Gravel named to U.S. Under-18 Select Team

Marquette Rangers defenseman Kevin Gravel was one of 21 players who participated at USA Hockey's Select 17 Player Development Camp to have been selected for the 2009 U.S. Under-18 Select Team that will compete at the Ivan Hlinka Memorial from August 11-15 in Piestany, Slovakia.

Gravel, a 17-year-old from Kingsford, Mich., totaled three goals for 14 points in 58 regular-season games for the Rangers in 2008-09.  

The Ivan Hlinka Memorial will feature teams from Canada, Czech Republic Finland, Russia, Slovakia, Sweden, Switzerland and the United States.

The annual USA Hockey Select 17 Player Development Camp, which was held this year from July 7-13 at the ESL Sports Centre in Rochester, N.Y., provides top young players with concentrated on- and off-ice training and instruction as well as the opportunity to compete at a national level against other players from their age group.

No stranger to international competition, Gravel, a St. Cloud State University (WCHA) recruit, played on the U.S. National Under-17 Team that competed in February’s Vlad Dzurilla Under-18 Tournament in Piestany, Slovakia.

Last week, Gravel was recognized by the NHL Central Scouting Bureau on a North American players-to-watch list leading into the 2010 NHL Entry Draft.  The list includes players in all U.S. and Canadian junior leagues, as well as the U.S. National Team Development Program.