U18 select team comprised of 8 Midget AAA hockey players

Compiled by U18 Hockey News Staff

United States' U18 Select team has selected eight players who competed for Midget AAA Hockey teams last year. United States U18 Select team is competing in the Ivan Hlinka U18 international tournament in Slovakia and Czech Republic this August. Even better, some of the players who played juniors and other levels of hockey last year previously had played for Midget AAA hockey teams.

Detroit seems to be the best area represented from the Midget AAA hockey eight selected players. Three of the eight players who played Midget AAA Hockey last year come from Detroit powerhouse programs, including two from state runner up Compuware, and one from the state championship team Honeybaked. Defenseman Ryan Lowney and forward Joe Cox were teammates on Compuware U18 team this past year, together both had won national championships at the U14 & U12 level with Compuware. Joe Cox led Compuware with 40 points in TIEHL play during the 2010-11 campaign, and he also helped lead Compuware to second place in Michigan state playoffs and national ranking of 8th place in the final standings. Cox has a verbal commitment to play for Michigan State and play for the Muskegon Lumberjacks in the USHL before hand. Lowney is expected to be part of Youngstown Phantoms' defense corps this year, and will follow it up by playing for the CCHA's Ferris State Bulldogs in college. Honeybaked forward Nicholas Schilkey was tied atop of his team in points with fellow teammate Alex Kile in TIEHL competition this past season. Schilkey helped his team capture the Michigan State Championship and a berth into USA Hockey's National Championships.

Chicago has only one representative from its core of four AAA hockey clubs. Forward Tim Lappin racked up 20 points during the Mission's TIEHL games this past season, only 5 points behind the team leader. However, the Chicago area is represented also by three other players who played juniors in the USHL in 2010-11. Defenseman Justin Wade and Forward Vincent Hinostroza played together for the Chicago Mission in 2009-10 and in years past. Wade, Lappin and Hinostroza finished runners up at Nationals during their 2008-09 season when they lost to fellow USA U18 select teammates Lowney and Cox from Compuware.

Colorado Thunderbirds' defenseman Jacob Slavin also competed for a Midget AAA team last year. He was part of powerhouse Colorado Thunderbirds who finished ranked third in the nation, who bowed out of Nationals during the semifinals.

USA U18 Select team begins Ivan Hlinka Tournament play on August 8th against Finland. They continue competition the next two days by facing Russia and hosts Slovakia. If USA finishes in the top two positions of its group, they'll progress towards the semifinals.