USA Hockey youth program climbs to top
C O LU M B U S , O H I O In the first 20 years of the world junior hockey championship, Team USA managed two podium finishes good for bronze medals in 1986 and 1992. The American youngsters couldn’t keep up with teams from countries where hockey is more deeply woven into the sporting culture. That has changed.
At the annual tournament for the world’s best players 20 and under, the results reflect the development work and higher profile of a sport that usually plays second fiddle to football, baseball, basketball and more: The Americans have won gold medals three times since 2010, including last January when they beat Canada in a riveting final.
The U.S., however, has never successfully defended a title or won juniors at home. That’s the objective when the 10-country tournament begins Dec. 26 in Buffalo.
Coach Bob Motzko tried to drive that message home with the players — seven from last year’s team — who trained in Ohio this month.
“This is probably one of the best times USA Hockey is going through right now,” said defenceman Andrew Peeke, who plays at Notre Dame. “It’s just an awesome time.”
Peeke, a second-round draft pick by the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2016, is one of two on the preliminary roster from Florida. The growth of the NHL and more media exposure have helped youth hockey make inroads in non-traditional markets in the south and west.
The game has seen tremendous growth in the U.S. since the early 1990s. The 555,000 registered players this year is up from about 195,000 in 1991, according to USA Hockey. Participation is up 21 per cent in the past decade.
All that means there are more elite players to choose from for the national teams.