Jenks, USA win World Junior title

John Carlson scored twice including the game-winning goal in overtime, as the U.S. National Junior Team defeated Canada, 6-5, to win gold at the 2010 International Ice Hockey Federation World Junior Championship Tuesday night in Saskatoon, Sask.

Following a pad save by Jack Campbell (Port Huron), Team USA skated up ice on a three-on-one odd-man rush. Carlson glided in on the wing and fired a quick snap shot past goalie Martin Jones for the championship-winning tally.

"We put the right team together for this tournament, filled with gritty, hard-working players," said Dean Blais, head coach of the U.S. National Junior Team. "Our guys battled the whole tournament, and we're very happy to come away with the gold here in Saskatoon."

Canada took an early 1-0 lead on a backhand goal by Luke Adam two minutes into the game. Team USA responded with back-to-back goals later in the period, however. Chris Kreider fired a wrist shot from the left circle over the glove of Canada starting goalie Jake Allen 14 minutes into the period. Then, just 30 seconds later, Jordan Schroeder gave Team USA a lead with a wrist shot high to the short side.

After Canada tied the game to end the first period, Team USA regained the lead one minute into the second on the power play. Carlson let go a long slap shot from the point that beat Allen low to the stick side. But Canada answered once again, knotting the score, 3-3 after two periods.

Team USA took its third lead of the night four minutes into the final period. Captain Derek Stepan broke into the Canada zone on a two-on-one break and fed Jerry D'Amigo, who gave the U.S. a 4-3 edge. Stepan then extended his team's lead to 5-3, flicking a backhand shot into the net after Allen failed to handle a long shot cleanly.

Canada scored twice in the period's final three minutes, including once on the power play, to send the game into overtime. But Team USA emerged with the victory, the second-ever gold medal for the U.S. in tournament history.

Campbell earned the win, turning aside 32 of 34 shots faced in just over 40 minutes of work after relieving Mike Lee in the second period. Meanwhile, Jones took the loss, making eight saves after replacing Allen in the third period.

NOTES: Stepan, who finished as the tournament's leading point-getter with 15 (5-10), was named Team USA's Player of the Game. With 15 points, Stepan tied Mike Modano (1989) for the third-most points ever scored by a U.S. player at a World Junior Championship. Stepan's 10 assists tied Phil Kessel (2006) for second most in U.S. single-tournament history ... Stepan and Carlson were named to the tournament's Media All-Star Team ... Team USA's other gold medal at a World Junior Championship came in 2004, when the U.S. defeated Canada, 4-3, in Helsinki, Finland. The gold medal marks Team USA's sixth overall medal at the tournament since 1977 ... Sweden defeated Switzerland earlier Tuesday, 11-4, to win the bronze medal ... Plymouth Whalers forward AJ Jenks (Wolverine Lake) was also a member of Team USA and scored three goals in the tournament.

Team USA wins World U-17 Challenge

John Gibson made 38 saves and Tyler Biggs scored both goals for the U.S. National Under-17 Team as it defeated Canada-Ontario, 2-1, to capture the gold medal at the 2010 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge Monday night at a jam-packed McIntyre Arena in Timmins, Ont.

"I couldn't be happier for the 22 players in the room," said Ron Rolston, head coach of Team USA. "They went through a lot of adversity to not only win the tournament, but to win every game. This might be one of the toughest international events to win and the players competed hard throughout. I think this is the strongest field I've seen in the three years I've coached at this tournament, so it shows the heart and character of our players."

After a scoreless first period, Team USA wasted little time in getting on the board in the middle frame. Rocco Grimaldi and Reid Boucher (Grand Ledge) won a left-corner battle to get the puck out to Biggs who snapped it into the top-right corner from the left side just 1:51 into the period. Gibson made 10 stops in the second to keep a relentless Ontario attack at bay and allow Team USA to head into the locker room ahead 1-0 after 40 minutes.

Biggs struck again just 31 seconds into the final stanza when he wristed a shot across netminder Tyson Teichmann (son of ex-Detroit Ambassadors goalie Brad Teichmann) and into the upper-left corner from a sharp angle to double the U.S. advantage. Gibson stopped shot after shot and ended up with 18 saves in the third period. However, Daniel Catenacci scored for Ontario off of a rebound with just one second remaining to spoil the shutout. After one final faceoff at center ice, the U.S. National Under-17 Team celebrated its first-place finish.

Team USA won the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge for the first time since 2002. It is the third gold medal for the U.S., which also won the event in 2001.

NOTES: Grimaldi was named to the all-tournament team. He led the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge with 14 points including a tournament best 10 assists ... Gibson was named U.S. player of the game ... Team USA finished with a 6-0-0 record ... Rolston has taken the U.S. National Under-17 Team to the gold-medal game in each of his three turns at the tournament. He guided Team USA to silver-medal finishes in 2006 and 2008 ... Canada-Ontario was the two-time defending champion ... The World Under-17 Hockey Challenge, the premier event for the under-17 age group, ran from Dec. 29, 2009 - Jan. 4, 2010 in Timmins, Ont. In addition to the United States, the event included five Canadian regional teams (Atlantic, Quebec, Ontario, Pacific and West), as well as national teams from the Czech Republic, Finland, Russia and Sweden ... Next year's event will be held in Winnipeg, Manitoba ... Team Ontario forward Garrett Meurs plays for the OHL's Plymouth Whalers.

Whalers acquire Gilbert from IceDogs

With the Ontario Hockey League trade deadline set for January 11, Plymouth Whalers coach-GM Mike Vellucci decided to get a jump on the annual event.

Vellucci announced the acquisition of 18-year-old defenseman Jay Gilbert from the Niagara IceDogs today in exchange for a fourth round draft choice in 2011. Plymouth acquired the fourth round pick along with a second and an eighth round pick last season in a deal that sent Jeremy Smith and Patrick Lee to the IceDogs. Now, the IceDogs re-acquire the fourth round pick in this deal.

Gilbert – who is 6-foot-2 and 205 pounds – was selected by Niagara in the fourth round (68th overall) of the 2007 OHL draft and has developed into a stay-at-home defenseman. In three seasons with Niagara, Gilbert has two goals with 11 assists for 13 points and 76 penalty minutes over 75 games.

Niagara Press Release

Photo courtesy Aaron Bell/OHL Images

Spirit sign Kantor, add grit to offense

The Saginaw Spirit has signed free agent forward Michael Kantor, the team announced today.

The 1992-born forward spent the first half of the 2009-2010 season with the NAHL's Albert Lea Thunder, where he posted two goals, three assists and 108 penalty minutes in 24 games.

“Michael is a talented power forward that competes very hard and will bring a lot of grit to our offense,” stated Spirit director of scouting Jim Paliafito.

Michael Kantor
Number: 19
Position: Right Wing
Height: 6.00
Weight: 180
Date of Birth: 02-02-1992
Hometown: Lake Forest, Ill.
NHL Draft Eligible: 2010

Heard, Myers provide spark for Whalers

Good teams have a way of finding energy to continue to be successful, whether it’s a big hit, effective forecheck, big save, or a goal at the right time.

Like that first cup of coffee in the morning, a jolt of energy can go a long way to a successful day.

Although the Plymouth Whalers don’t have the injury problems of the Detroit Red Wings, the truth is Plymouth hasn’t played with a fully healthy lineup all season long. Facing a stretch of games where AJ Jenks, Michal Jordan and Garrett Meurs were all missing time due to the World Junior Championship and World Under-17 Challenge – and with RJ Mahalak and JR Marsden rehabbing injuries – Plymouth coach-GM Mike Vellucci and associate coach Joe Stefan decided to find some energy.

They decided to bring up Mitchell Heard (pictured) and Sean Myers.

Both players made Plymouth out of training camp, but were sent back down during the season – Heard to the Bowmanville Eagles and Myers to Chatham of the Greater Ontario Hockey League.
Like that good first cup of coffee in the morning, Heard and Myers brought some energy – and more – back to the Whalers.

Recalled before Plymouth’s game on December 18 in Oshawa, Heard scored a goal early in the game and was a factor in the Whalers’ 2-1 win over the Generals. Heard played the game in front of 400 people from his hometown of Bowmanville, not far from Oshawa.

When Heard scored to give the Whalers a 1-0 lead in the first period, he jumped into the glass, right in front of his sister and the cheering group from Bowmanville. Later, the Rogers television crew interviewed Heard after the game as the hometown hero.

Heard will be back in the lineup for Plymouth in Kitchener on January 1.

"I love to bring energy to the rink any time I can," Heard said before the Oshawa game. "I want to get the odd goal and work hard, do what the coaches say and go from there."

Myers had a smile on his face as he strolled into the Whalers’ locker room Tuesday in Sarnia. He was given a warm welcome by his teammates – even though he was just playing in Sarnia and then go back to Chatham.

“It’s great to be back,” Myers said on Tuesday. “It feels like I belong here. You never know, you just work hard and see how it goes.”

Sure enough, Myers figured in on the first Whalers goal, digging the puck from behind the Sarnia net and jamming it towards the goal. The puck caromed to Stefan Noesen, who drilled it into the net from just outside the blue crease to give the Whalers a 1-0 lead.

Plymouth went on the defeat Sarnia, 5-2.

Although Heard and Myers may be back in Bowmanville and Chatham in the short-term, they fit in the long-range plan of the Whalers.

“Both are good young talents and they have a future with the club down the road,” said Stefan. “With our injuries and a few of the guys going away to the various junior tournaments over Christmas, we needed some bodies. They’ve come in and have provided some spark and helped us out with some offense.”

Stefan wasn’t totally surprised by Heard’s and Myers’ contributions.

“Both players can contribute that way,” he said. “They have good offensive skills and fit in real well in terms of chemistry. They are a good fit for our team and hopefully we’ll see them a few more games during the rest of the year.”

Myers currently has six goals and 12 assists for 18 points in 17 games for Chatham. Heard – who often plays on a line with another Whaler rookie, Peter Neal - has five goals with two assists for seven points and is +5 in six games in Bowmanville.

Perhaps just as important, Myers and Heard come to the rink with a smile of their face. They love playing the game and look to make Plymouth a more permanent stop.

“They’re both great kids,” Stefan said. When they were here at the start of the year, they fit in real well with the guys. We were all sad to see them go back, but I think they both know they have a future with us. I think they both have a chance to be offensive providers for us in the years to come.”

Courtesy Plymouth Whalers

Photos courtesy Walt Dmoch

Hooker an 'impact player' for Jets

The Metro Jets sure would have loved to have Tim Hooker on the ice the first half of the season, but with the way he’s played the last nine games, they’ll take him for the second half.

Hooker, a 19-year-old White Lake native, missed about 20 games this year recovering from offseason shoulder surgery. He made his season debut Dec. 5 at Queen City and since then has averaged a point a game for the Jets on six goals and three assists. Four of those goals came in the CSHL Showcase Dec. 18-21.

While some may be hesitant to go all-out after major surgery, Hooker has been anything but that so far for Metro.

“The shoulder definitely made a full recovery and I try not to worry about anything on the ice except playing my game,” Hooker said. “It took me awhile to get my wheels back and adjusting to the games, but I feel like I am improving every game and practice.”

Having Hooker in the lineup makes an impact, according to Jets coach Ryan Skop.

“Hook's an impact player for sure,” Skop said. “When he's on the ice, you can't help but notice. He's got great offensive skills, he's quick, he's got great vision, he shoots the puck well, and he's one of those guys who have a knack for putting the puck in the net.”

Hooker is a player the coaching staff is banking on to replace former captain Adam Novack, who wound up scoring 28 goals last season.

“Hook's been on our radar for a while now,” added Skop. “He's good friends with Woody (Metro defenseman Steve Lockwood) and last year, he was over at Ferris State, wanted to come back and play some hockey, so he signed with us and was ready to go, but for whatever reason, it didn’t work out. He did a good job keeping in contact with us all summer long and let us know he wanted to come back and play. That was big for us because we were looking for a real offensive guy to replace Novy after he moved on.

“A few weeks back in Cincinnati (Queen City), Hook was ready to go, and got his first game action of the season. He had a couple points that first weekend, but you could tell he was still kind of getting his legs back under him, getting his timing back, everything like that. A few weeks later, Hook's doing exactly what we expected him to do. He’s a power-play quarterback, he’s killing penalties and above all, he's putting up points.”

Currently centering a line with two other White Lake natives, Mike Denston and David Merkle, Hooker said the chemistry with that line was apparent from the first shift together.

“I've played with Merk since I was about 12, so the chemistry is always flowing there, and Denny has some good vision on the ice, too, so we fit perfect,” explained the 5-foot-8, 155-pound Hooker. “I've also played with Lockwood since I was about 10, so we can read each other on the ice real good, which helps when you have a defenseman like that to move the puck up on a rush.”

Speaking of moving up, that’s what Hooker intends on doing after this season.

“I hope to use this season to have as much fun as possible,” Hooker said. “I would definitely like to continue my hockey career at the next level, either playing another year of juniors or going to a university team.”

Still, with nine points in nine games, one wonders how many spots north in the standings the Jets might be had Hooker been healthy all season.

LOOKING BACK, LOOKING AHEAD

The Jets played in the annual league showcase two weeks ago down in the Quad Cities and came up short with two losses each to Toledo and Chicago.

“We definitely had a disappointing performance,” said Skop. “We played well enough to win on Friday (vs. Toledo) and Saturday (vs. Chicago) when we had third period leads in both games and blew them. We simply didn't get the job done when it came time to play lockdown hockey and it cost us four points. Sunday and Monday we were just out-classed. (Goaltender Ian) Mercer stood on his head Monday and gave us a chance to win, but we just didn't put enough pucks in Chicago's net.”

Fri. Dec. 18 – Toledo 6, Metro 4 (Brett Grech two goals)
Sat. Dec. 19 – Chicago 7, Metro 4 (Hooker two goals, assist)
Sun. Dec. 20 – Toledo 7, Metro 1 (Mercer 39 saves)
Mon. Dec. 21 – Chicago 4, Metro 1 (Mercer 56 saves)

The Jets (7-21-0-3) are off this weekend before hosting Chicago next Saturday (7:40 p.m.) and Sunday (1:20 p.m.) at Lakeland Arena.

JET FUEL

Metro released forward Brian Fox last week.

WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

Alec Benson-Dunn, a member of Metro’s national championship team in 2002, where he was the team’s leading scorer and MVP, is now the head coach of the upstart Loyola Marymount University ACHA team in Los Angeles.

It was Benson-Dunn’s goal midway through the third period in the 2002 national finals in Blaine, Minn., against the Phoenix Polar Bears that stood as the game-winner and gave the Jets a 3-2 victory.

After leaving the Jets, Benson-Dunn played for Springfield, Chicago and Helena in the North American Hockey League.

Photo by Andy Grossman

NAHL Top Prospects rosters announced

The North American Hockey League announced today the 20-man rosters for its third annual Top Prospects Tournament, which will be held January 18-20, 2010 at the Ice Cube in Ann Arbor.

The event will feature all-star teams from the NAHL's Central, North, South and West Divisions competing in a three-game, round-robin tournament.

"I give a lot of credit to our Top Prospects Tournament Selection Committee for their efforts in evaluating and selecting the best our league has to offer to compete in this prestigious event," said NAHL commissioner Mark Frankenfeld. "In short time, Top Prospects has evolved into one of North America's premier scouting showcases, and, like the previous two years, we expect a number of our student-athletes to receive deserved college opportunities following the event."

In the three five-team divisions - the Central, North and South - six players were selected from the first-place teams as of December 20 (Bismarck Bobcats, Marquette Rangers, St. Louis Bandits); five from the second-place teams (Owatonna Express, Janesville Jets, Topeka RoadRunners); three from the third- and fourth-place teams (North Iowa Outlaws/Alexandria Blizzard, Traverse City North Stars/Motor City Metal Jackets, Texas Tornado/Springfield Jr. Blues); and two from the fifth-place teams (Albert Lea Thunder, Alpena IceDiggers, Wichita Falls Wildcats).

One wildcard player was also selected from each of the three divisions (Owatonna/Marquette/Topeka).

In the four-team West Division, six players were chosen from the first-place team as of December 20 (Wenatchee Wild); five from the second-place team (Alaska Avalanche); and four from the third- and fourth-place teams (Fairbanks Ice Dogs/Kenai River Brown Bears).

One wildcard player was also selected from the division (Wenatchee).

Nearly 30 players who participated in last year's Top Prospects Tournament earned scholarships to Division I schools.

In conjunction with the Top Prospects Tournament, the fourth event of the North American Prospects Hockey League season will be played at the Ice Cube from January 15-18.

2010 NAHL Top Prospects Rosters

North Division (.pdf)
Central Division (.pdf)
South Division (.pdf)
West Division (.pdf)