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U.S. SLED TEAM LAUDED FOR MARCH TO GOLD MEDAL After winning the gold medal at the 2012 International Paralympic Committee Sledge Hockey World Championship in Hamar, Norway, the U.S. National Sled Team was named the U.S. Olympic Committee Team of the Month for March. The U.S. posted a 3-1-1-0 record (W-OTW-OTL-L) en route to its second straight gold medal at the event and became the first sled team to win back-to-back world titles. Team USA has medaled in the last four world championships (gold in 2009 and 2012, bronze in 2008 and silver in 2004). After opening preliminary- round play with a shootout win and a shootout loss, Team USA rattled off three straight wins en route to the gold medal. In a 2-1 victory over Canada in the semifinals, goaltender Steve Cash made 15 saves, several of which came in the final minutes of action. Forward Taylor Lipsett tallied three goals and added an assist as Team USA defeated Korea, 5-1, in the gold- medal game. Forward Alexi Salamone, defenseman Taylor Chace and Cash were named to the all- tournament team. The North American Hockey League continues to provide fans with an exciting on-ice product in a fun family atmosphere. On-Ice Product, Family Fun A Winning Combination For NAHL Teams parked by talented players, great owners and loyal fans, the North American Hockey League continues to improve its on-ice product while creating a family-friendly atmosphere. The proof is not only found in the num- ber of players who have used the league as a springboard to collegiate and professional careers. It can be found in the record number of fans who have passed through the turnstiles at NAHL arenas this season. S Now in its 36th season of development, the NAHL set records for both total and average attendance with 1,128,098 fans, an average of 1,342 per game, coming to see 840 regular season league games in 28 cities. There were also thousands of fans that attended the season-opening NAHL Showcase in Blaine, Minn., where each NAHL team played four regular season games. NAHL Commissioner Mark Frankenfeld attributed the record numbers to several fac- tors, starting with the grass-roots efforts of passionate owners who are not only commit- ted to player development but to providing their communities with an affordable and entertaining experience. "Not only does the NAHL provide players with an opportunity to develop their hockey THEY SAID IT there's any doubt that today it's the Americans." —Hockey Canada Executive Director Bob Nicholson, addressing USA Hockey volunteers at the 2012 Winter Meeting in Orlando, Fla. USAHOCKEYMAGAZINE.COM "When U.S. teams step on the ice in Canada, they're booed. People wonder why that is. I can tell you, it's because Canadian fans are afraid that you might beat us. We used to say that Russia was our biggest rival. Now I don't think JUNE/JULY.2012 07 careers and advance to the next level, but it also provides fans in the respective NAHL communities a very exciting and entertaining product to watch," Frankenfeld said. The Fresno Monsters, who lead the league in attendance with 106,718 fans, saw a spike at the turnstiles this season, averaging 3,557 fans, a better attendance average than some NCAA Division I programs enjoy. The South Division was the biggest draw for NAHL fans, with six of the top 10 teams in overall attendance, including Corpus Christi, which finished second overall with 91,678 fans total and 3,055 on average. The Odessa Jackalopes, who were new to the NAHL this season after spending the past 14 seasons in the professional ranks, averaged more fans this season as a Junior team (2,880) than they did last season as a professional franchise. "It was a big challenge at first because we had to introduce the NAHL brand and style of hockey to the fans," said Jackalopes General Manager Joe Clark. "I think the die-hards understood that the product was exciting, but we had to show the rest of the community that these players are the stars of tomorrow with their whole hockey future ahead of them."