Brown, Quick Make American Hockey History with Kings

Posted on June 12, 2012 by Chris Peters

The Seattle Metropolitans of the Pacific Coast Hockey Association won the Stanley Cup in 1917, becoming the first American-based team to win a prize that was previously meant only for Canadian teams. On Monday night, LA Kings captain Dustin Brown hoisted the silver chalice formerly known as the Dominion Challenge Trophy just minutes after Jonathan Quick accepted an award adorned with a giant maple leaf.

(Photo: Frank Marrone via Twitter)

It was a clear reminder that the National Hockey League’s and Stanley Cup’s history is deeply rooted in Canada. The entire sport’s history is deeply rooted in Canada. There’s no denying it.

Though Americans have been reaching hockey’s top league for decades now, there is still something significant about an American Conn Smythe Trophy winner in and an American captain accepting the Stanley Cup itself.

When one considers neither has happened very often in the storied history of the most famous trophy in professional sports, it becomes abundantly clear just how important an occasion like Monday night really is for American hockey.

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Posted in Grow the Game, NHL, Uncategorized, USA Hockey | 2 Comments

Kicking off USofH’s Draft Coverage with Sleepers You Should Know

Posted on June 11, 2012 by Chris Peters

It’s been a bit of a long layoff here at United States of Hockey, but with the NHL Entry Draft less than two weeks away, things will be kicking into high gear right through the big weekend in Pittsburgh.

For the next two weeks, there will be wall-to-wall coverage, including my ranking of the Top 15 American-born players for the 2012 NHL Entry Draft, a draft-eligible All-America team identifying players for each position, individual prospect profiles and some last-minute thoughts from NHL scouts.

Kicking things off today is a look at some of the lesser known and lesser-talked about prospects in this year’s draft. Some are second-year eligible players, while others are first-year guys that just haven’t gotten much attention.

In a draft year that is near impossible to predict, find out which players you should be excited about if your team nabs them in the mid- to late-rounds of the NHL Entry Draft.

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Posted in American Prospects, High School Hockey, Junior Hockey, NCAA, NHL Draft, NTDP | Comments Off on Kicking off USofH’s Draft Coverage with Sleepers You Should Know

Raw Numbers: Hockey Participation Up in 2011-12

Posted on May 31, 2012 by Chris Peters

There are more people playing hockey this year than there was last, according to USA Hockey’s recently released membership statistics for 2011-12. As of this past season, 511,178 players were registered with the national governing body in the United States, an all-time high. When you throw coaches and officials into the mix, USA Hockey boasts a membership of nearly 595,000 people.

Playing membership increased by 2.12 percent from 2010-11 (500,579), marking the third consecutive year of positive growth for USA Hockey. Since 2005-06, hockey participation has grown by 15.6% nationwide, which is incredibly positive, considering the economic woes in the United States. People are finding a way to play the game even through tough financial times.

Among the playing membership, the biggest gains were made in the 7-8 age range, which saw an increase of 4.26 percent from 2010-11. USA Hockey’s membership development department’s “Come Play Youth Hockey” initiative is working pretty well so far. One of its  main goals is to attract more players aged 8 and younger to promote better long-term growth, due to the higher likelihood of retaining players that start playing at the younger ages. Further proof that it’s working, USA Hockey retained 61,396 players in the age group from the previous year, which surpassed the goal set by the organization coming into the season.

Additionally, hockey playing membership increased at the adult, 13-14 and 11-12 age groups. Women’s hockey also grew by 1.65 percent, with marked growth among girls aged 14 and younger.

These are all positive numbers for the game in the United States. Coming up after the jump, a look at growth in the individual states including some encouraging numbers in non-traditional hockey states, the Stanley Cup Effect in Massachusetts, and much more.

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Posted in Grow the Game, High School Hockey, Junior Hockey, NHL, USA Hockey, Women's Hockey, Youth Hockey | 8 Comments

Hockey’s Growth in The Garden State — Devils’ Stanley Cup Impact

Posted on May 30, 2012 by Chris Peters

The Stanley Cup is many things. The most famous trophy in professional sports, sure, but quite possibly the single-most important trophy to its sport, not just its league. Like many championships, winning the Stanley Cup Final is sure to lead to better ticket sales, more national TV appearances and increased merchandise sales. While a championship often helps the individual teams that wins them, the Stanley Cup can have a wide-ranging effect when it comes to the growth of the game in the winning team’s local market.

Stanley Cup wins by the local team has helped contribute to near 20% boosts in USA Hockey-registered membership in Texas (1999), North Carolina (2006), Western Pennsylvania (2009) and Illinois (2010).

The one thing all of those markets have in common is that the local team either won its first Cup or ended a Cup drought of more than 15 years. That is where the New Jersey Devils differ, and why the forecast is less optimistic for rampant growth of amateur hockey in the state.

The Devils have won the Cup three times since 1995, making it one of the most successful organizations in the NHL over the last 20 years. Because of those titles in relatively short succession, there is less intrigue and curiosity from the casual fan. The Devils’ established fans are no less excited about the prospects of another Stanley Cup, but has enough time passed since New Jersey’s last title to bring that fresh feeling of a title?

The amateur hockey numbers in New Jersey next year might be able to help answer that question. Coming up after the jump, a look at what happened to amateur hockey numbers in the seasons following each of New Jersey’s three titles.

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Posted in Grow the Game, NHL, USA Hockey, Youth Hockey | 1 Comment

American Development Paths to 2012 Stanley Cup Final

Posted on May 29, 2012 by Chris Peters

The Stanley Cup Final between the Los Angeles Kings and New Jersey Devils should be a great match-up, making for entertaining games and an enthralling series. This year’s Stanley Cup Final will also have an added American flavor.

By now you’ve probably heard that either Dustin Brown of the Kings or Zach Parise of the Devils will become just the second American captain to lead his team to the Stanley Cup in the modern era. It’s hard to believe, but Derian Hatcher was the last American captain to do so with the Dallas Stars in 1999.

Both the Kings and Devils have six American-born players among the regulars on the active roster for the playoffs.

As the number of Americans playing in the National Hockey League continues to grow, so are the ways for U.S.-born players to reach the league. And as the variety of ways Americans find their way to to the top level continues to expand, the debate heats up as to which one is the best.

The finite answer to that debate should be simple, but not too many see it that way. When it comes right down to it, there is no best path. There is no sure-fire way to reach the NHL. A lot of it depends on the player. Some will thrive in college hockey, while others are better suited for the Canadian Hockey League. No matter the path, the cream always rises to the top.

Coming up after the jump, a look at the development paths for each of the 12 Americans vying for the Stanley Cup.

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Posted in American Prospects, Junior Hockey, NCAA, NHL, NTDP, USA Hockey | 1 Comment

Hockey’s Growth in The Golden State – Where it’s Been, Where it’s Going

Posted on May 24, 2012 by Chris Peters

Over the next two weeks, thousands of words will be spilled out in both real and digital ink about the growth of hockey in the state of California. Most of those stories will have a lot of general thoughts about how far the game has come, but I wanted to give you the straight numbers to show just how far it has come over the last 20-plus years and where it might be headed.

With the Los Angeles Kings back in the Stanley Cup Final for the first time in 19 years, hockey is back in Hollywood. Interest is at its highest point locally in the Post-Gretzky Era. As a result, the Kings, the National Hockey League and the game as a whole should be better for it.

What The Great One did for the game in the Golden State is well documented. Hollywood loves its stars and did it ever love Wayne Gretzky. With No. 99 in the lineup, the Kings played to a packed stadium and built an interest in the sport that made an indelible impact on the growth of hockey locally.

Though the ball essentially got rolling when Gretzky came to Cali, it would have been really easy for all of it to tail off in the last decade-plus without him. That wasn’t the case however. The seed was planted and the fans and volunteers at the grassroots level kept the water on.

Since 1990-91, California’s hockey-playing population has grown by a staggering 361.8 percent. As of 2010-11, there were 22,305 USA Hockey-registered players, the highest total in the history of California hockey. That number also gives California the seventh-highest hockey-playing population in the United States, trailing traditional hockey hotbeds of Minnesota, Michigan, New York, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and Illinois.

Coming up after the jump, a detailed look at California’s hockey growth, where it has made the biggest gains and where it’s going next.

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Posted in Grow the Game, NHL, USA Hockey, Youth Hockey | 25 Comments

American Prospect Update: Goalie Edition, Clark Cup Update

Posted on May 23, 2012 by Chris Peters

Coming off a potential Vezina-winning season, Jonathan Quick has continued his standout year in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, leading the LA Kings to the Final. The last three Vezinas have gone to Americans (Tim Thomas twice and Ryan Miller). So goaltender has really become a position of strength for the U.S. overall.

It has been said 2012 is a weak year for goaltenders, and that isn’t necessarily wrong, but there are several American netminders that are noteworthy at the very least. One is in his third and final year of eligibility. Another came out of pretty much nowhere to garner quite significant draft buzz. The other two have been on the radar all year. All four should be selected in June.

Coming up after the jump a look at Michael Houser, Anthony Stolarz, Jon Gilles and Collin Olson, as well as catching up on the latest prospect news from the long layoff.

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

IIHF MWC: USA-Finland Recap, Tournament Retrospective

Posted on May 18, 2012 by Chris Peters

Eight seconds. That was all that separated the U.S. from the end of regulation and a chance in the overtime period against defending champion Finland. Alas, Jesse Joensuu was left open on the doorstep of the American net and he slammed the puck past Jimmy Howard for what stood to be the game-winning goal, eliminating the U.S. from the 2012 IIHF Men’s World Championship. A heartbreaking 3-2 loss for Team USA.

HHOF/IIHF Images on Ice

It was a bitter end to what was a pretty successful tournament for Team USA. Having won six of its first seven games, the U.S. was off to its best start at the Worlds since 1939. The Americans were riding high coming out of a preliminary round that included wins over Canada and Finland, but they don’t hand out medals for the preliminary round.

Despite that disappointing exit in the quarterfinal, USA Hockey can still be happy about the team they put on the ice. For the first time in years it seemed like the vast majority of players not only wanted to be there, but wanted to win. Badly.

In Bobby Ryan’s post-game interview, the frustration and disappointment seeped through as he chastised the officiating. It sounds silly to praise a player for squawking about the refs after a game, but it’s a sign that the game mattered to the 2010 Olympian. He cared.

More after the jump.

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Posted in NHL, U.S. National Teams, USA Hockey, World Senior Championship | 4 Comments

IIHF MWC Quarterfinals: USA vs. Finland

Posted on May 17, 2012 by Chris Peters

Single elimination changes everything. Every shot, every goal, every mistake drastically increases in importance. An off night may cost a team its shot at a medal. With a thin margin for error and a medal well within reach for both teams every shift matters and that’s what makes international hockey so fun. It’s unpredictable and because it’s unpredictable, it’s dramatic.

The U.S. Men’s National Team, for the first time in a long time, looks like it is a legitimate contender. Team USA has been in this spot before, but fallen short so many times. However, it has been decades since an American squad has come into the medal round so hot.

Team USA will meet Finland at 11:30 a.m. EDT on NBC Sports Network with a shot at the semifinals and the winner of Russia-Norway.

Finland is a veteran team playing on home ice in Helsinki. The defending champs have plenty of guys who know what it takes to win at this level and won’t go lightly playing in front of its countrymen. Though the U.S. beat Finland 5-0 in the prelims, it would not be wise to expect a similar result Thursday.

The U.S. comes into the game with the confidence of the best start to a tournament since 1939, winning six of its first seven games at the tournament. Team USA has scored 32 goals in tournament play and seems to be clicking.

Coming up after the jump, an in-depth look at the USA-Finland match-up, U.S. players to watch, quick notes on the other quaterfinal match-ups and some pre-game links.

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Posted in NHL, U.S. National Teams, USA Hockey, World Senior Championship | Comments Off on IIHF MWC Quarterfinals: USA vs. Finland

How NHL Conference Finals Will Help Game Grow

Posted on May 16, 2012 by Chris Peters

The National Hockey League has had an interesting playoffs to say the least. NBC has aired every game of these playoffs on either the flagship network, NBC Sports Network or CNBC, and the result has been record ratings. Meanwhile, columns from coast to coast are being furiously written decrying the defensive play that has made the playoffs too low scoring, too boring.

While goals bring flashes of excitement in each game, it is the end results that are most important. It is the wins that attract new fans in local markets. While the games might be boring to the veteran hockey fan or writer, they’ve been no less entertaining for the casual fan who essentially knows no different.

For the fan bases of Los Angeles, Phoenix, New York and New Jersey, all that matters is who has more goals when the final buzzer sounds in terms of attracting new fans and, more importantly, holding on to them. Each of the four remaining teams have found a way to extend their season, while also extending their relevance locally.

This year’s playoff slogan captures it accurately. There is excitement built into the playoffs simply “Because it’s the Cup.” Local fans want championships. They don’t care how the local team gets there, as long as they get there.

Some have said the lack of goals will hurt the growth of the game, which is a valid concern when it comes to national TV ratings, but where the argument goes sour is the failure to recognize the overwhelming importance of grabbing the local audience first. Keeping the locals interested and engaged is of paramount importance to overall growth of the game. Local interest is driven by wins and those interest-driving wins lead to growth. Need proof? Keep reading…

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Posted in Grow the Game, NHL, USA Hockey, Youth Hockey | 3 Comments