Monday, August 28, 2017
U.S. U17 Team Wins Title
Future NCAA stars lead U.S. to third straight Five Nations win.
The U.S. Under-17 Select Team completed a 4-0-0 tournament and captured the Five Nations Tournament title with a 5-3 victory against the Czech Republic on Sunday in Ostrava, Czech Republic.
The 20-member team was filled with future NCAA stars, including 12 players who have already committed to schools. The championship marked the third straight for the United States in the event and the eighth in 10 years.
Former Western Michigan player and assistant coach Pat Ferschweiler served as head coach of the team, assisted by Merrimack head coach Mark Dennehy, Wisconsin director of hockey operations Shane Connelly and former Western Michigan player and longtime NCAA assistant coach Joe Bonnett. Former Boston University player and UMass Lowell assistant coach Kenny Rausch served as team manager.
“I am super proud and happy for this group,” Ferschweiler said Sunday. “The character throughout the lineup is incredible; they are a bunch of hard-working kids who really care. Congrats to all the guys, it is a great win for USA Hockey.”
The 12 commits on the roster represent nine schools; Boston University, Michigan and Minnesota each had a pair of recruits on the team.
Minnesota Duluth commit Jake Hale shared the team lead in scoring with uncommitted Josh Groll; both had six points in four games. Goaltender Ethan Haider, who made 47 saves Sunday, posted a .938 save percentage for the tournament.
| 2017 U.S. Under-17 Select Team | |
| Player | NCAA Commitment |
| Goaltenders | |
| Kyle Chauvette | |
| Ethan Haider | |
| Defensemen | |
| Jake Boltmann | Minnesota |
| Ryan Johnson | |
| Mike Koster | Minnesota |
| Cole Mcward | Michigan |
| Mitch Miller | Miami |
| Cade Webber | Boston University |
| Forwards | |
| Jeffrey Bertrand | |
| Robert Christy | |
| John Farinacci | Harvard |
| Robby Griffin | Northeastern |
| Josh Groll | |
| Jake Hale | Minnesota Duluth |
| Arthur Kaliyev | |
| Robert Mastrosimone | Boston University |
| Josh Nodler | Michigan State |
| Grant Silianoff | Notre Dame |
| Lukas Svejkovsky | |
| Dylan Wendt | Michigan |