Tortorella Elected President of the United States of Hockey

Posted on November 7, 2012 by Chris Peters

After a lengthy campaign that lasted literally dozens of hours, John Tortorella was elected the first President of the United States of Hockey by a wide margin. Brian Burke put on a late surge that raised concern in the Tortorella camp, but in the end the New York Rangers head coach had too much grassroots support.

Tortorella received a stunning 30 percent of the popular vote. The next closest competitor was Burke who collected 21 percent of the electorate.

It was an interesting day of watching the polls. Early exit polling showed Mike Eruzione jumping out to a seemingly commanding lead, but as the older crowd went back to their Grand Slam Breakfast at Denny’s, the election winds were a changin’.

Thanks to heavy social media support, Patrick Kane was an early favorite, rapidly rising up the charts. Even Chris Chelios, with the full support of the Chicago political machine and former Detroit mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, made a mid-afternoon push, while Mike Modano and Tim Thomas never really got in the race.

Tortorella was not to be denied however after getting the full endorsement of the SNY Rangers Blog. That really turned the tide of the election as the Get out the Vote campaign made all the difference. By 3 p.m. EST, this thing was pretty much in the bag for Tortorella, with Burke and Kane making last-ditch gasps.

President-elect Tortorella was not immediately available for comment, but he is expected to have none.

Here’s a look at the official results:

John Tortorella (C-MA) — 30%
Brian Burke (GM-RI) — 21%
Patrick Kane (F-NY) — 16%
Mike Eruzione (F-MA) — 12%
Chris Chelios (D-IL) — 10%
Mike Modano (F-MI) — 8%
Tim Thomas (G-MI) — 4%

Posted in NHL, Whimsy | 1 Comment

ELECTION DAY SPECIAL: Vote for the next President of the United States of Hockey

Posted on November 5, 2012 by Chris Peters

Nov. 6 is Election Day in the United States of America. Tuesday, about half as many people who vote for American Idol will choose between President Barack Obama and Mitt Romney. The future of the country is in the people’s hands now. God help us all.

While the choice is a big one, United States of Hockey needs you to make another important choice. Maybe the most important you’ve ever made.

Our country is at a great crossroads and only you can help make it better. That is why you simply must cast your vote to choose the new President of the United States of Hockey.

Coming up after the jump, meet your candidates, their platforms, Super PACs and see if their slogans will help you make this choice that could affect your children’s children. Continue reading →

Posted in NHL, USA Hockey, Whimsy | 7 Comments

2012 Under-18 Four Nations Tournament Preview

Posted on November 5, 2012 by Chris Peters

The 2012 Under-18 Four Nations Tournament gets underway Tuesday in Ann Arbor, Mich., at the home rink of the National Team Development Program. The U.S. National Under-18 Team, made up almost primarily of full-time NTDPers, will welcome U18 national teams from Sweden, Finland and Switzerland.

In years past this has been a tremendous draft-year showcase with tons of top talent, but that is true of only one team this year: Team USA.

Due to an Under-20 Four Nations tournament in Sweden, both Team Sweden and Team Finland won’t have their best 1995s in Michigan this week, though both teams should still be very good. No Aleksander Barkov or Arturri Lehkonen for Finland. No Andrew Buarakovsky or Jacob de la Rose for Sweden. A bit disappointing, but this is still some solid international hockey stateside.

With a U.S. team full of top draft talent and some intriguing prospects on the European rosters, not to mention the easy access location, Ann Arbor should be crawling with scouts over the next few days.

The Under-18 Four Nations runs from Nov. 6 to Nov. 10 and will air live on FASTHockey.com. The tournament features each team playing three games in a round-robin format. At the end of the preliminary round, the teams with the two best records will play for the tournament title, while the other two get a consolation game.

Coming up after the jump, more notes on Team USA and a look at which Europeans to watch.

Continue reading →

Posted in American Prospects, Junior Hockey, NHL Draft, NTDP, U.S. National Teams, USA Hockey | Comments Off on 2012 Under-18 Four Nations Tournament Preview

World Junior A Challenge Team USA Preview

Posted on November 5, 2012 by Chris Peters

The 2012 World Junior A Challenge will kick off tonight in Yarmouth, N.S. The U.S. Junior Select Team, comprised primarily of players from the United States Hockey League, will look to redeem itself after a disappointing third-place finish at last year’s event.

For those of you who are new to this tournament, the Junior A Challenge is a six-team event, which annually includes two Canadian regional teams: East and West, the United States and three European squads — this year it’s the Czech Republic, Russia and Switzerland. The rosters are made up primarily of 17- and 18-year-olds, with some 19-year-olds sprinkled in as well.

Team USA had won this event three straight years before 2011’s third-place finish. FASTHockey.com will provide free live streaming of the tournament, which runs Nov. 5-11. For instructions on how to access the live feed, click here.

It should also be noted that the World Junior A Challenge is just one of a series of international tournaments taking place this week in what is considered the International Ice Hockey Federation’s international break. There is also a Men’s Under-18 Four Nations Tournament, which begins Tuesday in Ann Arbor, a Women’s Four Nations Cup, and a Men’s Under-17 Four Nations Tournament. So this is a busy week for USA Hockey.

Coming up after the jump a complete preview of the U.S. Junior Select Team in preparation for tonight’s tournament opener.

Continue reading →

Posted in American Prospects, Junior Hockey, NHL Draft, U.S. National Teams, USA Hockey | 1 Comment

Looking Back at the Soap Opera that is (was?) the CHLPA

Posted on November 2, 2012 by Chris Peters

RIP, CHLPA. You died as you lived… One ball of crazy after the other.

If you’ve been following the news surrounding the proposed Canadian Hockey League Players Association, you now know one thing for sure. It’s a complete and utter disaster. People with multiple identities, a potential fraudster pulling the strings, the Canadian Hockey League employing a private investigator (hopefully sporting a Hawaiian shirt, aviators and the best mustache that ever lived) and one bizarre step after another.

The fallout led executive director Georges Laraque to step away from the organization, telling the Globe and Mail’s James Mirtle:

“The cause is good,” he said as part of a 20-minute conversation about his decision late Thursday night. “It’s just that we’re not experienced enough. We’re not a strong enough team to do this. People have real jobs. It’s a big project.

“It’s better to give it to a real union [group] so they can do this. I believe in it. I think the right team could do this, especially after all that we’ve done. For those kids, we’re not quitting. We’re passing it on.”

The lack of experience was noticeable from the get go, even before Laraque signed on. However, things started to get serious last week when the CHLPA started getting reputable labor lawyers involved, including Michael Mazzuca, a former OHL player. The CHLPA threatened legal action, through Mazzuca’s firm if the OHL refused to meet with the group’s leadership.

Continue reading →

Posted in Junior Hockey, NCAA | 2 Comments

VIDEO: NTDP’s Kevin Labanc Scores Dazzling Shootout Goal

Posted on November 1, 2012 by Chris Peters

There was just one game on the USHL schedule last night and was it ever a doozy. The Dubuque Fighting Saints put their perfect 9-0-0 record on the line against the U.S. National Under-18 Team in Ann Arbor.

After finishing regulation and then overtime in a 1-1 tie, the game went to a shootout. The only player to score was Under-18 forward Kevin Labanc, who ended Dubuque’s winning streak with some kind of authority…

That’s the type of goal that would make Pavel Datsyuk tip a cap. I think everyone in the building might have pulled a groin biting on that fake.

Dubuque’s Connor Girard was the on-ice victim of Labanc’s trickery, but in his defense, he made 29 stops in 65 minutes of action, keeping the Saints in a tough contest.

Labanc’s teammate Thatcher Demko, who earned the win in net for Team USA and has probably seen some of these moves in practice, highlighted just how devastating Labanc’s deke really was.

In talking with the Team USA staff, I’ve heard rave reviews about Labanc’s puck skills and creativity. Guess we know why now.

Labanc, who won’t be NHL Draft eligible until 2014, is committed to the University of Notre Dame. The 5-10, 176-pound native of Staten Island, N.Y., has two goals and five assists in 15 games this season.

The above video was actually shot by fellow Notre Dame-commit Sonny Milano, a forward for the U.S. National Under-17 Team. Milano has some skills of his own with 10 points through 12 games, good for second on the U17 squad. Stick-tap to him for this terrific angle.

UPDATE: Here’s the other angle of the goal.

Posted in American Prospects, Junior Hockey, NHL Draft, NTDP, USHL | 1 Comment

Top American Prospect Seth Jones Scores Pretty Goal

Posted on November 1, 2012 by Chris Peters

Seth Jones is best known for his ability in the defensive end, but his offensive instincts probably don’t get the credit they deserve.

The top U.S. prospect for the 2013 NHL Entry Draft and No. 1 overall contender has 10 points in his first 13 games with the Western Hockey League’s Portland Winterhawks.

Wednesday night, Jones took on the team that drafted him into the WHL, the Everett Silvertips. He was eventually traded to Portland when it became clear he didn’t wish to sign with the ‘tips.

I hope the folks back in Everett weren’t watching because Jones might have given them a taste of what they’re missing by scoring this nifty goal:

Hey, 6-foot-4 defensemen aren’t supposed to have moves like that. That little bit of creativity at the end to get around the defender and the hard drive to the net has to make scouts drool. To have that type of offensive know-how on top of his immense defensive capabilities is an added bonus.

Jones may not have a lengthy highlight reel like Nathan MacKinnon, his chief competition for the No. 1 spot in the draft, but he’ll be glad to have this little number to his name.

The big defenseman, a native of Plano, Texas, should get a chance to go head-to-head with MacKinnon at the World Junior Championship. Jones is likely to be a top-four blue liner for Team USA, while MacKinnon will presumably be among Canada’s gifted forward group.

(H/T Cody Nikolet for the video)

Posted in American Prospects, Junior Hockey, NHL Draft, World Junior Championship | 1 Comment

Checking in with the USHL: Power Rankings and Prospects to Watch

Posted on October 31, 2012 by Chris Peters

The United States Hockey League is now a month into the 2012-13 season. The only Tier 1 Junior A league in the U.S. is having another great year already with plenty of NHL Draft prospects emerging and some long-suffering teams becoming competitive.

Fan interest appears to be on the rise as well, with 11 of the league’s 16 teams averaging more than 2,000 fans a game, including four drawing more than 3,000 per. On top of that, with the NHL off, the league gets more coverage, with some teams even getting games on local television. USHL goals are even showing up on SportsCenter’s top plays.

The added exposure is telling the rest of the country what a lot of us already know, the USHL provides fans with a terrific product.

Coming up after the jump, some USHL power rankings (which will become a monthly thing here at USofH) and some notes on a player to watch for every team…

Continue reading →

Posted in American Prospects, Junior Hockey, NHL Draft, USHL | 1 Comment

U.S. World Junior Watch: Spotlight on Rocco Grimaldi; Candidate Update

Posted on October 30, 2012 by Chris Peters

With the 2013 IIHF World Junior Championship now less than two months away, United States of Hockey will be spotlighting candidates a few times per week, in addition to tracking other WJC-related news all the way up to USA Hockey’s pre-tournament camp.

Rocco Grimaldi — Center
Hometown: Rossmoor, Calif. Birthdate: Feb. 8, 1993
Height/Weight: 5-6, 170
Current Team: University of North Dakota
NHL Rights: Florida Panthers (2nd Round, 33rd overall, 2011)
National Team Experience: U.S. Men’s National Under-18 Team (U18WC gold: 2010, 2011), National Team Development Program (2009-11)

Perhaps one of the best descriptors of Rocco Grimaldi is “odds-defying.” His size is the first thing mentioned about him, then you consider his non-traditional hockey roots and it’s a wonder he is where he is, but that’s a testament to his immense skills.

Physical stature is obvious, but one viewing of Grimaldi allows the size to somewhat melt away. He has tremendous speed, which makes him both tough to play against and a dangerous offensive player every time he steps on the ice. Grimaldi also has good puck skills, with ability to make defenders and goaltenders miss. On top of that, in the offensive zone, Grimaldi can score from just about anywhere, with a devastating release on his shot.

Continue reading →

Posted in American Prospects, Junior Hockey, NCAA, U.S. National Teams, USA Hockey, World Junior Championship | 1 Comment

USA Hockey Celebrates 75th Birthday Today

Posted on October 29, 2012 by Chris Peters

For 75 years USA Hockey has helped the game grow across the country. The governing body for hockey in the United States has grown so much itself in those 75 years and is probably stronger today than ever before.

Formerly known as the Amateur Hockey Association of the United States, the national governing body laid the foundation on which hockey has been built in this country. It wasn’t just through setting rules and regulations. There was vision and drive that led to the United States becoming the international hockey power it is today.

USA Hockey is so much more than a series of national teams or a place you send membership dues to.

It is an organization that has been built on the backs of volunteers across the country, people that committed time, money and energy to sharing their love of the game with those around them.

Continue reading →

Posted in USA Hockey | 1 Comment