![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaFvCBU26Etqu-XNRf9mLcwb8PbWUTl-RmL94_5JNvb_P3Awybc-1ZAt2dlh-v2ej0BN_6djZS7ILCyGkmnP2t2tcdKxYQphhIFWpBN2zEI4bl-wZ9AM0eZ1X7TdjJKgbO5YfC/s320/AlumniGame083009-18.jpg)
I decided to scrap the idea after my first couple of conversations.
COVERING:
Plymouth and Saginaw (Ontario Hockey League)
Muskegon (United States Hockey League)
Kalamazoo, Michigan, Port Huron, Soo (North American Hockey League)
Battle Creek, Flint, Metro, Michigan (North American 3 Hockey League)
Berkley, Hartland, Holland, Grrrowl, Ice Dogs, Soo, Tennyson
(Midwest Junior Hockey League)
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Kurt Kleinendorst, who spent the past three seasons as the head coach of the American Hockey League's Lowell Devils, was today named a head coach with USA Hockey's National Team Development Program in Ann Arbor.
"It's exciting to welcome Kurt to USA Hockey and our National Team Development Program," said Dave Ogrean, executive director of USA Hockey. "He brings the capacity to help the young men in our program reach their fullest potential."
"We're thrilled to get someone with Kurt's background and experience level," said Jim Johannson, assistant executive director of hockey operations at USA Hockey. "He's well suited in helping develop players for the National Hockey League and college hockey and someone I know our players will benefit greatly from having as their coach."
Kleinendorst served as an assistant coach for the U.S. Men's National Team at the 2008 International Ice Hockey Federation Men's World Championship in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and Quebec City, Quebec. He was also a member of Team USA at the 1981 IIHF Men's World Championship.
Kleinendorst spent the past nine seasons in the National Hockey League's New Jersey Devils' organization. Prior to serving as head coach of its AHL affiliate, Kleinendorst was a member of New Jersey's scouting staff for five seasons, including four as a special assistant scout (2002-06) and one as a professional scout (2001-02). He joined the NHL's Devils as one of the team's assistant coaches for the 2000-01 campaign.
Before working with New Jersey, Kleinendorst served as the general manager and head coach of the Manchester (U.K.) Storm of the Ice Hockey Superleague, Britain's top ice hockey league, for three seasons (1997-2000). He led the Storm to the league championship and garnered coach of the year honors in 1999.
Kleinendorst spent five seasons (1991-94, 1995-97) as the head coach and director of hockey operations for the Raleigh Ice Cats of the East Coast Hockey League and was named the league's top coach in 1993. In 1994-95, he served as an assistant coach and assistant general manager of the International Hockey League's San Diego Gulls.
Kleinendorst began his coaching career in 1989 as president and founder of Salt Lake City, Utah-based North American Sports, Inc., where he was responsible for teams of select college and professional players that participated in a series of tours throughout Europe.
He skated professionally in North America for parts of five seasons between 1983-1990 with the Tulsa Oilers of the Central Hockey League, the New Haven Nighthawks and Utica Devils of the AHL, and the Salt Lake Golden Eagles, Toledo Goaldiggers and Indianapolis Checkers of the IHL. Kleinendorst also played two seasons in Europe with the Rotterdam Pandas (Netherlands) in 1987-88 and Iserlohn (Germany) and Peliitat (Finland) in 1986-87.
Kleinendorst played four seasons (1979-83) collegiately at Providence College and was an All-America selection, ECAC Player of the Year and a Hobey Baker Memorial Award finalist as a senior.
NOTES: Kleinendorst replaces John Hynes, who announced his resignation earlier this month to accept the position of assistant coach for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins of the American Hockey League ... USA Hockey's National Team Development program, based in Ann Arbor, Mich., consists of two teams, the U.S. National Under-18 Team and the U.S. National Under-17 Team. Kleinendorst will coach the U.S. National Under-18 Team in 2009-10, while Ron Rolston will guide the U.S. National Under-17 Team ... Both teams will participate in the United States Hockey League, the nation's only Tier I Junior A hockey league, for the 2009-10 season.
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Eby photo courtesy Walt Dmoch
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For Traverse City North Stars head coach-GM Anthony Palumbo, the final day of training camp is a bittersweet affair. The three-day competition of lofty talent yields exceedingly difficult personnel decisions and Sunday was no different.
“It’s a great day because you pick your team and there’s excitement about all the potential,” Palumbo explained. “But it’s also a day filled with conversations with young men who are talented, have worked very hard and are great kids. Sometimes it’s those conversations that stick with you as much or more than telling a kid he made your team. As time goes by and you begin to set about preparing for the season, some of that goes away, but it’s easily among the toughest aspects of coaching.”
The 2009-10 roster, which was hewn from eligible returnees, tenders, draft picks, and a summer’s worth of tryout camps – culminating with Sunday’s training camp finale – features a very familiar flavor. There are 14 players coming back, plus a trio from former NAHL North Division rival Mahoning Valley, and a pair of local high school products who earned roster spots with their strong weekend showings – Traverse City West product Eric Rivard and Traverse City Central’s Jared Van Wormer.
“Now we knew coming in that they both of them were good hockey players,” Palumbo said. “But they played their way in. Eric just kept making plays, and showing up all over the ice. Everybody who was evaluating kept raving about his consistent performance. He was strong in the offensive end, and a real presence physically. I wouldn’t call anyone who makes it onto the roster from our training camp a ‘surprise’, but I’m not sure we realized they were this ready.”
Among the returning players is All-North defenseman Travis White, plus an additional four returnees – Bo Jacobs, Chris Heineman, Cody Walsh and Mike Schenfeld – along the blue line. Heineman, who is slated to undergo surgery later this summer, is out until at least January.
Matt Davis – a former teammate of Schenfeld at Lake Forest Academy – along with draft picks Nilan Nagy and Trevor Campbell – round out the unit.
Seven forwards return from last year’s club that went 34-17-7, including Dan Radke, Tim Opie, Kyle Jean, Eric McLintock, Josh Miller, Garrett Thompson, Sean Burke and Chris Salomone.
Jean will miss at least the first month of the season with an upper body injury suffered last season. First-round draft pick Taylor Burden skated into a North Stars sweater, as did tenders Sean Keane and Andrew Huff and Ontario import Kelin Ainsworth.
Tyler Marble, who became the Stars’ third goalie a year ago after the retirement of Dallas Kniss, and Brian Jean – younger brother of Kyle Jean – landed backstopping duties. Palumbo said the team may well add a veteran goalie to the mix.
While many of the weapons from last season’s franchise year return, three former foes will now sport the interlocking 'TC.' Forwards Nick Shkreli and Doug Clifford bring a combined 24 goals and 46 assists from Youngstown, while David Chaney brings own-zone prowess and a special teams skill set to the Stars.
“It’s hard to say exactly what kind of team we’ll have yet, style-wise,” Palumbo assessed. “But it’s probably similar to last year’s team in that respect. There are some injuries to contend with, but we do have depth. There’s a lot of potential to meet and exceed some of the benchmarks we set last year, but ‘potential’ is a big word. We’re at the beginning now.”
The club opens with an exhibition game against Alpena on Sept. 3 at Centre ICE arena. The regular season gets underway with a Sept. 12-13 at Janesville (Wis.) in advance of the Sept. 16-19 NAHL Showcase in suburban Minneapolis.
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