COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Andy Yohe (Bettendorf, Iowa), who captained Team USA to the gold medal at the 2014 Paralympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russia, has been tabbed captain of the U.S. National Sled Hockey Team for the 2016-17 season, USA Hockey announced today. In addition, Nikko Landeros (Johnstown, Colo.) and Josh Pauls (Green Brook, N.J.) have been named alternate captains.
“Coach Sauer and I are thrilled to announced Andy Yohe as our captain, along with Nikko Landeros and Josh Pauls as our alternate captains,” said Dan Brennan, general manager of the U.S. National Sled Hockey Team and USA Hockey’s director of inline and sled hockey. “All three players bring a tremendous blend of experience, skill and grit to set a positive example for this year’s team.”
ABOUT YOHE
This is the third time in seven campaigns that Yohe will serve as captain for Team USA. In addition to captaining the 2014 U.S. Paralympic Sled Hockey Team, Yohe captained the 2010 squad that claimed Team USA’s first-ever International Paralympic Committee Sled Hockey World Championship at the 2009 event in Ostrava, Czech Republic. In his six previous seasons with the U.S. National Sled Hockey Team, Yohe has amassed 18 points (7-11) in 41 appearances while splitting time between forward and defense.
Overall, Yohe has been a part of five championship-winning U.S. squads, including the 2014 Paralympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russia; the 2010 Paralympic Winter Games in Vancouver, British Columbia; the 2010 Japan Para Ice Sled Hockey Championship in Nagano City, Japan; the 2009 World Sled Hockey Challenge in Charlottetown, P.E.I.; and the 2009 IPC Sled Hockey World Championship in Ostrava, Czech Republic.
ABOUT LANDEROS
A member of the U.S. National Sled Hockey Team since the 2009-10 season, Landeros enters his eighth season as a defenseman with the U.S. National Sled Hockey Team and third consecutive campaign as an alternate captain. A two-time gold medalist at the 2014 Paralympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russia, and 2010 Paralympic Winter Games in Vancouver, British Columbia, Landeros has helped Team USA capture seven other major international events, including two IPC Sled Hockey World Championships (2015, 2012), four World Sled Hockey Challenges (2016 (Jan.), 2015, 2012, 2009) and most recently the inaugural 2016 IPC Pan-Pacific Championship. In 99 games with Team USA, Landeros has totaled 58 points (26-32), which ranks seventh all-time and fourth among current U.S. National Sled Hockey Team members. In addition, his 32 assists sit fifth all-time while his 26 goals rank seventh.
ABOUT PAULS
Pauls begins his ninth season with the U.S. National Sled Hockey Team and third as an alternate captain. Since making his debut with the national team in the 2008-09 season, Pauls has helped the U.S. capture nine major international competitions, including two Paralympic Winter Games (2014, 2010), two IPC Sled Hockey World Championships (2015, 2012), four World Sled Hockey Challenges (2016 (Jan.), 2015, 2012, 2009) and most recently the 2016 IPC Pan-Pacific Championship. For his performances, he was named Best Defenseman by the directorate at both the 2016 IPC Pan-Pacific Championship and 2015 IPC Sled Hockey World Championship. In 109 games for Team USA, Pauls has compiled 73 points (33-40) while playing as both a forward and defenseman for the United States and ranks third all-time in assists (38) and games played (108), fourth in points (71) and fifth in goals (33).
The U.S. National Sled Hockey Team opens its 2016-17 season at the 2016 (Dec.) World Sled Hockey Challenge in Charlottetown, P.E.I., at MacLauchlan Arena from Dec. 4-10. For complete coverage of the U.S. National Sled Hockey Team, click here.
NOTES: Labatt USA is a proud sponsor of the U.S. National Sled Hockey Team … The U.S. National Sled Hockey Team will hold a training camp in Madison, Wisconsin, at Madison Ice Arena from Nov. 3-6. For a complete U.S. National Sled Hockey Team season schedule, click here … Many members of the U.S. National Sled Hockey Team will participate in the 2016 USA Hockey Sled Classic, presented by the NHL, from Nov. 17-20 at the Ford Ice Center in Antioch, Tennessee. For more information, visit usahockey.com/sledclassic … The United States enters the 2016 (Dec.) World Sled Hockey Challenge as two-time defending champions (2016 (Jan.); 2015) and winners of five straight major international tournaments, including the 2016 International Paralympic Committee Pan-Pacific Championship in Buffalo, New York; the 2016 (Jan.) World Sled Hockey Challenge in Bridgewater, Nova Scotia; the 2015 IPC Sled Hockey World Championship in Buffalo, New York; the 2015 World Sled Hockey Challenge in Leduc, Alberta; and the 2014 Paralympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russia … Head coach Jeff Sauer (Madison, Wis.) enters his sixth season behind the bench for Team USA. Since first taking the helm in 2011, Sauer has guided Team USA to a 47-4-2-12 (W-OTW-OTL-L) … Additional team staff members include athletic trainer Mike Cortese (Boynton Beach, Fla.), equipment manager Joel Isaacson (Houghton, Mich.), and team physician Mike Uihlein (Grafton, Wis.). Cortese, Isaacson, and Uihlein have been staff members for the past four seasons.
