November 12, 2009
Just three days after leading Team USA to gold as teammates at the World Junior A Challenge, Des Moines Buccaneers goaltender Eric Mihalik and forward Connor Brickley faced off with Chicago Steel defenseman Kevin Lind in USHL action. (USHL Images)
The USHL features the top junior hockey talent in the nation, so it was an easy decision for USA Hockey to select players from the League to represent the United States at last week's World Junior A Challenge. Answering the call, 21 of the USHL's finest took a break from regular season play and headed to Summerside, Prince Edward Island, Canada, representing the United States in an event of growing international significance that featured teams from five nations.
The result – a second straight championship for the USHL-stocked U.S. Junior Select Team.
Competing in the event for the third time, Team USA won the tournament title finishing with a 4-0-1 record, the only blemish on its record being a shootout loss to Canada East in a preliminary round. Four consecutive victories over Belarus, Sweden, Russia, and Canada West in the finals helped Team USA defend their title.
The opportunity to represent the United States left a lasting impression on proud USHL'ers. "It was incredible," said Des Moines Buccaneers goaltender Eric Mihalik, who led all goaltenders at the tournament with a .940 save percentage and 1.50 goals-against-average. "It is an indescribable feeling to be picked to play for your country and win a gold medal."
Chicago Steel defenseman Kevin Lind donned the USA jersey for the second time in a span of three months. He was a member of the U.S. Under-18 Select Team that participated in the 2009 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament this past August. His second go around for Team USA, was just as special.
"My second time playing for my country wearing the USA sweater was a great experience," said Lind. "I was fortunate enough to be asked to play again. Stuff like that doesn't happen too often - winning a gold medal representing your country and beating Canada in Canada. I will never forget this."
The World Junior A Challenge provides a unique opportunity for USHL players to perform on an international stage – and demonstrate to the worldwide hockey community that the USHL continues to develop many of the top players on the planet. It also represents a commitment by the League and its Member Clubs, who willingly support USA Hockey's efforts by allowing players to leave their teams to compete in this event – and miss three, four, or in some cases five regular season games.
"When we send our players to compete for the United States in these competitions," said Commissioner Skip Prince, "they carry with them the message that the USHL and the American development model, with its focus on education and excellence on and off the ice, creates both great hockey players and great young men. It was special for all of us to see them bring home the gold."
The Cedar Rapids RoughRiders and Indiana Ice both not only each sent four players but their respective head coaches, Mark Carlson and Jeff Blashill headed up the U.S. Select Team coaching staff along with Sioux Falls assistant coach Andy Jones. As head coach, Carlson was guiding Team USA for the second straight year, after leading a group of USHL players to the tournament title in 2008.
Coach Carlson welcomed the challenge of bringing together a new group of 22 players hailing from ten different teams. "I was happy for the players," said Carlson. "For them to come together and gel in a short period of time and be able to win a gold medal is a once in a lifetime experience."
As USHL players facing off against each other in League play all season found themselves wearing the red, white, and blue Team USA sweaters, they focused quickly. "It was a little weird at first, but we came together as a unit very quickly," stated Indiana Ice forward Shane Berschbach, who led Team USA in scoring (5g, 3a) and was named to the All-Tournament team.
Carlson confirmed that the players took it upon themselves to bond as a team quickly. "They deserve the credit for making each other feel comfortable and playing as a team, said Carlson. "That's why we got better as each game went on."
Team USA's activities were not limited to the ice. Besides taking in a few movies, the players took part in some games native to the host country. "We did some Canadian bowling," said Berschbach. "It is played with just five pins and a much smaller ball.
"We went curling too, which was quite the experience," added the Steel's Lind.
They'll cherish their 11 days together for a lifetime, but the gold medal winners now rejoin their USHL teams - and teammates will once again stare across the ice at each other. "My first weekend back and I already get to play against three of my Challenge teammates," said Berschbach. He was referring to the upcoming Friday and Saturday two-game series in Indianapolis against the Fargo Force, where he and Ice teammates Nic Dowd, John Parker, and Nick Mattson will face the Force's Matt Leitner, Colten St. Clair, and Eamonn McDermott - all of whom played for Team USA as well.
Though you won't see it on USHL ice, the good feelings will linger. "The opportunity to coach Team USA in a tournament like this is a tremendous honor," said Carlson. "I just loved every second of our time in Summerside."
Headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, the USHL celebrates its 31st season of elite junior hockey in 2009-10. With over 160 players already committed to NCAA Division I schools and 13 NHL Entry Draft picks currently on League rosters, the USHL is the nation's foremost producer of junior hockey talent. For more information, visit us on the web at www.USHL.com.
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