COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – USA Hockey today announced the roster for its 2017 U.S. Men’s National Select Team that will compete at the Deutschland Cup from Nov. 10-12 in Augsburg, Germany.
Along with the U.S., the four-team Deutschland Cup includes teams from Slovakia, Russia and host Germany.
Of the 29 players named to the team, 27 are currently participating in professional leagues in the Czech Republic, Finland, Germany, Russia, Sweden and Switzerland.
“We’re excited about our roster for the Deutschland Cup,” said Jim Johannson, assistant executive director for hockey operations at USA Hockey and also the general manager of the 2017 U.S. Men’s National Select Team and 2018 U.S. Olympic Men’s Ice Hockey Team. “It should be an excellent tournament and will also be a good chance to help us in our Olympic preparation.”
The U.S. roster includes 11 players who have previously represented Team USA at the Deutschland Cup, including four — Chad Kolarik (Abington, Pa./Adler Mannheim), Dylan Reese (Pittsburgh, Pa./HV71), Dan Sexton (Apple Valley, Minn./Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk) and Ryan Zapolski (Erie, Pa./Jokerit) — who helped the U.S. claim the the 2013 Deutschland Cup championship. In addition, Chad Billins (Marysville, Mich./Linköping HC), Matt Gilroy (North Bellemore, N.Y./Jokerit), Ryan Lasch (Lake Forest, Calif./Frölunda HC), Broc Little (Phoenix, Ariz./HC Davos), Jim Slater (Petoskey, Mich./HC Fribourg-Gottéron) and Ryan Stoa (Bloomington, Minn./Spartak Moskva) competed at the 2015 Deutschland Cup, where the U.S. finished second.
A total of 20 players have represented the U.S. at one or more International Ice Hockey Federation world championships, including nine who have combined to win 13 IIHF medals. Those medalists include Mark Arcobello (Milford, Conn./SC Bern/WC), Matt Donovan (Edmond, Okla./Frölunda HC/U20), Kolarik (U18), Brandon Maxwell (Winter Park, Fla./BK Mlada Boleslav/U18), Ryan Malone (Pittsburgh, Pa./Iowa Wild/OWG, WC), Mark Stuart (Rochester, Minn./Adler Mannheim/U18, U20), Sexton (WC), Drew Shore (Denver, Colo./ZSC Lions/U18, U20) and Stoa (U18, U20).
OTHER ROSTER NOTES
• The Averages:
Height: 5′-11.5″
Weight: 189 lbs.
Age: 31
• Brian Gionta (Rochester, N.Y.) represented the U.S. at the 2006 Winter Olympic Games, while Malone was part of the 2010 silver medal-winning Olympic squad.
• A total of 21 players have NHL experience, while six have spent time in the AHL.
• Six players are alumni of USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program, including Robbie Earl (Chicago, Ill./ EHC Biel- Bienne), Kolarik, Maxwell, Stuart, Shore, and Stoa.
• Players come from 14 different states. Pennsylvania leads the way with six players, followed by Minnesota (5), Michigan (3), New York (3), California (2), and Connecticut (2). The roster includes one player from each of the following states: Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Oklahoma and Virginia.
U.S. Men’s National Select Team Schedule
All Games/Practices at Curt-Frenzel Stadium
Date Event Time (Local/ET)
Wed., Nov. 8 Practice 11:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m./5:00 a.m.-6:30 a.m.
Thurs., Nov. 9 Practice 9:30 a.m.-11 a.m./3:30 a.m.-5:00 a.m.
Fri., Nov. 10 Practice 9:45 a.m.-10:15 a.m./3:45 a.m.-4:15 a.m.
USA vs. Slovakia 4:00 p.m./10:00 a.m.
Sat., Nov. 11 USA vs. Russia 7:30 p.m./1:30 p.m.
Sun., Nov. 12 USA vs. Germany 4:45 p.m./10:45 a.m.
Notes: The coaching staff of the 2018 U.S. Olympic Men’s Ice Hockey Team, led by head coach Tony Granato, will serve as the coaching staff for the 2017 U.S. Men’s National Select Team. Assistant coaches include Keith Allain, Chris Chelios, Ron Rolston and Scott Young … Jim Johannson, assistant executive director of hockey operations for USA Hockey, is the general manager for both the 2017 U.S. Men’s National Select Team and the 2018 Olympic Men’s Ice Ice Hockey Team, while Ben Smith is serving as director of player personnel … The U.S. competes in the Deutschland Cup in odd years. The 2017 tournament will mark the sixth appearance for the U.S., which first participated in the event in 2007. The U.S. has won eight of the 15 total games it has played in the event all-time … For more information on the U.S. Men’s Select Team that will compete at the 2017 Deutschland Cup, click here … USA Hockey’s international council, chaired by Gavin Regan (Potsdam, N.Y.), vice president of USA Hockey, has oversight responsibilities for all U.S. teams that compete internationally.
