Roster for 2015-16 U.S. National Sled Hockey Team Unveiled

By USAHockey.com, 07/17/15, 3:30PM MDT

Fifteen Players Return from Gold-Medal Winning 2015 U.S. National Sled Hockey Team

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – USA Hockey announced today the 17-player roster for the 2015-16 U.S. National Sled Hockey Team. The group includes 15 returnees from the 2015 U.S. National Sled Hockey Team that claimed gold at the 2015 International Paralympic Committee Sled Hockey World Championship in Buffalo, New York.

2015-16 U.S. National Sled Hockey Team Roster

"We're thrilled with the competition we witnessed at the tryouts this past weekend," said Dan Brennan, director of inline and sled hockey for USA Hockey and the general manager of the 2015-16 U.S. National Sled Hockey Team. "The depth we witnessed at the camp was incredible and affords us the ability to select top quality character players for both the national and developmental teams. The future is very bright for the U.S. National Sled Hockey program."

Goaltender Steve Cash (Overland, Mo.) is back for his 11th season with Team USA. He backstopped the U.S. to gold medals at the 2010 and 2014 Paralympic Winter Games as well as the 2009, 2012, and 2015 IPC Ice Sledge Hockey World Championships.

On defense, Team USA welcomes back Josh Pauls (Green Brook, N.J.), who earned the directorate award as Best Defenseman of the 2015 IPC Sled Hockey World Championship, in addition to Tyler Carron (Fort Collins, Colo.), Billy Hanning (Festus, Mo.) and two-time Paralympic gold medalist Nikko Landeros (Johnstown, Colo.).

Ten forwards return from the 2014-15 U.S. National Sled Hockey Team, including the trio of Declan Farmer (Tampa, Fla.), Kevin McKee (Chicago, Ill.) and Brody Roybal (Northlake, Ill.) that accounted for 53 points in 13 games last season. They are joined by Chris Douglas (Saint Cloud, Fla.), Luke McDermott (Westerlo, N.Y.), Josh Misiewicz (La Grange, Ill.), Dan McCoy (Cheswick, Pa.), two-time Paralympic gold medalist Adam Page (Lancaster, N.Y.), Paul Schaus (Buffalo, N.Y.), and Josh Sweeney (Phoenix, Ariz.).

The newcomers to the 2015-16 roster are goaltender Bo Reichenbach (Bethesda, Md.) and defenseman Rico Roman (Portland, Ore.). Reichenbach, a first time member of the U.S. National Sled Hockey Team, spent the past two seasons (2013-15) with the U.S. National Developmental Sled Hockey Team. Roman's appearance is his third on the U.S. National Sled Hockey Team, having helped Team USA claim gold at the 2014 Paralympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russia, and the 2012 IPC Sled Hockey World Championship in Hamar, Norway.

Jeff Sauer (Madison, Wis.) begins his fifth season as head coach of the U.S. National Sled Hockey Team.

The roster for the 2015-16 U.S. National Developmental Sled Hockey Team was determined today as well. The squad trains regularly with the U.S. National Sled Hockey Team and is coached by Mike MacMillan (Buffalo, Minn.), USA Hockey's national coach-in-chief.

2015-16 U.S. National Developmental Sled Hockey Team Roster

NOTES: Dan Brennan (Colorado Springs, Colo.), director of sled and inline national teams for USA Hockey, is serving as the general manager of the 2015-16 U.S. National Sled Hockey Team. Additional staff members include team physician Mike Uihlein (Grafton, Wis.), athletic trainer Mike Cortese (Boynton Beach, Fla.) and equipment manager Joel Isaacson (Houghton, Mich.) ... Jeremy Kennedy (Colorado Springs, Colo.), USA Hockey manager of membership and disabled hockey, is the general manager of the 2015-16 U.S. National Developmental Sled Hockey Team. Mike MacMillan (Buffalo, Minn.), USA Hockey's national coach-in-chief, is the head coach of the U.S. National Developmental Sled Team. U.S. Paralympians Kip St. Germaine (East Falmouth, Mass.) and Mike Blabac (Hamburg, N.Y.) are serving as associate head coach and assistant coach, while Rett Talbot (Delray Beach, Fla.) is the team's physiotherpist and Bill Sandberg (Parker, Colo.) is serving as equipment manager.

Most Popular Articles

Local Volunteers Remain Lifeblood of USA Hockey Pond Hockey National Championships

By Dan Scifo 02/16/2023, 2:05pm MST

Dozens of Eagle River locals come together each year to host the event

New York Islanders Help Teach Girls’ Hockey Players About Importance of Title IX

By Jessica Price 02/01/2023, 5:15pm MST

On National Girls & Women in Sports Day, we take a look back at a celebration held by the Islanders’ practice facility for the 50th anniversary of Title IX

2022-23 ATO | WEEK 24

By USA Hockey Officiating Program 02/10/2023, 6:15am MST

QUESTION: As a linesman who works higher levels of youth hockey, I see a lot of aftermath pushing and shoving. I believe that older players are inevitably going to get shoved or pushed in front of the net, but what subsides a Roughing from Fighting?

ANSWER: There's no easy answer or simple math equation that determines when an altercation escalates from Roughing to Fighting. The officials must use good judgement to determine when the players cross the line from pushing/grabbing to actually engaging in a fight.

First and foremost, the best way to manage this issue is to immediately penalize after-the-whistle infractions fairly and consistently. If two opponents equally engage in roughing after the whistle, then they should be penalized equally with coincidental minors. However, if one player is an instigator or aggressor, then he/she should earn the extra or isolated penalty.

Secondly, good communication and a strong presence at the net or near gatherings will let the players know you're nearby and watching. Good management of players sets a strong tone for a fun, positive and competitive game, and good penalty application will let players know where the line is.

QUESTION: A team intentionally only sends four players out on a defensive zone face-off. As soon as the puck is dropped, the fifth player enters play and receives a pass after his team wins the face-off. Rules in either face-off procedure or team player change do not seem to validate or invalidate this “trick” play.

ANSWER: Rule 204.a in the USA Hockey Playing Rules states:

"Both teams must place the full number of players on the ice to which they are entitled to prior to the face-off."

Furthermore, Rule 629.e in the USA Hockey Playing Rules states:

“Play shall be stopped and the face-off conducted at the last play face-off location anytime a team starts play with fewer players than entitled to and the additional entering player is the first to play any puck coming from his defending zone, unless he has first made skate contact with his defending zone.”

QUESTION: What is the penalty for spraying the goalie with snow after the goalie has tied up the puck?

ANSWER: This act of “taunting an opponent” should be penalized with a minor penalty for Unsportsmanlike Conduct (Rule 601.a).

QUESTION: Is there any rule regarding playing music over the rink speakers during stoppages and goals of a youth game, or is it up to the rink management to decide?

ANSWER: The use of music during stoppages is not covered by the USA Hockey Playing Rules. This question should be directed to your local hockey association, league or rink staff.

QUESTION: We were told by an on-ice official that USA Hockey has rules limiting players to only score three goals in a game for Rec. Level league or tournaments. In four years of coaching I have never heard of such a rule, and after reading the entire rulebook I cannot find even a reference of such a rule. I also checked our district rulebook and cannot find this rule.”

ANSWER: There are no rules in the USA Hockey Playing Rules that limit how many goals a team or player may score. However, local hockey leagues, associations and tournaments are entitled to created rules with the approval of the local USA Hockey Affiliate. Therefore, you may check with them if these rules exist.

The USA Hockey Playing Rules are now available as a mobile device app! Check your Apple, Android, or Windows app store to download this playing rule app free of charge.

Check out the USA Hockey mobile-friendly online rulebook application! Enter usahockeyrulebook.com into your mobile device’s web browser to gain instant access to the USA Hockey Playing Rules (must have mobile or internet service).

The USA Hockey Playing Rules Casebook and other educational material can be found under the OFFICIALS tab at USAHockey.com.

View All

Tag(s): Home Sled Hockey