The book Star-Spangled Hockey by Kevin Allen published by Triumph is an encyclopedia of USA Hockey. Kevin is one of the great sports writers out there and he’s an absolute expert on this subject. I know for sure because I’ve chatted USA hockey with him at more than one international tournament.

This tome covers 75 years of USA Hockey. I’ve been watching for quite a few years and I feel like the changes that I’ve seen is remarkable, but after reading this book it really makes me appreciate how far it’s come.

JR’s early life showed what kind of determination it takes for the family and the player to succeed and eventually make it to the NHL. Not always polite, but always truthful this tome shows why reporters like myself enjoyed interviewing him. Triumph has a real hit on their hands.

This Saturday night at 7PM fans can watch the inaugural All American Prospects Game which is being hosted on the Buffalo Sabres home ice on Fast Hockey’s website. For those in attendance they will be in for a treat. 100 scouts and nearly 50 credentialed media will get to watch two rosters full of NHL draft eligible players (40 in all) including Seth Jones who I think will be the second overall pick this coming June.

Phil Housley is coaching one team and Rob McClanahan is coaching the other. Both men have their names indelibly etched into hockey history.

USA Hockey will welcome 40 of the top American-born prospects eligible for the 2013 National Hockey League Draft to the ice at the First Niagara Center in Buffalo, New York, for the inaugural CCM/USA Hockey All-American Prospects Game on Saturday, September 29.

Here is the roster:

Name Ht Wt Birthdate S/C Hometown Most Recent Team College Commitment
G Hunter Miska 6-0 171 7/7/95 L North Branch, Minn. U.S. National Under-17 Team
G Eamon McAdam 6-2 180 9/24/94 L Perkasie, Pa. Waterloo Black Hawks (USHL) Penn State University

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - USA Hockey today announced the 22 members of the U.S. National Junior Team that will compete at the 2012 International Ice Hockey Federation World Junior Championship Dec. 26, 2011-Jan. 5, 2012, in Edmonton and Calgary, Alta.