USA U18 Defeats Russia
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2013 U.S. Under-18 Select Team Beats Russia, 4-2
Nedeljkovic makes 35 saves; Four different U.S. skaters score goals PIESTANY, Slovakia – Goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic (Parma, Ohio) stopped 35 shots and four different U.S. players scored goals to help the U.S. Under-18 Select Team defeat Russia, 4-2, at the Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament today.“Game experience has gone a long way for us,” said Bob Corkum, head coach of Team USA. “We’ve worked on special teams a lot and the guys understand what we’re doing. We’ve been able to find success below the top of the circles and we’re earning shots down low in the offensive zone. We had to refocus a little bit at the start of the third period, but the guys have bought in and played well in the third.”Nick Schmaltz (Verona, Wis.) and Joey Dudek (Auburn, N.H.) scored first-period power-play goals to help Team USA open a 2-0 lead. Schmaltz gathered a puck along the left wall and fired a low shot past Team Russia goaltender Sergej Korobov 11:15 into the game. Then, just 86 seconds later, Dudek picked up a loose puck and found the back of the net to double the U.S. lead.After two Team Russia goals — one midway through the second period and one early in the third — Jack Dougherty (Cottage Grove, Minn.) and Joseph Snively (Harndon, Va.) responded with third-period tallies to put Team USA in front for good. Dougherty scored the third U.S. power-play goal of the contest when he put a hard shot on net from the point 6:19 into the final period. Snively finished the scoring with a goal three minutes later.The U.S. Under-18 Select Team concludes pool play against Slovakia at 11:30 a.m. ET tomorrow.
U18 Select Team Falls to Finland in OT
2013 U.S. Under-18 Select Team Falls to Finland, 3-2, in Overtime
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Bittner, Connor score goals in overtime loss | |
PIESTANY, Slovakia – Paul Bittner (Crookston, Minn.) and Kyle Connor (Shelby Township, Mich.) scored, and goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic made 20 saves, but the U.S. Under-18 Select Team dropped a 3-2 overtime decision to Finland in the opening game of the 2013 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament today.
“I’m quite pleased with the effort today,” said Head Coach Bob Corkum. “The guys worked hard and stuck with the systems. We generated enough chances to win the game, but we didn’t have enough puck luck. I think we got better as the game went on and played our best hockey in the third period. We’ll have to duplicate that effort.”
Bittner started the scoring 7:54 into the opening period when got a shot past Finland goaltender Kappo Kahkonen.
Then, after Finland struck for two straight goals — one early in the second period and one midway through the third — Connor tied the game with a power-play goal with 2:39 remaining in regulation.
Finland took advantage of a power play and scored the game-winner just 59 seconds into overtime.
The U.S. Under-18 Select Team continues play in the Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament tomorrow (Aug. 6) against Russia.
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USA National Junior Evaluation Camp News
USA White Beats Finland, 5-2; USA Blue Falls to Sweden, 4-3
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Cammarata records goal and two assists for USA White; Butcher collects two goals and an assist for USA Blue |
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LAKE PLACID, N.Y. – International play at the 2013 USA Hockey National Junior Evaluation Camp continued today at the Olympic Center’s 1980 Herb Brooks Arena. USA White bested Finland, 5-2, as Taylor Cammarata(Plymouth, Minn./Univ. of Minnesota) posted a goal and two assists. In USA Blue’s 4-3 loss to Sweden, Will Butcher (Sun Prairie, Wis./Univ. of Denver) tallied two goals and an assist from the blue line.
“The evaluation of all the players in camp continues,” said Don Lucia, head coach of the 2014 U.S. National Junior Team. “I give our guys a lot of credit to get back in the game against Sweden after falling behind 3-0. In the second game, our guys got off to a great start against Finland with the 5-0 lead. There were a lot of good things today that forced us to reevaluate who we are going to keep for the rest of the week,” Sweden got out to a 2-0 first period lead with power-play goals at 1:38 and 11:12. The Swedes extended their advantage to 3-0 at 6:41 of the second stanza. USA Blue trimmed its deficit to 3-2 with goals at 10:01 and 19:16 of the second period. Brady Vail (Palm City, Fla.) won an offensive zone faceoff to Stefan Matteau (Chicago, Ill.), who fed the puck back to Butcher for a one-timer that beat the goalie high. Adam Erne (New Haven, Conn.) buried a rebound from the top of the crease following a point-blank chance by Connor Carrick (Orland Park, Ill.). Butcher initiated the play from the blue line.
Halfway through the third period, Sweden doubled its lead to 4-2 with its third power-play goal of the day.
Butcher blasted another one-timer into the Sweden net with 2:17 left in regulation to make it a one-goal game.Vince Hinostroza (Bartlett, Ill./Univ. of Notre Dame) spun out of traffic behind the net and fed Butcher atop the left circle.
USA Blue pulled its netminder in the final minute, but despite intense pressure it could not tally the equalizer.
Starting goaltender Thatcher Demko (San Diego, Calif./Boston College) stopped 20 of 23 shots in 29:57 of action. Anthony Stolarz (Edison, N.J.) turned aside seven of the eight shots he faced.
In game two, USA White grabbed a 3-0 advantage over a four-minute span in the first frame. Zach Stepan(Hastings, Minn./Minnesota State Univ.-Mankato) slammed in a goalmouth feed from Cammarata on the power play at 6:22. Forty-one seconds later, Connor Clifton (Matawan, N.J./Quinnipiac Univ.) streaked through the neutral zone and aimed high from the right circle. At 10:06, Cammarata collected a bouncing puck behind the net and beat the goalie to the right post on a wraparound shot.
Ian McCoshen (Hudson, Wis./Boston College) padded the lead when he found space between the left post and the goalie’s shoulder 8:04 into the second period. With 3:29 left, Michael McCarron (Macomb, Mich.) pounced on a rebound in the crease to make it 5-0 USA White after 40 minutes.
Finland notched a pair of goals in the final two minutes to cap the scoring.
Collin Olson (Apple Valley, Minn./Ohio State Univ.) started in the USA White net and stopped all 15 shots in 30:10. Jon Gillies (South Portland, Maine/Providence College) made four saves on six shots.
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Sabres Sign Tardif
Buffalo Sabres General Manager Darcy Regier today announced that the Sabres have agreed to terms on a one-year, two-way contract with forward Jamie Tardif.
Tardif (6’0”, 205 lbs., 1/23/85) has appeared in 438 AHL games in seven seasons with Providence, Grand Rapids, Iowa and Manitoba, tallying 229 points (123+106) and 398 penalty minutes. The Welland, Ontario native scored a career-high 30 goals in 2012-13 with Providence, tying for fifth in the AHL goal-scoring race and earning a recall to Boston, where he appeared in his first two NHL games.
NU’s Zanette Signs with Reading
Zanette Signs Contract with Reading Royals of ECHL
READING, Pa. – Marc Zanette signed a contract with the Reading Royals of the East Coach Hockey League, the team announced on Tuesday. The Royals are an affiliate of the Washington Capitals of the National Hockey League and the Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League.
“Marc is ready for this next step,” head coach Dave Burkholder said. “He has worked so hard for this, and will be a very good player at the next level.”
During his four-year career at Niagara that saw him play in 142 contests, Zanette scored 32 goals and tallied 45 assists for 77 career points. He is coming off a career-best season after contributing a career-high 15 assists, and added eight goals for a career-best 28 points which earned him the honor of Best Defensive Forward for the Atlantic Hockey Association.
The Nobleton, Ont. native also contributed at both ends of the ice while on special teams this past season, scoring two goals and three assists while on the power play, while seeing generous time on the penalty killing unit which was ranked third in the conference at 85.5 percent.
Zanette is the fourth Purple Eagle to joining the professional ranks since the2012-13 season wrapped up. Jason Beattie and Carsen Chubak signed with the Rochester Americans and the Adirondack Phantoms, respectively, and Giancarlo Iuorio inked a one-year contract with VIK Västerås, a hockey club from Västerås, Sweden.
Canisius” Shupe Signs Deal
After captaining the Canisius College hockey team to its first Atlantic Hockey Championship in 2013, forward Preston Shupe (Weyburn, Saskatchewan) is set to continue his career with the Bakersfield Condors of the ECHL.
“Preston is coming off a big year in college last season, was a captain for his team, and came highly recommended from his college coach Dave Smith,” said Condors head coach Troy Mann. “We’re looking forward to seeing what he can do this season.”
A two-year captain at Canisius, Shupe appeared in 142 career games with 86 points, 38 goals and 48 assists. The Weyburn, Saskatchewan native finished his collegiate tenure ranked 12th in the program’s Division I history with his 86 career points and ninth with his 38 career goals.
Shupe enjoyed his most successful season as a senior, helping the Griffs to their first conference championship. He ranked second on the team and set career highs with 29 points and 16 goals during the 2012-13 campaign and was also a key member of the team’s school-record penalty kill unit. The captain matched a program record with three short-handed tallies, while anchoring the unit that posted the 11th-best rate in NCAA history at 90.1 percent.
Shupe totaled five points during the Griffs’ Atlantic Hockey Championship run, recording three goals and two assists. He matched a career high with two tallies in a 4-0 win over Bentley, while recording a season-best two assists in the title game against Mercyhurst. Overall, Shupe recorded 12 points (six goals and six assists) in 13 career postseason games with the Griffs.
Bakersfield is the ECHL affiliate of the Edmonton Oilers of the NHL and the Oklahoma City Barons of the AHL.
Islanders Affiliate With ECHL Stockton Thunder
Islanders Announce Affiliation Agreement with ECHL Stockton Thunder
2013 ECHL Western Conference Champions join Sound Tigers as organization affiliates
UNIONDALE, NY (July 31, 2013) – The New York Islanders announced today an affiliation agreement with the Stockton Thunder of the ECHL, beginning in the 2013-14 season. Stockton will join the American Hockey League’s Bridgeport Sound Tigers as the Islanders primary minor league affiliates.
“We are thrilled to have the Stockton Thunder join the Islanders as the organization’s ECHL affiliate,” General Manager Garth Snow said. “The culture of success in Stockton will benefit our prospects and develop them into better hockey players as they work their way from the ECHL, to the AHL and eventually playing for the New York Islanders.”
“Having an NHL affiliate is an important piece of our success, and a dedicated organization like the New York Islanders brings a lot to the table,” Thunder President Brian Sandy said. “The Thunder is committed to helping our players reach their goals through NHL development, and our new affiliation with the Islanders will help us achieve this objective for them in a much bigger way. And, our fans can look forward to watching talented Islanders prospects, who will play important roles in our commitment to excellence, both on the ice and in our community.”
Since their 2005-06 inaugural season, the Thunder have qualified for the Kelly Cup Playoffs seven consecutive times, from 2007-13. In 2012-13, the Thunder finished second in the Western Conference’s Pacific Division and made it to the Kelly Cup Finals before falling in five games to the Reading Royals. The Thunder play at Stockton Arena in Stockton, CA.
Islanders forward Colin McDonald played three games with the Thunder during the 2008-09 season, recording two assists.
Founded in 1972, the New York Islanders Hockey Club is the proud winner of four Stanley Cup Championships. Keep up with breaking Islanders news on Facebook atwww.facebook.com/NEWYORKISLANDERS and on Twitter @NYIslanders. Don’t forget to Yapp with the team all season long with SportsYapper on your smartphone or tablet. For further information on any individual/group ticket options or sponsorship opportunities, contact the team’s office at (516) 501-6700 or e-mail[email protected]. For more team information, log on to newyorkislanders.com.
For more information or ticket availability, please contact an Islanders representative. Call: 1.800.882.ISLES Ext. 2 or E-mail: [email protected].
Bogo Signs Seven Year Deal
“I’ve made it clear since my first time being in Winnipeg that it was obviously a place I wanted to be for a long time,” said Bogosian in a conference call Monday afternoon. “I’m just real happy that Winnipeg believed in me, gave me another chance to prove myself. I didn’t exactly have the best start to my career in Atlanta. Moving up to Winnipeg gave me a new chance to play in a hockey market, and play in a hockey town that I enjoyed playing in front of. That’s where the term came in, it was definitely a no-brainer.”
Bogosian, 23, played in 33 games with the Winnipeg Jets last season. In that time, the right-handed blueliner recorded 14 points (5G, 9A) and 29 penalty minutes. Along with his efforts on the ice, Bogosian was also awarded the Staffmax Staffing & Recruiting Community Service Award for his commitment to the Winnipeg community and his role with the Winnipeg Jets True North Foundation.
The Massena, NY native has played in 297 career NHL games between Atlanta and Winnipeg for 103 career points (34G, 69A) and 237 penalty minutes. He was originally drafted by the Atlanta Thrashers in the first round, third overall, in the 2008 NHL Draft.
RANGERS AGREE TO TERMS WITH FORWARD MATS ZUCCARELLO
New York Rangers President and General Manager Glen Sather announced today that the club has agreed to terms with restricted free agent forward Mats Zuccarello on a new contract.
Zuccarello, 25, registered three goals and five assists in 15 games last season after signing with the Rangers on March 28. He tallied six points (three goals, three assists) in the final seven games of the season, including a two-goal effort on April 18 against Florida. Zuccarello finished the season tied for fifth on the team with a career-high, plus-10 rating. He also ranked second on the team with career-highs in playoff assists (six) and playoff points (seven) while skating in 12 postseason contests.
Zuccarello has skated in 67 career regular season contests over three seasons with the Rangers, registering 11 goals and 23 assists for 34 points, along with 18 penalty minutes and a plus-13 rating. He originally signed with the team as an undrafted free agent on May 26, 2010. In 2010-11, Zuccarello tied for the team lead and tied for fourth among NHL rookies with nine power play assists. He also tied for fifth in the league with five shootout goals and second with three game-deciding goals in the shootout that season.
The 5-7, 179-pounder has also skated in 73 career regular season games over two seasons with the Connecticut Whale of the American Hockey League (AHL), registering 25 goals and 40 assists for 65 points, along with 38 penalty minutes. Zuccarello made his North American debut with Connecticut on October 9, 2010, against Charlotte.
The Oslo, Norway native began last season with Magnitogorsk Metallurg of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL), registering 11 goals and 17 assists for 28 points, along with 30 penalty minutes in 44 games. He tied for fifth on Metallurg in goals, and ranked sixth on the team in points and assists. He also tied for second on the team in playoff goals (two), third in playoff points (four), and fourth in playoff assists (two) in seven postseason contests.
Zuccarello previously skated in two seasons with MODO of the Swedish Elite League (SEL), registering 35 goals and 69 assists for 104 points, along with 100 penalty minutes in 90 career regular season games. In 2009-10, he captured the Guldhjälmen award as the league’s Most Valuable Player after leading the SEL in scoring with 64 points in 55 games. Zuccarello has also represented Norway in several international tournaments, including at the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver, British Columbia.
Canisius Finds Home at HARBORcenter
Canisius College and the National Hockey League’s Buffalo Sabres announced on Tuesday a unique partnership where the school’s Golden Griffin hockey program will compete and practice in the newly-constructed HARBORcenter, beginning with the 2014-15 season.
“This is an exciting day for Canisius College,” said Canisius College President John J. Hurley. “We make yet another big investment in the city we have called home since 1870 as we join with Terry and Kim Pegula and the Buffalo Sabres to help revitalize Buffalo’s downtown, advance the Canalside District and take our championship-hockey program to a whole new level of excellence. It’s a tremendous opportunity for our student-athletes, alumni and fans to be part of this world-class facility.”
HARBORcenter, which is scheduled to open in September 2014, is a $172 million multipurpose hockey and entertainment complex that will sit directly across from the First Niagara Center in Buffalo’s Canalside District. Featured inside the HARBORcenter will be two NHL-size rinks, including a 1,800-seat arena where Canisius will serve as the primary tenant.
The Griffs, Buffalo’s only Division I hockey program, will have their own 1,300-square foot state-of-the-art locker room in addition to separate athletic training areas and access to the building’s Center of Excellence, a high-performance training facility which is designed specifically for development in the sport of hockey.
The 700,000-square foot structure will be connected to First Niagara Center by a pedestrian bridge that will span Perry Street. HARBORcenter will also feature a hockey-themed sports bar and restaurant, a full-service Marriott hotel, an 850-space parking structure and additional retail space.
“This is an exciting day for our hockey program,” said Canisius College head coach Dave Smith. “Partnering with the Buffalo Sabres in a world-class hockey facility further illustrates the commitment to Division I college hockey by Canisius. This top-notch arena will expose fans to a high level of hockey at a number of levels. It will be a tremendous resource with which to recruit, train and develop hockey players. I look forward to the day when a Western New York hockey player competes for the Buffalo Sabres after developing at the HARBORcenter.”
“This is a historical day for our hockey program and represents another strong commitment to the growth and importance of intercollegiate athletics at Canisius College,” said Canisius College Director of Athletics Bill Maher. “The opportunity to have a world-class facility like the HARBORcenter as our home venue is outstanding and will be a critical piece for Dave Smith and his coaching staff to continue to build a championship-level program. Our goal is always to recruit and develop the best student-athletes we can at Canisius College, and we believe that playing in the HARBORcenter is another important part in realizing this goal.”
Canisius, which has sponsored varsity hockey since the 1980-81 season and began competing at the Division I level during the 1998-99 campaign, has played its home games in the 1,800-seat Buffalo State Sports Arena since 1999.
The Griffs compete in the Atlantic Hockey Association and won their first conference championship during the 2012-13 season with a 7-2 victory against Mercyhurst on March 23. Canisius then advanced to its first NCAA Tournament before finishing the season ranked 19th in the final USCHO.com national poll.
Colgate Debuts Documentary This Weekend
Colgate and the village of Hamilton celebrate a coach and a team this weekend (August 1-4) that brought the two together during one special season that no one will forget.
This coming weekend as part of the Hamilton International Film Festival, the Hamilton Movie Theater debuts “The General,” a special documentary about Terry Slater and the 1990 Colgate hockey team. The film was produced by Terry’s sons, Grant and Todd Slater, and they partnered with local filmmaker Kenny MacBain.
The brothers got the idea for a film about the team from MacBain at the second annual Hamilton International Film Festival, which they founded five years ago. MacBain debuted a film about the Hamilton boys soccer team that year and approached the Slater brothers about the idea of doing a film on the 1990 Frozen Four squad.
“Grant and I liked the idea of telling the story of the most successful hockey team in Colgate’s history,” Slater mentioned. “But as we started to make calls and set interviews for Kenny, we started to get more involved. We spent a lot of time talking through the film and what could really make people want to watch even if they weren’t hockey fans or from Hamilton.”
Another reason they got involved was because the story was close to home.
“It was also very personal since it involved our dad and close family friends,” Slater said. “We took a very active part in putting the whole film together so we could eventually find the film distribution and a larger audience.”
The film is a story of a hockey team from a small school filled with walk-ons, transfers and rookies that came together under their exceptional coach to reach the 1990 national championship game.
Slater mentioned that there are a lot of messages from the film, but the one that stands out for him was how the community came together to support the title run.
“The message that holds true to us is how a community, when faced with adversity and a challenge, can really come together to accomplish something great,” Slater said.
Slater explains that there were more stories at work during the magical season of 1990.
“The film really shows how our father related to a team and to a community, and how they all came together to accomplish something amazing,” Slater said. “We wanted the story to be more than just about winning or losing a hockey game.”
Terry Slater came to Colgate from professional hockey and was hired out of the World Hockey Association, where he coached the Los Angeles Sharks and Cincinnati Stingers. He spent 10 seasons at Colgate, and his coaching style was unorthodox but caught on quickly with his players and community.
Many players from that 1990 team will be in attendance this weekend for the film’s debut. It features many of them talking about the experience, but is going to have community members included as well.
Slater said he couldn’t think of a better place to debut the film than here in Hamilton.
“This is the hometown we grew up in and it will always hold a very special place in our hearts,” Slater mentioned. “We created the first ever film festival in Hamilton as a way to give back to the area we grew up in and it could not be a more perfect time than to showcase a movie about our father, Colgate, the people of Hamilton, and an incredible story.”
It has also been a real stroll down memory lane for both brothers.
“We have watched the film and all the interviews so many times we can now recite the lines by Carl Clause or Joel Gardner before they even appear on screen,” Slater said. “It has really been a great experience and something we felt we should have probably done years ago. Like anything in life though, sometimes it’s just about the timing of things, and the process has really allowed us to connect with old friends and so many people who are special to our family.”
The film will be shown as part of the film festival at the Hamilton Movie Theater from Aug. 1-4. Movie goers can purchase tickets ahead of time at the theater or by calling 315-824-8210.
MYHOCKEY Signs Agreement with Bill Gray’s Reginal Iceplex
Adam and Hackett Resigned