Top Prospects details announced
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FRISCO, TEXAS - The North American Hockey League announced today details on its second annual Top Prospects Tournament, which will be held January 18-20, 2009 at the Ice Cube in Ann Arbor, Mich.
The event will feature all-star teams from the NAHL's Central, North, South and West Divisions competing in a three-game, round-robin tournament. The U.S. National Team Development Program's Under-17 and Under-18 Teams will also play two games each over the three days.
"Last year's event exceeded all expectations, both in terms of competition and scouting participation," said NAHL commissioner Mark Frankenfeld. "It's events like these that make our league so unique and re-enforce our commitment to exposing our student-athletes to the college and professional ranks."
Each team will consist of a 20-man roster.
In the two, five-team divisions - the Central and North (excluding the NTDP) - six players will represent the first-place team as of December 22; five will represent the second-place team; three will represent the third- and fourth-place teams; and two will represent the fifth-place team. Coaches will also select one wildcard player from each of the two divisions.
In the two, four-team divisions - the South and West - six players will represent the first-place team as of December 22; five will represent the second-place team; and four for the third- and fourth-place teams. Coaches will also select one wildcard player from each of the two divisions.
The rosters will be announced on Monday, December 29.
Coaches for the Top Prospects teams will be selected based on the highest winning percentage in the standings as of December 22. The first-place team's coach in each division will serve as head coach, and the second-place team's coach will serve as the assistant coach.
Over 20 players who participated in last year's Top Prospects Tournament earned scholarships to Division I schools.
In conjunction with the Top Prospects Tournament, the season's second and final Sherwood/NAHL Futures Prospects Tournament will be held January 16-19 at the Ice Cube.
A USA Hockey Tier I sanctioned event, the tournament will field eight teams at the U18 (Midget Major) level; 20 at the U16 (Midget Major) level; and six at the U14 (Bantam) level.
More details on the Top Prospects Tournament and the Future Prospects Tournament will be released in the coming weeks.
For more details on the both events, visit nahltopprospects.com and nahlfutureprospects.com.
The North American Hockey League, the only USA Hockey-sanctioned Tier II Junior A league boasting 19 teams from across the country, including the esteemed USA Hockey National Team Development Program, prides itself on the social maturity and skill development of student-athletes ages 16-20 with aspirations of advancing to collegiate and/or professional hockey. For more information on the NAHL, visit NAHL.com.