Hockey In The United States

A record 29.9% of the players selected in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft (63 of 211) were U.S.-born and for the first time, U.S.-born players were selected with the top two picks as Patrick Kane (Chicago) and James vanRiemsdyk (Philadelphia) went first and second overall. This also marked the first time U.S.-born players were selected first overall in consecutive years – Kane this year and Erik Johnson (St. Louis) in 2006. As well, a total of 10 Americans were selected in the first round of the 2007 Entry Draft, tying a record set in 2006. A record 21 Americans were selected in the first two rounds of 2007.

The United States Hockey League had 26 current or former players selected in the Draft, while two players from the North American Hockey League were chosen. Sixteen players who had skated with U.S. National Team Development Program were selected.

Players from 14 different states were selected in the 2007 Entry Draft, including California, Connecticut, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas and Wisconsin.

There are three elite systems for hockey development in the United States: USA Hockey, the high school and collegiate leagues (NCAA) and regional junior leagues.

USA Hockey

Hockey in the United States is based primarily on the National Team Development Program, which has been committed to the regional development of the sport and gaining a higher profile in international competition.

USA Hockey is the official representative to the IIHF (International Ice Hockey Federation) and the USOC (United States Olympic Committee). It is responsible for the selection and training of the U.S. National Teams and the U.S. Olympic Teams.

National Team Development Program

In 1996, USA Hockey launched the National Team Development Program (USDP) designed to create a new standard for player development in the United States. Based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, the USDP provides a concentrated on and off-ice training environment for some of the premier hockey players under 18-years of age in the U.S.

The USDP is split into two squads, an under-18 team and an under-17 team. Together, the teams take part in more than 120 games against international, collegoiate and U.S. junior competition. A team made up of players from both the U-18 and U-17 programs plays a full schedule of games in the NAHL. (See junior hockey later in this section.)

The USDP captured the IIHF Under-18 World Championships in 2005 and 2006 and has finished on the podium in each of the last five championships. Erik Johnson of the USDP U-18 team was drafted 1st overall in the 2006. James vanRiemsdyk was selected 2nd overall in 2007 and Jack Johnson was 3rd overall in 2005.

National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA)

The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) is the primary route for a hockey prospect in the United States and is the governing body of U.S. college athletics.

NCAA Division I hockey is divided into the following six leagues:

Atlantic Hockey (A.H.)

Air Force	Canisius	Mercyhurst
American International	Connecticut	Rochester IT
Army	Holy Cross	Sacred Heart
Bentley

Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA)

Alaska	Miami	Northern Michigan
Bowling Green	Michigan	Notre Dame
Ferris State	Michigan State	Ohio State
Lake Superior State	Nebraska-Omaha	Western Michigan

College Hockey America (CHA)

Alabama-Huntsville	Niagara	Wayne State
Bemidji State		Robert Morris

Eastern College Athletic Conference Hockey League (ECACHL)

Brown	Dartmouth	RPI
Clarkson	Harvard	St. Lawrence
Colgate	Princeton	Union College
Cornell	Quinnipiac	Yale

Hockey East (H-East)

Boston College	U Mass-Lowell	Northeastern
Boston University	Merrimack College	Providence
Maine	New Hampshire	Vermont
Massachusetts

Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA)

Alaska Anchorage	Michigan Tech	Minnesota State
Colorado College	Minnesota	North Dakota
Denver	Minnesota-Duluth	St. Cloud State
	Wisconsin

U.S. High Schools, Prep Schools

The popularity of high school and prep school hockey in the U.S. has regularly attracted NHL scouts. Some of the leading high school programs include those at Cushing Academy, Northwood Prep, Belmont Hill, Edina and Hill-Murray.
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U.S. College and High School Notes

1967 – First U.S. College Player Drafted • Michigan Tech center Al Karlander was selected 17th overall by the Detroit Red Wings.

1979 – First U.S. College First- Round Selection • Minnesota-born defenseman Mike Ramsey (currently an assistant coach with the Minnesota Wild) was selected 11th overall by the Buffalo Sabres.

1980 – First U.S. High School Player Drafted • Center Jay North of Bloomington-Jefferson H.S. was taken 62nd overall by the Buffalo Sabres in 1980.

1981 – First U.S. High School First- Round Selection • Center Bob Carpenter of St. John’s prep school was selected third overall by Washington in 1981.

1983 – First U.S. High School Player Drafted First Overall • Minnesota North Stars selected left winger Brian Lawton from Mount St. Charles H.S. first overall in 1983.

1986 – First U.S. College Player Drafted First Overall • Detroit selected right winger Joe Murphy from Michigan State first overall in 1986.

1987 -– Most U.S. High School Players Selected in an Entry Draft • There were 69 players drafted from U.S. high schools in 1987, accounting for 27.4% of the draft. Although this marks the largest group of high school prospects to be selected in a single Entry Draft, none was taken in the first round.

2005 – Most U.S. College Players Selected in the First Round • The 2005 draft saw eight U.S. college players selected in the first round, the most in Entry Draft history. Seven were selected in the first round in 2003 and 1986, six in 2000, five in 2002, four in 2001 and three in each of the 1986 and 1999 Entry Drafts.

Following is a listing of the highest drafted U.S. college players:

Player	College/ University	Drafted	Drafting Team	Year
Joe Murphy*	Michigan State	1st	Detroit	1986
Rick DiPietro	Boston U.	1st	NY Islanders	2000
Craig Simpson*	Michigan State	2nd	Pittsburgh	1985
Dany Heatley*	U. of Wisconsin	2nd	Atlanta	2000
Jonathan Toews*	U. of North Dakota	3rd	Chicago	2006
Scott Lachance	Boston U.	4th	NY Islanders	1991
Paul Kariya*	U. of Maine	4th	Anaheim	1993
Aaron Ward*	U. of Michigan	5th	Winnipeg	1991
Ryan Whitney	Boston U.	5th	Pittsburgh	2002
Thomas Vanek	U. of Minnesota	5th	Buffalo	2003
Phil Kessel	U. of Minnesota	5th	Boston	2006
Craig Redmond*	U. of Denver	6th	Los Angeles	1984
Al Montoya	U. of Michigan	6th	NY Rangers	2004
Erik Rasmussen	U. of Minnesota	7th	Buffalo	1996
Mike Komisarek	U. of Michigan	7th	Montreal	2001

* denotes Canadian-born NCAA player

Following is a list of the highest-drafted players from U.S. high schools:

Player	High School	Drafted	Drafting Team	Year
Brian Lawton	Mount St. Charles	1st	Minnesota	1983
Bob Carpenter	St. John's Prep	3rd	Washington	1981
Tom Barrasso	Acton-Boxboro	5th	Buffalo	1983
Blake Wheeler	Breck	5th	Phoenix	2004
Phil Housley	South St. Paul	6th	Buffalo	1982
Doug Zmolek	John Marshall	7th	Minnesota	1989
Ryan Sittler	Nichols	7th	Philadelphia	1992
Jeremy Roenick	Thayer Academy	8th	Chicago	1988
Brian Leetch	Avon Old Farms	9th	NY Rangers	1986

U.S. Junior Hockey

There are eight U.S.-based junior leagues categorized in one of three Junior A tiers. Comprising of approximately 100 teams registered by USA Hockey, these leagues allow players 20 years of age or younger to retain their NCAA eligibility while increasing the opportunity for college scholarships.

USA Hockey supports the Atlantic, Central States, Eastern, Minnesota, North American, Northern Pacific, United States and Western States junior hockey leagues. The USHL is recognized as a Tier One Junior A league. The NAHL is ranked as Tier Two Junior A; the balance are Tier Three Junior A. Six other leagues, comprising some 72 more teams, are ranked as Junior B or Junior C. In addition to these affiliated teams, there are independednt junior clubs.

United States Hockey League (Tier One, Junior A)

Cedar Rapids	Indiana	Sioux City
Chicago	Lincoln	Sioux Falls
Des Moines	Ohio	Tri-City
Green Bay	Omaha	Waterloo

The league originally formed as the Midwest Junior Hockey League in 1972, before merging with the semi-pro USHL in 1977, becoming an all-junior league in 1979. The United States Hockey League is governed by USA Hockey and offers an extensive practice and game schedule that provides players with an opportunity to develop their skills at an accelerated pace. The main purpose of the USHL is to help players, coaches, and officials advance their careers to the college and professional level. Each team plays a 60-game schedule starting in late September and finishing in mid-April.

The league attracts players from all over the United States as well as Canada and Europe.

North American Hockey League (Tier Two Junior A)

Alaska	Kenai River	Springfield (IL)
Alexandria	Mahoning Valley	Texas
Alpena	Marquette	Topeka
Bismarck	North Iowa	Traverse City
Fairbanks	St. Louis	USNDTP
Fargo-Moorhead	S. Minnesota	Wichita Falls

The North American Hockey League was founded in 1975 when the Michigan Junior and Wolverine Junior League formed the Great Lakes Junior Hockey League. In 1984 the name was changed to the North American Junior Hockey League, and has since been modified to the current North American Hockey League. The 2007-08 campaign was the 32nd season of North American Hockey League competition.

Each team plays a 58-game regular-season schedule, with exhibition games and league playoff games providing additional contests. In addition, league-wide tournaments attract numerous scouts and coaches.

The NAHL's primary goal is to enhance the development of its players in conjunction with a commitment to academic support. The League's schedule and playoff schedule is designed to minimize school conflicts. NAHL competition helps players make the transition from midget and high school hockey to college and major junior hockey by creating an environment that is highly competitive, encourages skill development and provides time for physical growth and maturity.

Other U.S. Draft Notes

• The first U.S.-born player to be selected in the NHL Entry Draft was Michigan Tech right winger Herb Boxer. Boxer, a native of Hancock, Michigan, was picked 17th overall in 1968 by the Detroit Red Wings.
• Five U.S.-born players have been taken first overall in the NHL Entry Draft (Brian Lawton, 1983; Mike Modano, 1988; Bryan Berard, 1995; Rick DiPietro, 2000; Erik Johnson, 2006).