Five Nations starts today; NTDP ready to host first international tournament in Plymouth
By @MichaelCaples –
In 2002, Scott Monaghan first saw a player who would one day be considered arguably the best in the world.
“I remember way back, the year we won the World Under-18s the first time, we played in Russia in February and in one of these type of events, the Russians rolled out a kid, but he was one of the first guys I ever saw that had the tinted shield and he torched everybody at the tournament. By the end of the tournament, we knew the name Ovechkin.”
Monaghan, USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program senior director of operations, says that’s his favorite thing about international tournaments – the stories that come from the time at the rink.
“A lot of the stories like that come out of this, where all of a sudden some kid is just so good that all of a sudden the NHL scouts are talking about him, his name starts to get mentioned and things like that, that’s a lot of the fun for us,” Monaghan said. “Both as the hockey people, but also for fans who follow hockey real close and follow the NHL Draft, as we all do, want to see a Dylan Larkin before he ends up an NHL all-star.”
Had you been at a U17 tournament two years ago, you would have had a chance to see Larkin, Jack Eichel and Connor McDavid all share one sheet of ice in a thrilling scoring spree.
Fans in Metro Detroit may be able to experience something of that nature when the NTDP hosts the Five Nations Tournament at its new home in Plymouth – an event that begins today. The NTDP Under-17 Team will host teams from Russia, Finland, Sweden and the Czech Republic at USA Hockey Arena from Feb. 9-13 for a showcase that will feature future NHL talent from across the globe. The five teams will play four games in five days in a round-robin style tournament.
For tickets and schedule, click here
“With that kind of structure and it’s a short event, it’s only five days, every game has a lot more importance to it, so that elevates the level of play and the competition,” Monaghan said. “What you’ll see is, as everyone knows and as people are learning, our two teams here are two national teams, they’re together year-round, but these European teams play together regularly throughout the year, starting from the age of 14 or 15, depending on the country, so these aren’t just all-star teams. These are groups where they’ve identified the top 40 or 50 kids in their age group, and they’re pulling 20-22 of them, bringing them over here.
“What they’re doing is crafting their national teams of the future, too, at the same time and getting a chance to work with their highest-level players, like we do, and develop their skill and also develop them for ultimately the World Under-18 Championship, the World Juniors, the Olympics, those kinds of things.”
Monaghan said he and the NTDP staff are excited to use the Five Nations Tournament as a chance to introduce hockey fans to the renovated building and its new tenant.
“For us, it’s a kick-off to a point of what we want people to be able to see in the future at the USA Hockey Arena, which is not just what you’d normally see – the junior games or even college or youth hockey – but international events, the opportunities to see the best players around the world at different age groups, men, women, sled hockey, all the different types that we’re hoping to bring in. So for us, we’re excited about it because it’s the first chance to roll that out in front of a fan base and let them see it and enjoy it and hopefully go back saying, ‘Wow, that’s a lot of fun and I want to come back and root for Team USA next time they’re playing.’”