USA Hockey sees youth program’s brisk rise
‘Awesome time’ for grassroots growth of sport
555,000 REGISTERED HOCKEY PLAYERS IS UP FROM 195,000 IN 1991.
C OLU MBUS, OHIO • 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 Canada and other nations 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 been able to win juniors at home. That will be the objective when the 10- nation tournament begins Dec. 26 in Buffalo.
Coach Bob Motzko tried to drive that message home with the players — seven from last year’s gold- medal 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 is playing college hockey 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 players on the preliminary roster from Florida. But the growth of the NHL and more media exposure has 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 hockey players in America this year is up from about 195,000 in 1991, according to USA Hockey. Participation is up 21 per cent just in the past decade.
All that means there are more elite players to choose from for the national teams.