ANN ARBOR, Mich. - USA Hockey's National Team Development Program today announced the addition of defensemen Grant Gabriele (Brighton, Michigan) and Steven Ruggiero (Kings Park, New York) to the U.S. Men's National Under-18 Team roster for the 2014-15 season.
Gabriele spent last season split between the U.S. National Under-17 Team and the Victory Honda midget major program of the Tier 1 Elite Hockey League. While with Team USA, the Western Michigan verbal commit appeared in 26 games scoring three goals and adding nine assists. Gabriele was also a member of the squad that captured the 2013 Four Nations Tournament title in Prievidza, Slovakia. The blueliner was most recently selected to compete as part of the U.S. Under-18 Select Team that will compete at the 2014 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Cup in Breclav, Czech Republic and Piestany, Slovakia.
Ruggiero played for the United States Hockey League's Youngstown Phantoms over the course of the 2013-14 season. The Penn State verbal commit tallied one goal and registered four assists in 41 games. Ruggiero also helped the U.S. Under-17 Select Team capture the 2013 Under-17 Five Nations Tournament in Trnava, Slovakia. Prior to his time with the Phantoms, the defenseman skated for the Metro Junior Moose of the Metropolitan Junior Hockey League.
Tag(s): Team USA