Talent-laden Team USA visits Covelli

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

Ten alumni of the U.S. National Team Development Program will be members of the United States men’s hockey team in next month’s 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia.

The U.S. National Team Development Program, which fields a U18 and a U17 team in USHL play, has been an important provider of talent for USA Hockey at the senior level.

When he was on Team USA from 2008-10, Justin Faulk, a defenseman with the NHL’s Carolina Hurricanes, skated against USHL competition.

The other USNDTP alumni who are Olympians are: goaltender Jimmy Howard (Detroit Red Wings); defenseman Cam Fowler (Anaheim Ducks); defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk (St. Louis Blues); defenseman Ryan Suter (Minnesota Wild); forward Patrick Kane (Chicago Blackhawks); forward Ryan Kesler (Vancouver Canucks); forward Phil Kessel (Toronto Maple Leafs); forward Zach Parise (Wild); and forward James Van Riemsdyk (Maple Leafs).

Tonight, Team USA’s 18U team will be at the Covelli Centre to take on the Youngstown Phantoms.

Team USA’s forward Jack Eichel, 17, recently played at the World Junior Championship in Malm ∂, Sweden, in the major U20 tournament. Eichel, a future Boston University Terrier, has 23 points in 12 USHL contests.

Eichel will be eligible for the NHL Entry Draft in 2015, where he figures to be a top selection. Many of his teammates are eligible to be drafted this summer.

In the latest NHL Central Scouting midterm rankings, six Team USA skaters ranked in the top 32 among North American-based skaters: Sonny Milano (16), Dylan Larkin (17), Alex Tuch (21), Jack Glover (27), Jack Dougherty (29) and Ryan Collins (32).

After Wednesday’s 7-4 loss to the Indiana Ice, the Phantoms acquired the USHL rights to forward James Winkler from the Muskegon Lumberjacks. Winkler’s acquisition completes the “future considerations” portion of the Phantoms’ November trade that sent Blake Christensen to the Lumberjacks.

Winkler, 17, is 6-foot-3 and weighs 195 pounds. He has been placed on Youngstown’s affiliate list as he is playing for the Portland Jr. Pirates of the Tier III United States Premier Hockey League where he has notched 10 goals and three assists in 36 games. The native of York, Maine is committed to Northeastern University.

He is ranked 110th on the NHL Central Scouting midterm rankings, joining Phantoms Maxim Letunov (68th) and JJ Piccinich (164th).

“James Winkler is a big-bodied power forward, a goal scoring winger,” said Jason Koehler, Phantoms assistant general manager. “We probably don’t have anybody like him that fits what he could turn into. When he comes in here and gets adjusted, he should be a force.”

Following tonight’s contest, the Phantoms will take travel to Bensenville, Ill., to play the Chicago Steel on Saturday night.