Team USA hockey team to host skate with players event and more community briefs

By Pete Cunningham Sports Director

Posted on Tue, Mar 5, 2013 : 2:20 p.m.

From left to right, Team USA's Nikolas Olsson, Nicolas Kerdiles and Gavin Stoick pose for a picture with a young fan during the team's 2012 skate with the players event.

Photo courtesy of USA Hockey

Hope to one day be an NHL prospect? Maybe your child fancies himself the next Steve Yzerman?

Or maybe you just like hockey or throwing on the skates every now and then.

Whatever your interest in the game or skill level there will be an opportunity to skate with some of the best young players in the world on Saturday, March 9 at the Ann Arbor Ice Cube. Following the United States National Team Development Program Under-17 team's game with the Green Bay Gamblers of the USHL, spectators young and old will get the opportunity skate with the players.

Youngstown Phantoms player Dylan Margonari, left and Team USA's Seth Jones pose with characters from Star Wars during last year's Star Wars night at the Ann Arbor Ice Cube.

Photo courtesy of USA hockey

The first 250 fans at the game will also receive a team poster. The game with the Gamblers is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. with the open skate to immediately follow.

The promotion is part of a series of family friendly promotions Team USA will host throughout the month. On Sunday, March 24, characters from the movie Star Wars will be in attendance during the Under-18 team's game with the Youngstown Phantoms. There will be Star Wars themed games and giveaways throughout the game.

For information, visit www.usantdp.com.

Michigan baseball player sets steals record

Michigan baseball senior Patrick Biondi broke the program's career stolen-base record on Saturday in the team's game against Saint Louis at the Snowbird Invitational at the North Charlotte Regional Park in North Carolina.

Biondi's 91st career steal came in the fifth-inning of the Wolverines' 11-0 win over the Billikens in the nightcap of a doubleheader, breaking the record set by Eric Rose (2004-'07). Biondi was 3-of-4 with three singles and two runs scored in the game.

Michigan lost the series opener 8-5.

Michigan gymnasts earn Big Ten accolades

Michigan gymnasts Joanna Sampson and Shelby Gies received Big Ten honors this week. Sampson was named overall gymnast of the week, while Gies was named event specialist of the week after scoring a 9.925 on the balance beam in Michigan's conference title clinching win over Michigan State on Saturday.

Sampson received the conference's top individual honor after posting a career-high all-around score (39.650) against the Spartans. It's her fourth time receiving the honor this season.

Have a local sports brief to tell us about? Contact us at sports@annarbor.com.

Tags: In brief