youth players because of his combination of ability and academics and is an example of the type of development that occurs in the Rocket organization.”

“It is a great honor to play for Team USA,” said Hitchcock. “It has been a dream of mine to play for my country. I cannot thank Coach Thornton and the Rockets coaching staff for everything they’ve done to get me into this position. I’m looking forward to entering into the next phase of my playing career.”

The Manhasset native will become the attempt to join Labanc in following Rockets alumni David Kolomatis and John Carlson in using the USANTDP as a stepping stone towards his NHL dream. “Obviously I’d love to make it to the NHL,” said Hitchcock. “But right now I’m focused on our team winning a national championship and then moving on to represent my country in the fall.”

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

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