September 2012 Volume 18 ISSUE 1
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tanding in front of a hung Buffalo Sabres logo tarp, a surplus item given to the Junior-A team last year, Peca was hosting his first formal news briefing as the team’s head coach, a role he added a few months after joining the team as its general manager.
Read the full story by Michael Mroziak
Buffalo Jr. Sabres: The Peca Era Begins
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September 2012 Volume 18 ISSUE 1
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Alumni Plaza
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Sabres Announce Tryouts for Jr. Sabres 12U Teams
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he Buffalo Sabres have announced tryout information for the Buffalo Jr. Sabres 12U hockey team, set to compete at the 53rd Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament from Feb. 14 to 24, 2013 at Pepsi Coliseum in Quebec. The Buffalo Jr. Sabres 12U team will be composed of elite 12-year-old pee-wee hockey players from Western and Central New York, and coached by former Buffalo Sabres defenseman and 10-year NHL veteran Rory Fitzpatrick. A panel of local talent evaluators comprised of six to eight hockey experts with different hockey backgrounds, each representing either Buffalo, Rochester or Syracuse, will select the players to be included on the team. The goal is to select the very best athletes who are committed and hard working both on and off the ice. The Buffalo Jr. Sabres 12U team will participate in the annual Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament held each February at the Pepsi Coliseum in Quebec City. The tournament, commonly referred to as the “Pee-Wee World Championship,” is the oldest and most prestigious youth hockey tournament in
the world. An estimated 2,300 Pee-Wee players – ages 11 and 12 years old – travel from 16 different countries to participate in the event, which draws about 200,000 fans each year. Many stars from the National Hockey League have participated in the tournament, including current Sabres players Thomas Vanek and Nathan Gerbe. In order to be eligible for the team, players must have been born in the year 2000. There will be two separate tryouts – one in Buffalo, and one in Rochester – and players are encouraged to attend only the tryout in the city closest to their home. Tryouts are open to all Tier-1 players. Any Tier-2 player interested in trying out must submit a special request to be considered by the selection committee. Following the initial tryout, select players will be invited to a final tryout. The tryout fee is $30, which will include a spot in tryouts and a commemorative jersey for each player. For more information, or to register, visit Sabres.com and fill out the registration form. Registrants will be notified of their exact tryout time slots by e-mail. For any questions
or comments, please call Sabres Youth H o c k e y Manager Ed Grudzinski at (716)855-4174.
What: Tryouts for Buffalo Jr. Sabres 12U hockey team Who: All Tier-1 Pee-Wee level players born in 2000 are eligible to try out. Where: Buffalo tryout – Northtown Center 1615 Amherst Manor Drive Williamsville, NY 14221 Rochester tryout – The Sports Centre at MCC, 2700 Brighton Henrietta Town Line Road Brighton, NY 14623 When: Buffalo – Sept. 10 from 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Rochester/Syracuse – Sept. 12 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. We ask that all participants arrive early to sign in. Contact: Ed Grudzinski at (716) 855-4174
LET’S TALK HOCKEY by Dave Reichert
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he Buffalo Sabres and WGR Sports radio 550 are giving the hockey fans of Western New York another outlet to feed the area’s rabid interest in the Sabres and the NHL. Sabres Hockey Hotline airs on WGR Monday- Friday from 10:00 AM – 12:00PM. The show is hosted by Kevin Sylvester. Sylvester is entering his eight season with the Sabres. With the new show Sylvester returns to his roots, morning radio in Buffalo. In addition to his responsibilities as the host, Sylvester is also serving as the executive producer of the new venture.
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“I get to talk about the Sabres and the NHL for a couple of hours a day,” explained Sylvester. “What I really enjoy is taking the questions from fans, having the ability to clarify things or help fans understand how some things work a little better.” Sylvester brings experience to his new role, during his time with team he has served as host for intermission segments, pre and post game shows as well as a play by play announcer. Perhaps the biggest luxury afforded to both Sylvester and the fans with the new format is time. The two hour daily block provides the opportunity to discuss varied topics in a longer form.
“You have a format where you can explain,” said Sylvester. “It gives you the opportunity to explore things much more than you can in an intermission segment.” On most Tuesday and Thursday broadcasts Sylvester has a well known in studio cohost to work with. Former Sabres’ enforcer Andrew Peters offers his insight regarding the Sabres and the National Hockey league. “He’s with me a couple of days a week,” said Sylvester. “I had good chemistry with him when he was a player on the team. I think so far we have pretty good chemistry on the radio together. That’s the great thing about the radio show. I get to interact
with somebody like Andrew. We also have Kevin Snow from Sabres.com on quite frequently. In addition we take phone calls from fans and utilize social media. One of the reasons the show created was to give hockey fans a chance to interact with the Buffalo Sabres. I’m humbled that I’m the guy they get to interact with me.” While the show maintains a focus on The Buffalo Sabres it also devotes considerable time to the rest of the hockey world as well. “I enjoy talking to other broadcasters, writers and reporters that cover the league and the other teams around the continued page 8
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By Michael Mroziak
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t was known as early as January that this day would come. On an August morning, a line of players left the dressing room and marched down a long hallway and turned a corner, marching out of sight, entering the ice on the Lexus Feature Rink at the Northtown Center at Amherst. It was their first day of training camp in preparations for the 2012-13 Ontario Junior Hockey League season. Staying behind was Michael Peca, the man who since January was known to be those players’ next head coach. Peca first stepped a few feet in the opposite direction, not far from the entrance to the Buffalo Junior Sabres’ facilities. Standing in front of a hung Buffalo Sabres logo tarp, a surplus item given to the Junior-A team last year, Peca was hosting his first formal news briefing as the team’s head coach, a role he added a few months after joining the team as its general manager. “It’s an important time for these kids,” opened Peca. “I think as a coach you get excited about training camp. As players, they get excited because now they’re coming together. The season’s less than a month away. I know the coaching staff has been eager to get these kids together
Hockey magazine
Buffalo Jr. Sabres: The Peca Era Begins CONTINUED FROM FRONT COVER
and get them going in practice a little bit, get some familiarity built up… yeah, we’re excited to go.” That excitement has only been growing since the spring, when the new head coach first officially took the reins beginning with tryouts. “I’ve never been more excited to come back for next season,” said forward Rocky Gruttadauria during those spring tryouts. “I like all the guys, too. We’ve got a good group and I really think we’ve got a chance to go farther than we have in the past.” Last season, the Jr. Sabres showed considerable improvement from the year prior. In the 2011-12 season, the Jr. Sabres qualified for the postseason for the first time in three seasons and advanced to the second round. Last year’s squad also produced no less than five future college hockey players. This fall, Chris Luker and Dennis Playfair will enroll at SUNY Brockport and SUNY Geneseo, respectively. David Seward and Josh Kielich are returning for their final year of junior hockey before enrolling at Princeton and Canisius, respectively, beginning with academic year 2013-14. Andrew Poturalski will also enroll in college and play hockey at New
Hampshire in 2013, but will first recover from a leg injury suffered during a pickup skate this summer. Peca and his coaching staff believe there are more serious college prospects in this year’s lineup. “The thing we like about our group this year is that we’ve got a lot of returning players,” said Peca. “And some of the new players that we’ve added bring a tremendous amount of experience, so we’re excited about that. I think our team’s well-positioned to get out of the gates with some confidence and have a pretty good season.” Among the returning veterans are forwards Gruttadauria, Max Mikowski, Ryan Schmelzer and cousins Josh & Tim Kielich. Also coming back is defenseman Derek Patterson and goaltender Parker Gahagen, just to name a few of the veterans. The new additions include defenseman Sean Federow, a Niagara Falls, Ontario resident who was acquired from OJHL rivals Oakville Blades in an April trade. Also coming to Buffalo is forward Tyler Gjurich, a talented goal scorer who hails from near Philadelphia but previously played with the Buffalo Regals’ U18 squad, for whom he scored 31 goals and 28 assists in 48 games during the 2009-2010 season. Last season, he scored 17 goals and 25 assists in 29 games with the Springfield Pics of the Eastern Junior Hockey League. The previous year he recorded 21 goals and 28 assists in 45 games for the Pics. The Junior Sabres will open their 2012-13 OJHL season on
Sunday, September 9 at the Toronto Jr. Canadiens then host their home opener on Wednesday, September 12 at the Northtown Center at Amherst against the Burlington Cougars. The OJHL is rolling out a longer schedule, 55 games, with fewer teams in the league this season. Three teams either folded or merged earlier this spring, creating a 23 team league. The league was cut down to 22 in early August when the OJHL immediately suspended the Markham Waxers franchise for what was described by the league as “failure to comply with various financial and operational related obligations.” After Peca spoke to a small media gathering about the Junior Sabres, the former NHL veteran and Buffalo Sabres captain was asked about the NHL’s labor situation. One point of concern for the Junior Sabres is the public’s perception that if there’s a labor stoppage, “there’s no hockey.” Peca, who seemed to anticipate the possibility of a delayed start to the NHL season, took the opportunity to tell the public and media that there will still be hockey, and good quality hockey at that, still being played at the Northtown Center at Amherst. “I think NHL fans won’t have hockey for three or four months, so the OJHL and Buffalo Junior Sabres hockey is where it’s at.” Michael Mroziak is the Director of Media Relations for the Buffalo Junior Sabres and also a contributor of features about the greater Western New York hockey scene.
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September 2012
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Webster Block Development By James Fink
Hockey magazine
C
iting a need for further review of the two competing development proposals for downtown’s Webster Block, Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown said a final decision about who will be named designated developer for the key parcel was not made by the original Aug. 15 deadline. Brown and his administration - along with a citizen’s review panel still have a “few more” questions for both developer Carl Paladino and the Buffalo Sabres’s owner Terry Pegula - the two bidders for the nearly twoacre parcel that sits in front of First Niagara Center and the HSBC Atrium. “We needed to take a little more time,” Brown said, “Both are strong proposals, but we need some additional information. It’s not one thing, more like a series of questions that we’d like answered. None are too difficult to answer.” Paladino, through one of his development affiliates, has proposed to construct an 11-story building, anchored by a major hotel chain, upscale apartments and 110,000-square-feet of Class A office space. Restaurants and retail store fronts are part of his proposed $64 million, privately-funded development. Pegula has offered to construct a pair of hockey rinks aimed at bring youth and amateur leagues and tournaments to downtown Buffalo. The project would also include a hotel, restaurants and retail and would be directly connected to First Niagara Center. The project carries a $123 million development price tag that Pegula would underwrite. Brown said he hopes to make a final decision later this month and present it to the Buffalo Common Council when it meets after its summer recess on Sept. 4. “We’re still well within that range,” Brown said. The mayor wants to see construction start on the project by next spring. “The best thing is that we have two solid proposals,” Brown said. “It’s a great problem to have.”
2016-17 Contract Extension for Coach Burkholder
Niagara University Director of Athletics Ed McLaughlin announced that hockey head coach David Burkholder has reached an agreement for a contract extension through the 2016-17 season. Other terms of the renegotiated contract were not disclosed. “Dave continues to run one of the best programs in college hockey across the board, so it is important for Niagara University to keep him behind the bench,” McLaughlin said. “Every year, Dave puts a good product on the ice and that success carries over to all aspects of
the Niagara Hockey student-athletes’ lives. They live the Catholic and Vincentian mission of the university every day while competing for Atlantic Hockey championships.” Last season, Burkholder’s 11th on the bench and second season in Atlantic Hockey (AHA) competition, saw the Purple Eagles amass 17 wins after playing one of the toughest non-conference schedules in the program’s history including Frozen Four participant Union, Minnesota, Michigan and Cornell. Niagara advanced to the 2012 AHA Tournament semifinals after winning its best-of-three quarterfinals series against Robert Morris at Dwyer Arena. “I am elated to have the confidence of Father Levesque and his administration, and I thank them for allowing me to continue leading this program,“ Burkholder said. “We have had many success stories both on and off the ice and look forward to being a part of many more. The Niagara University community has meant so much to me and my family that we are excited about the years
to come.” The two-time College Hockey America (CHA) Coach of the Year has coached the Purple Eagles to 191 total wins, two CHA Tournament Championships, two CHA regular-season titles and a pair of trips to the NCAA Tournament. Burkholder also coached two Hobey Baker Award finalists in Joe Tallari and Paul Zanette and the program’s first All-American (Zanette), while fostering six CHA and one AHA Player of the Year Award winners, and two CHA Tournament MVPs. Prior to being named Niagara’s second- ever coach in 2001, Burkholder spent five years as a Purple Eagles assistant coach. Twenty-one graduated studentathletes who were coached under Burkholder are still active professionally in North America or Europe, with Scott Arnold (Phoenix Coyotes) and goaltender Chris Noonan (Toronto Marlies) being the most recent to join the professional ranks. Eleven graduates are still involved in the game as full-time coaches. Off the ice, Burkholder has mentored four AHA and one CHA Student-Athlete of the Year winners and had 138 players named to the CHA or AHA All-Academic Team, including at least 11 in each of the last eight seasons.
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LET’S TALK HOCKEY
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4
NHL,” said Sylvester. “TV ratings prove that Buffalo Sabres’ fans and folks here in Western New York watch more than just Buffalo Sabres hockey. They watch the Stanley Cup Finals, they watch other games. Many of the fans know my guests from watching the games on the hockey package or watching games and teams from the playoffs. It’s great to get the perspective of a guest.” “I think I would be doing a disservice if I didn’t talk about other teams and players. All the transactions and player movement in the game today affects the Buffalo Sabres. These are teams the Sabres are playing; these teams have players that our fans might be interested in in terms of free agents, so I think it has to be done.” Sylvester remains an employee of the Sabres, but is able to bring a very unique perspective to the job. He has seen the game from behind the scenes as a broadcaster and from the view point of someone who wants the team to succeed. “I’m employed by the Sabres, that’s a fact, a fact I won’t hide
hockey fans in general tend to be very passionate and Sylvester welcomes the discussion. “There are several different angles to look at with a story,” explained Sylvester. “I’ll provide a different angle or perhaps a similar angle, but I won’t take it to the basement. There’s a right way and a wrong way to do things in my opinion and there are different levels of criticism that you can give.” Sylvester also realizes that fan reaction and commentary will take many tones and levels on the show as well. This is where his years as a morning drive sports talk host will be beneficial. Sylvester knows how to give the fans the forum to speak while also drawing on his years of experience in hockey and broadcasting. As for the tone of the conversation, Sylvester would prefer healthy debate. “Debate and argument are two different things, “stated Sylvester. “I’ve found that people would rather argue than debate and that’s fine but I would rather debate and discuss. I don’t have all the
from,” stated Sylverster. Fans can interpret that for what it is. The thing people have to realize and I think most are respectful of is these players are technically my co-workers. I don’t work in a cubicle next to them but we’re employed by the same people. As part of an organization I like to think I have a stake in it, whether we win or lose.” “Yes I’m pulling for these guys,” continued Sylvester. As any coworker does, a person in the ticket office, or the utility crew here at First Niagara center. We’re all in the same boat together and we’re part of it, that’s the perspective that I have and that perspective is I want to win the Stanley Cup, just like any other employee of the Buffalo Sabres wants to win the Stanley Cup.” Sylvester realizes that fans will be critical when things do not go well for the team on the ice. Despite his position with the team Sylvester will not back away from talking with fans about difficult or controversial topics. “I’m not going to sugar coat anything,” confirmed Sylvester. But I’m not going throw gas on a flame. If Ryan Miller lets in five goals in a game I’m going to say Ryan Miller had a bad game. The facts tell the story there. What I’m not going to do is trash him because he had a bad game. Everybody has a bad game. I respect fans opinions and they are allowed to have them, that’s part of being a fan. I will certainly listen and perhaps debate those opinions.” Opinion and debate make for interesting and entertaining radio. Hockey talk can often become very spirited. Sabres fans and
answers by any means. There are things that I know a little more about because I have a little more perspective on what occurs or has occurred, I feel I’m a resource as well, not just a moderator. With the amount of focus now devoted to free agency and roster changes; the National Hockey maintains a high level of interest even during the offseason, particularly in markets like Buffalo. There is no longer an off season any more.” reflected Sylvester. “I think the NHL is becoming more and more like the other sports where there is the pre season, the season, the post season and then the hot stove season. I think that’s to the credit of the NHL, the interest is out there not just here in Buffalo but throughout the league. Fans are following the sport year round. Buffalo loves hockey and I think this show is just another indication that they do.” Much like Buffalo and Western New York, Southern Ontario simply can’t get enough hockey coverage. Toronto alone has two all sports radio stations each with unique daily noon hour shows devoted to the Toronto Maple Leafs and the NHL. Sabres Hockey Hotline will draw a wide audience based on the high level of interest in the game throughout the area’s broadcast market. “WGR is heard in downtown Toronto,” said Sylvester. “Fans in Southern Ontario can tune in; it’s there for them too. I’ve listened to some of the hockey shows in Toronto, I think they’re great. I hope that the show I’m hosting adds to the hockey spectrum in the region, continued page 9
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Alumni Plaza I
he Buffalo Sabres are using the greatest line combination in the team’s 42-year history to inaugurate and help dedicate “Alumni Plaza.” Sabres officials announced that a 10-foot tall bronze statue honoring the French Connection teammates - Gilbert Perreault, Rene Robert and the late Rick Martin - will be erected in the heart of the revamped plaza that’s scheduled to make its debut before the team’s Oct. 12 regular season opener. The statue is being created by Texas sculptor Jerry McKenna, whose resume includes portrait busts on display in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Buffalo architecture firm Hamilton Houston & Lownie designed its pedestal. The statue comes from a rare photo of the trio playing in a 1973 playoff game against the Montreal Canadiens. Ironically,
all three scored in the game, won by the Sabres 5-1, which was also the first Sabres playoff win in the team’s history. Former Courier-Express photographer Ron Moscati took the photo. Sabres President Ted Black said the photo is one of two team officials found in their archives showing all three members of the French Connection in action. “Terry (team owner Terry Pegula) wanted it based on an actual point in history and not some fictional pose,” Black said. Alumni Plaza, set for eastern side of the First Niagara Center atrium and facing Perry Street, is the latest in the renovations and upgrades Terry Pegula has made to the complex since buying the Sabres 17 months ago. “This is probably the greatest honor a line could have,” said an emotional Robert. “It’s pretty amazing what Terry and Kim
magazine
By James Fink jfink@bizjournals.com
(Pegula) and Ted (Black) have done to bring back the team’s history.” Robert said the honor is both a happy and bittersweet moment in the wake of Martin’s death in March 2011, just a few weeks after Pegula bought the Sabres and pledged to mend previously severed relations with the French Connection. “Rico would have loved this, but he’s probably on the great golf course in the sky, smoking a cigar and having a beer, taking it all in,” Robert said. The French Connection was put together when the lateSabres general manager Punch Imlach traded for Robert in March 1972. Perreault was the team’s first-ever draft choice in 1970 and Martin was the Sabres’ first round pick in 1971. The line remained intact until just before the start of the
1979-1980 season when Robert was traded to the then-Colorado Rockies. During its sevenyear run, the Sabres made the playoffs all but one year and in 1975 made it to the Stanley Cup finals, only to lose in six games to the Philadelphia Flyers. “That’s my only regret is that we didn’t win the Cup for the fans in Buffalo,” Robert said. The Sabres officially retired Perreault’s No. 11, Martin’s No. 7 and Robert’s No. 14 in the 1990s. All are members of the Sabres Hall of Fame and Perreault was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1990. “In my mind, there’s no better way to kick off the plaza than showcasing the ‘Connection’,” said Danny Gare, another Sabres star. While the statue will be the centerpiece of the Alumni continued page 11
LET’S TALK HOCKEY
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8
not only here in Western New York but also in Southern Ontario.” In a addition to host commentary, knowledgeable guests and phone calls from fans the Social media component is also explored. Fans can contact the show via twitter @sabreshotline or via’s Sylvester twitter account directly @kevsylvester. “Twitter is great for feedback,” said Sylvester. “It’s a great way for people to fire in a question without having to wait on hold. Some people may not be willing to go on the air. Social media is a great way to engage the fans and has been an important part of the show and will continue to be part of the show.” In addition to his work and interest in hockey Sylvester is very passionate about the sport of golf as well. He has written a book titled “The Married Man’s Guide To Golf. It’s a humorous and entertaining ‘how to’ for married men looking to play more golf. It will be released as an e-book in September. It’s going to be sold on Amazon and the I tunes book store. In addition, Sylvester’s website: kevinsylvester. com will launch soon. Turning the focus back to his full-time job and the upcoming 2012-13 NHL campaign, Sylvester will soon have the opportunity to discuss game action and the day to day activity that surrounds the hockey season. “I’m looking forward to talking about the games”, confirmed Sylvester. Specific plays, matchups and what happened in a game. Discussing ups and downs, wins and losses. That’s all part of it and I think that one of the reasons to have the show so we can discuss those things in depth.”
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September 2012
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Sabre Hit 99% Renewal Rate By James Fink The players have yet to report for training camp, which is still nearly four weeks away, yet the Buffalo Sabres have already scored a major victory. The team has said the 99 percent of its season ticket holders from last season have renewed for the 2012-2013 season and the Sabres have capped the per game season ticket sales at 15,400 - an increase of 200 from the 20112012 season. First Niagara Center has a 18,690 seating capacity for hockey games. At the same time, the team’s season ticket waiting list - the Blue & Gold Club - has grown to more than 3,000 members.
Ted Black, Sabres president, said of the 15,200 per game season tickets sold, only 111 from last season did not renew. Given the demand, the Sabres decided to increase the number of season tickets, per game, sold from 15,200 to 15,400 for this season. The new season ticket holders came from the Blue & Gold pool. “For the second straight season, we increased our season ticket base by 200 tickets to accommodate members of our Blue & Gold club,” said John Sinclair, Sabres vice president of tickets and services John Sinclair. Mini-Packs, which go on sale Sept. 5 to the general public.
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Alumni Plaza
Plaza, Black said there are other elements. Among them: the concrete supports that hold up a connection between the atrium and the arena’s parking garage has been bricked over with the names of all 401 skaters who played for the Sabres listed on the bricks. Black said other tributes to the alumni are being developed and remain in the conceptual stage. “We want this to be a micro destination to Canalside and downtown,” Black said. Gare thinks the plaza will become a popular backdrop for downtown and the Canalside/Cobblestone district. “It is going to be a very special place for the fans and the alumni,” Gare said.
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September 2012
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CCM/USA Hockey All-American Prospects Game Roster Announced Inaugural Event Features Players from High School, Junior and College Ranks; Roster includes Buffalo natives Sean Malone and Justin Bailey COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. SA Hockey has announced the 40 players who will participate in the inaugural CCM/USA Hockey All-American Prospects Game, which will take place Sept. 29 at First Niagara Center in Buffalo, N.Y. The roster boasts 40 of the top American prospects eligible for the 2013 National Hockey League Entry Draft. Represented are 31 players from the United States Hockey League, the top junior league in America, including 22 from USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program in Ann Arbor,
U
Mich. Additionally, at least 28 of the 40 are future NCAA Division I college players. Among the 12 defensemen invited are Seth Jones (Plano, Texas) and Will Butcher (Sun Prairie, Wis.), who helped the U.S. National Under-18 Team win a gold medal at the 2012 International Ice Hockey Federation Men’s Under-18 World Championship. They are joined by Dakota Mermis (Alton, Ill.), who helped guide the USHL’s Green Bay Gamblers to Anderson Cup and Clark Cup titles in 2012. The 24 forwards feature J.T. Compher (Northbrook, Ill.), Ryan Hartman (West
Dundee, Ill.), Matt Lane (Rochester, N.Y.), Anthony Louis (Winfield, Ill.), Quentin Shore (Denver, Colo.) and Frank Vatrano (East Longmeadow, Mass.) who were also members of the U.S. team that won the 2012 IIHF Men’s Under-18 World Championship. Goaltenders for the event include Jared Rutledge (Chicago, Ill.), who also captured gold as a member of the U.S. National Under-18 Team at the 2012 IIHF Men’s Under-18 World Championship; Hunter Miska (North Branch, Minn.) from the NTDP; and Eamon McAdam (Perkasie, Pa.) and Cal Petersen (Waterloo, Iowa), both from the USHL’s Waterloo Blackhawks.
Notes: 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.
USA Hockey Blazes the Path of Safety & Endorses SafeSport Program By Janice Cavaretta
Providing a safe environment on and off the ice for all its participants is immensely important to USA Hockey. At its Annual Congress in Colorado Springs, CO during the early part of June, USA Hockey’s Board of Directors accepted by unanimous vote the SafeSport Program. SafeSport is an extensive multifaceted program that is “focused on creating an environment that will deter abusers and assist those in the hockey
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community in recognizing, reducing and responding to allegations or suspected abuse.” Teaming up with the United States Olympic Committee (USOC), the SafeSport program encompasses all of the long standing policies and updated policies set forth by USA Hockey and will now include the exceptional video training that the USOC has produced. These informative videos were made available for viewing during
specific times during the Annual Congress as well as selectively shown during the general session where they were well received. In addition to the videos, a 34 page handbook will be published outlining every aspect of the program and the required training of all USA Hockey’s, Affiliate’s and the local sanctioned program’s employees, volunteers, managers, coaches, parents and players on recognizing and reducing the circumstances for potential abuse, screening
and background checks, reporting procedures, response to allegations, along with how USA Hockey will monitor and supervise the program to ensure effectiveness. By utilizing multi-media and technology, USA Hockey is once again defining the standards with the intent to create the safest possible environment for participation in hockey. The entire program will be available in print and online at the USA Hockey website prior to the start of the season.
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