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STOPs & STARTS USA Hockey News & UPDATES Mancini Takes His Passion For Development On The Road B ob Mancini has spent much of his adult life developing hockey talent in the United States. Now he's turning at least some of his attention overseas to help grow the game in South Africa. A regional manager with the American Development Model, Mancini has spent part of the past 18 months sharing his knowledge and experience to help strengthen the South African coaching program, which has produced 60 certified Level I, II and III USA Hockey coaches. Most recently, Mancini took his commitment to another level, In addition to his work with serving as the head coach of the the ADM, Bob South African Men's National Mancini can add a gold Team that defeated DPR Korea, medal to his 4-1, to win the 2013 IIHF Ice impressive Hockey World Championship resume. Division III title. "It was unbelievable," said Mancini, one of the co-founders of the National Team Development Program. "Winning at any level or tournament is a difficult thing. The players really were able to grasp the amount of commitment they needed over a two-week time period to have a chance to win." Mancini was thrust into the lead role after head coach Ronnie Wood was stricken ill and was unable to get behind the bench. Mancini had previous experience with the team through his time as an assistant coach in 2012. Mancini credits the team's success in large part to its willingness to buy into the principles of long-term athlete development, which are the cornerstone of the ADM. "I give the players a lot of credit because they trusted me and they trusted the direction we were going," Mancini said. "Just like they trusted USA Hockey, its coaching education program and the ADM." Prospects To Show Their Mettle In Steel City F ans can get a sneak peak at the NHL stars of tomorrow when the CCM/ USA Hockey All-American Prospects Game comes to the CONSOL Energy Center in Pittsburgh on Sept. 26. Tickets are now on sale to see 40 of the top American-born NHL draft eligible prospects compete on the home ice of the Pittsburgh Penguins. USA Hockey, in conjunction with NHL Central Scouting, will select the prospects and is expected to announce the game's rosters in August. The coaches for the event are likely to be named prior to the 2013 NHL Entry Draft. Tickets start at $10 and can be purchased online at AllAmericanProspectsGame.com or at the CONSOL Energy Center box office. USA Hockey members receive an exclusive discounted price, as do groups of 10 or more. 06 June/July. 2013 USAHOCKEYMAGAZINE.COM HWAA Ready For Seventh Heaven Hockey Weekend Across America returns for its seventh year a week after the Olympic flame is extinguished in Sochi, Russia. The annual celebration of hockey in the United States will take place Feb. 28 to March 2, 2014, and will once again be presented by CCM. The three-day event will include Wear Your Favorite Hockey Jersey Day (Feb. 28); Try Hockey on Saturday (Mar. 1); and Celebrate Local Hockey Heroes on Sunday (Mar. 2). The sixth annual Hockey Weekend Across America, which took place Feb. 15-17, was the best to date with more than 6,000 new children trying the sport, and Hockey Day in America on NBC featuring more than nine hours of hockey programming, including three NHL games. USA Hockey Lauded For 'Amazing' Work In response to USA Hockey's support of disabled hockey, the U.S. Olympic Committee presented the organization with the 2013 Amazing Leader Award. The Amazing Leader Award recognizes an individual or organization whose leadership in the Paralympic movement has improved the lives of disabled athletes, programs and organizations. Whether it is through its Sled Hockey Grant Program, player development camps, annual Disabled Festival or other innovative initiatives, USA Hockey continues to create opportunities for disabled athletes to play hockey. "The 2013 winners of our Paralympic Amazing Awards are delivering in the areas of grassroots development, elite high performance, sponsorship and philanthropy and telling the Paralympic story," said USOC Chief of Paralympics Charlie Huebner. "Their success is making a significant impact on the delivery of high quality programming to persons with physical disabilities throughout the United States." Photos courtesy of Bob Mancini