By Janet Schultz
The Nationals are on! After a challenging year of ice hockey throughout the world and USA Hockey Nationals hit the arenas April 29.
The Girls Tier I teams will play in Westchester, Pennsylvania April 29 through May 3. The Buffalo Bisons will represent New York in the Tier I 14U playoffs. They will face the Chicago Mission on April 29 followed by the Philadelphia Junior Flyers and LA Lions.
At 16U it will be the Rochester Youth Hockey at Selects Academy taking on Gilmour Gladiators, Team Colorado and the Minnesota Elite Vegas.
The 19U Rochester Youth Hockey at Selects Academy will play Culver Academy to open the tournament followed by the NJ Titans and Chicago Mission.
The Girls Tier II teams head to Denver, Colorado to take part in the Nationals. New York teams playing include at 14U/2A the Rome Grizzlies; 14U/1A, Mamaroneck Tigers; 16U/1A, Central NY Bobcats; 16U/2A, Adirondack North Stars; 19U/1A, Monroe County Youth Hockey Edge and at 19U/2A, the Buffalo Bisons.
Rome will play the Boston Jr. Eagles in the opening game, followed by the Arizona Kachena and Assabet Valley.
Mamaroneck opens with the Anchorage North Stars and then the Anaheim Lady Ducks and New England Wildcats.
At 16U Central NY will take on Team South Dakota, Anaheim Lady Ducks and Florida Alliance. At 2A ADK will play Steel City Selects, Anchorage Oilers and Vermont Shamrocks.
Monroe Edge will play the Florida Alliance, San Diego Angels and Philadelphia Jr Flyers and the Buffalo Bisons will faceoff against the Minnesota Prep Black, Wisconsin Selects and Grand Rapids Griffins.
The Youth Tier I championships are being held in Dallas, Texas and Maryland Heights, Missouri. Representing New York at the Youth Tier I 14U will be the Buffalo Saints facing Team Maryland, Minutemen Flames and Chicago Mission.
At 15O will be the Buffalo Junior Sabres playing Shattuck St. Mary’s, Chicago Mission and Sioux Falls Power.
The Buffalo Saints face Oakland Jr., Dallas Stars Elite and R1 Saints at the 16U level. At the 18U level it will be the Rochester Youth Hockey team vs Ohio Jr.Blue Jackets, Rocky Mountain Roughriders and Maine Nordiques.
The Tier II Wheatfield Blades 14U team will play the Chicago Bulldogs, Houston Wild and Sylvania North Stars in McKinney, Texas.
Cazenovia will represent New York at Grand Rapids, Michigan as they take on the Philadelphia Blazers, Gulf Coast Flame and Team Ohio at the 16U division.
The 18U Tier II youth teams will play in Green Bay, Wisconsin with Cheektowaga Rec Hockey facing Littleton, Green Bay Bobcats and Team Ohio.
