OT: Watch USNPanther Jr NZ Ice Hockey

[USN_Panther]

If any of you are having insomnia or still hitting the bottle late Friday (well--actually early Saturday at 0030), watch USNPanther Jr playing for the New Zealand U18s against the NZ U20s. They are playing a 4 period game (U18s vs U20s for 2 periods, then NZ men's team split squad for 2 periods).

Covid stuffed up the planned IIHF tournaments for 2020 and 2021 for these teams. He would have played in Luxembourg in 2020, and somewhere that was never determined for 2021. So at least they are getting a game. USNPanther Jr is the team captain for the U18s, and will be number 18 for the team wearing white.

He proudly displays a yellow Pitt hockey jersey on his bedroom wall along with his NZ national team jersey. Pre-Covid he wanted to study in the US or Canada and play hockey. Hopefully he can pull that off in a few years once the world opens back up.

Here is the link:

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

If any of you are having insomnia or still hitting the bottle late Friday (well--actually early Saturday at 0030), watch USNPanther Jr playing for the New Zealand U18s against the NZ U20s. They are playing a 4 period game (U18s vs U20s for 2 periods, then NZ men's team split squad for 2 periods).

Covid stuffed up the planned IIHF tournaments for 2020 and 2021 for these teams. He would have played in Luxembourg in 2020, and somewhere that was never determined for 2021. So at least they are getting a game. USNPanther Jr is the team captain for the U18s, and will be number 18 for the team wearing white.

He proudly displays a yellow Pitt hockey jersey on his bedroom wall along with his NZ national team jersey. Pre-Covid he wanted to study in the US or Canada and play hockey. Hopefully he can pull that off in a few years once the world opens back up.

Here is the link:

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What level of hockey would this be comparable to? Would they beat a good Western PA HS team?

 

[USN_Panther]

What level of hockey would this be comparable to? Would they beat a good Western PA HS team?

The Ice Blacks would. Many of these guys pre-Covid would play the northern hemisphere season in Canada. Some have played pro in Europe in lower leagues. They would be lower level minor leagues.

I asked a retired US college hockey coach this question for the NZ U20s a few years back when we hosted an IIHF tournament and he said would be at the level of good club level college hockey.

Some of the U18s have played/are playing in those Canadian hockey academies. The ones still there are obviously not playing today. Some really improved, but a few I can't really tell much difference.

Like I mentioned above, Adam wanted to test the scholarship market but without the IIHF game experience and film, he can't really get scouted or rated. He played in an U16 tournament in Windsor a few years ago with a Slovakian team. There was a connection to a NZ player from the Gaborik hockey camp. They needed a few players so Adam joined them. He said they were not outclassed in talent there. He did say he wasn't used to the physical play. There are some good players, just not enough of them.