COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The United States Under-17 Men’s Select Team will take part in the 2017 Under-17 Five Nations Tournament, set for Aug. 23-27 in Ostrava, Czech Republic. Along with the U.S., the event also includes host Czech Republic, as well as Germany, Slovakia and Switzerland.
The U.S. will face the Ostrava Under-18 National Team Monday (Aug. 21) in its lone exhibition game. Opening faceoff is set for 5 p.m. (11 a.m. ET).
Team USA opens play in the Five Nations Tournament on Aug. 24 against Switzerland at 3 p.m. (9 a.m. ET).
The U.S. Under-17 Men’s Select Team is comprised of players chosen from the USA Hockey’s Boys Select 16 National Player Development Camp, an annual event providing participants with age-appropriate training and competition with and against many of the nation’s top players in their age group.
The Five Nations Tournament is held annually and features many of the world’s elite hockey players under age 17. The U.S. has captured the Five Nations Tournament title in five of the previous six years, including last year.
NOTES: Pat Ferschweiler (Rochester, Minn.), who is part of the Detroit Red Wings’ coaching staff, will serve as head coach for the U.S. Under-17 Select Team. His assistant coaches will be Mark Dennehy (Dorchester, Mass.), Shane Connelly (Madison, Wis.) and Joe Bonnett (Canton, Mich.). TC Lewis (Richmond, Texas) will serve as team leader and Kenny Rausch (Colorado Springs, Colo.) as team manager … When Team USA won the Under-17 Five Nations Tournament last year in Frisco, Texas, it marked the seventh championship in nine tries for the U.S., which also claimed top honors in 2015, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010 and 2008 … The 20 players on the Team USA roster represent 12 different states.
