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2004 USJDP European Selects Tour Recap
International SwissAlps Cup
Kandersteg, Switzerland
The 2004 USJDP Selects traveled to Kandersteg, Switzerland to compete
in the inaugural SwissALPS Cup in Switzerland. Even though they competed
against older players, they still fared well garnering a 2nd Place and
a 4th Place finish in a tournament against older competition, including
two reigning Swiss National Champions. The Selects team was comprised
of players representing local minor hockey AA and AAA programs from Colorado,
California, Minnesota, New York, Alaska, Virginia, Oklahoma, Arizona,
Texas, New Mexico, Idaho, Illinois, Florida, Wyoming Nebraska, and MIchigan
as well as students from some of the most renowned prep schools in the
country, including Shattuck St. Mary’s and Trinity Pawling Prep.
As a part of the inaugural 2004 SwissALPS Cup, the USJDP Selects Red
Team, comprised of 1988-89 birth year players, competed against Swiss
novizen aged teams comprised of 1988-87 birth year players. Even though
they were competing against older teams throughout the tournament, the
Red Team came away with a 2-4 record and 4th place overall. The Selects
competed against teams from Langenthal/Napf, Edmonton, the HC Dragons,
NASH, HC Thurgau, and the reigning Swiss National Champions from HC Langnau.
While the USJDP Selects Red Team was competing against the older novizen
clubs, the Selects Black Team was also competing against older teams
vs. Junior Elite teams from across Switzerland. These teams were comprised
mostly of 1985-86, and a couple 1984, birth year players. The Black Team,
however, fared much better against their older opponents gathering a
second place finish, losing to another of the Swiss National Champions
from EV Zug 5-1. In addition to the club from Zug, the Black Team also
played against Junior Elite teams from EHC Visp, Winterthur, HC Sierre,
Thurgau, and the HC Dragons.
Once again, the tour was a huge success both culturally, and hockey-wise,
with both our teams competing against the best Switzerland had to offer,
including two games against the reigning Swiss National Champions. This
marks the 4th straight year that the USJDP Selects have competed against
a National Champion of Europe and we will continue to do so in the future
as we believe this is the best way to provide our players with the competition
and development necessary to make each of our tours successful.
