Eight Michigan natives – most of any state – invited to NTDP evaluation camp

USA Hockey announced their rosters for the National Team Development Program evaluation camp today, which will be held from March 22-26 at the Ann Arbor Ice Cube.

The camp will help select the 2013-14 U.S. National Under-17 Team.

Michigan will send the most players of any state to the camp, with a total of eight homegrown players featured on the list.

The Michigan natives invited to the evaluation camp:

• Brent Gates – Grand Rapids – Compuware Midget Minor
• Gordie Green – Ann Arbor – Compuware Midget Minor
• Brody Stevens – Ann Arbor – Compuware Midget Minor
• Dennis Yan – Troy – Belle Tire Midget Major
• Nicholas Boka – Plymouth – Compuware Midget Minor
• Grant Gabriele – Brighton – Compuware Midget Minor
• Zach Werenski – Grosse Pointe – Little Caesars Midget Minor
• Brendan Warren – Carleton – Compuware Midget Minor

See the full list of invitees here.

“Our entire staff works tirelessly all year long to prepare for this important first step in building a team,” said Peter Ward, director of player personnel for the NTDP, in a release. “We look forward to evaluating these talented young men both on and off the ice.”

The players will be divided into three teams – Red, White and Blue – with each team participating in on-ice and off-ice training, along with four 30-minute practice sessions and two full games. Each team will be broken up into nine forwards, six defensemen and two goaltenders.