Jordan Leopold tabbed as coach for All-American Prospects Game

ST. PAUL -- Minnesota natives Jamie Langenbrunner and Jordan Leopold will serve as head coaches for the seventh annual USA Hockey All-American Prospects Game on Sept. 19 in Saint Paul, Minn., it was announced Monday by USA Hockey.
The event, which will feature 42 of the top American-born prospects eligible for the 2019 NHL Draft, will be staged at Xcel Energy Center, home of the NHL's Minnesota Wild. Puck drop is set for 7 p.m. CT. Tickets for the game are available online at Ticketmaster.com or in person at the Xcel Energy Center Box Office.

"This game is designed to not only showcase the future of American hockey, but to recognize those who helped pave the way and we're thrilled to have two prominent Minnesota natives serve as head coaches for this year's game," said John Vanbiesbrouck, assistant executive director of hockey operations for USA Hockey. "With the success Jamie and Jordan achieved throughout their careers, from their trips to the Stanley Cup Finals to representing the United States in the Olympics, this is a rare opportunity for these players to learn from former American stars."
Combined, Langenbrunner and Leopold spent 28 seasons in the NHL and represented the United States internationally on 12 occasions, including three Olympic Winter Games, one World Cup of Hockey, four International Ice Hockey Federation Men's World Championships and four IIHF World Junior Championships.

About Leopold

Leopold, a Golden Valley, Minn., and University of Minnesota product whose professional playing career both started and ended in Minnesota, enjoyed a 12-year NHL career before retiring as a member of the Minnesota Wild in 2015. Selected by the Anaheim Ducks in the second round (44th overall) in the 1999 NHL Draft, Leopold registered 214 career points (67-147) over stints with the Calgary Flames (2002-06, 2009), Colorado Avalanche (2006-09), Florida Panthers (2009-10), Pittsburgh Penguins (2010), Buffalo Sabres (2010-13), St. Louis Blues (2012-15), Columbus Blue Jackets (2015) and Minnesota Wild (2015). Among the highlights of his career was helping the Calgary Flames earn in berth in the 2004 Stanley Cup Finals. Internationally, Leopold skated for Team USA on seven different occasions, including one Olympic Winter Games (2006), four IIHF World Championships (2002, 2003, 2005 and 2008) and twice at the IIHF World Junior Championship (1999-2000). Leopold, who skated with USA Hockey's National Team Development Program during its inaugural season (1997-98), played four seasons at the University of Minnesota (1998-2002). He capped his career in a Gopher uniform by winning the Hobey Baker Memorial Award his senior season and assisting on the game-winning goal in overtime to help Minnesota capture the 2002 NCAA national championship.

About Langenbrunner

A two-time Stanley Cup champion and captain of the silver medal-winning 2010 U.S. Olympic Men's Ice Hockey Team, Langenbrunner skated 16 seasons in the NHL with the Dallas Stars (1994-2001, 2011), New Jersey Devils (2002-11) and St. Louis Blues (2011-13). Currently working in player development for the NHL's Boston Bruins, Langenbrunner ranks 22nd all-time for most NHL games played by an American with 1,109 games played. Drafted by the Stars in the second round (35th overall) of the 1993 NHL Draft, he amassed 663 points (243-420) in his playing career, one of only 35 American-born players to eclipse the 660 mark. A proven playoff performer, Langenbrunner tallied 34 goals and 53 assists for 87 points in 146 career playoff games while playing key roles on the Stanley Cup-winning Dallas Stars (1999) and New Jersey Devils (2003). In 1999, Langenbrunner helped the Stars claim the first Stanley Cup in franchise history by ranking third on the team in the playoffs with 17 points (10-7). He went on to lead the NHL in playoff goals (11) and was tied for the league lead in playoff points (18) four years later while guiding the Devils' to the Stanley Cup in 2003. A native of Cloquet, Minn., Langenbrunner also represented the U.S. on five occasions, registering eight points (4-4) while skating in two Olympic Winter Games (1998, 2010), one World Cup of Hockey (2004) and two IIHF World Junior Championships (1994, 1995).
NOTES: To date, 155 alumni of the USA Hockey All-American Prospects Game have been drafted in the NHL, highlighted by 36 first-round selections ... Of those drafted alums, six have been selected by the Minnesota Wild, including Louis Belpedio (Skokie, Ill.), Jordan Greenway (Canton, N.Y.) and Luke Kunin (Chesterfield, Mo.), who all skated for the Wild this past season. In total, 26 Minnesota natives have participated in an AAPG, including Brock Boeser (Burnsville, Minn.), who was named MVP of last year's NHL All-Star Game, the first American rookie and second-ever rookie to earn the honor behind Mario Lemieux in 1984 ... Tickets for the USA Hockey All-American Prospects Game are on sale now at AllAmericanProspectsGame.com ... USA Hockey will unveil the uniforms for the All-American Prospects Game in September. The 42 player roster, which includes 10 Minnesotans was announced on Aug. 17 and can be found here ... Previous host sites for the USA Hockey All-American Prospects Game include Buffalo (2012, 2014, 2015, 2017), Pittsburgh (2013) and Philadelphia (2016).
Related:
- 2018 All-American Prospects Game roster announced - Minnesota to host seventh annual All-American Prospects Game