BY CHRISTIAN ARAOS

Staff Writer

The US Olympic Hockey Team are serious contenders to win consecutive medals for the first time since 1960. This comes after winning just one medal (a silver in 2002) in the previous seven tournaments. It is a clear sign that USA Hockey, historically seen as a sleeping giant, is becoming a consistent contender on the world stage.

Their stunningly rapid rise to the top in hockey is the product of a careful and celebrated development model instituted by USA Hockey which not only be hailed across American sports but also should serve as a potential forerunner for US Soccer.

USA Hockey’s senior-level rise is just the end product of its superb National Team Developmental Program (NTDP) that is in its 17th season of competition. The NTDP is a residency program for U-17 and U-18 players based in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The U-17 team competes in the United States Hockey League, the nation’s top junior league, as well as three international tournaments. The U-18s plays USHL teams, select college teams as well as a few international tournaments.

All of these players retain their amateur status allowing them to play college hockey.

It is important to note the major difference after this age level between hockey and soccer which is the draft. The NHL conducts an entry draft in which teams draft players with amateur status while MLS’ draft is like the NFL in which players enter the draft, declining their amateur status. The system currently in place for both sports is the best fit (though more on that later). This was just a note on the fact that the NTDP is set up so that NHL teams can draft players that graduate from the program but those players can go to college and play with the NHL team still holding their contract rights up until 30 days after they graduate. Drafted players can leave college and sign with the team that drafted them at any point in their collegiate career.

Both the NTDP and US Soccer’s Residency Program are not the only options for youngsters in their respective sports. There are other USHL teams as well as Canadian Junior Leagues for hockey and in soccer, there is a whole litany of academies affiliated to MLS clubs — or one could try their luck abroad. Both programs have alumni who are key contributors to their national teams. In hockey, there’s Phil Kessel, Patrick Kane and Kevin Shattenkirk while in soccer, there’s Landon Donovan, Jozy Altidore and Michael Bradley.

By now, you should begin to see that the two programs are not all that different. That’s where things can get exciting … with a little caveat. There are far less hockey-playing nations than there are soccer-playing nations which means that the road from being a middling nation to a legitimate world contender is not going to be nearly as quick in soccer as it is/was in hockey. That being said, the idea of a central residency program has made each program better.

Recently, a belief grew that US Soccer doesn’t need its Bradenton residency program anymore. Understandable, since there are tons of other academies for youngsters to go to. But if there is one thing to take away from Ann Arbor, it’s that the opinion is misguided. A centralized place for some of the nation’s elite young prospects must continue to exist in America soccer in order for it to produce the same results it has for US Hockey.

Empire XI

1. Julian Green will train with the USMNT ahead of their friendly with Ukraine next month. Green still would have to file a one-time switch with FIFA in order to be eligible to play for the US, but read into the tea leaves a little bit. This is the equivalent of the college football prospect getting invited for a full campus visit. Green gets first-hand experience with the USMNT as well as a chance to sit and talk with Jurgen Klinsmann about his national team future.

2. If Green commits to the USMNT, USSF will file a one-time switch petition that should be approved in a relatively short period of time. Remember, Aron Johansson was able to play in the USMNT’s friendly against Bosnia-Herzegovina last August just two weeks after filing a one-time switch. In other words, this is definitely a move with the World Cup in mind thus making that the biggest selling point Klinsmann has for Green.

3. Since the World Cup is the US’ biggest selling point, it would be a safe bet that if Green says yes, he’ll get another look in the pre-World Cup camp. It’s the most Klinsmann can do at this point. Giving Green an assurance of a World Cup place is a terrible move simply because it is one that can fragment any locker room – the last thing Klinsmann wants before a major tournament and a year removed from the locker room reports last March. Green has to earn a spot, especially this late in the game.

4. Chivas USA filed a trademark claim with the US Patent Office for Los Angeles S.C. and Los Angeles F.C., as The Goat Parade first reported. This is not necessarily a sign that Chivas USA are about to be either team but it is a definite sign that they are looking at the idea of a rebrand. It is commonplace for anybody in this position to make trademark claims just to ensure that all options being considered, can legally be the brand. To add to the speculation, Chivas owner Jorge Vergara acknowledged a rebranding may take place on ESPN Radio.

5. DC United’s new home black jersey is a testament to the idea that less is more. While it is currently unsponsored, that appears to be changing soon. As long as the sponsor isn’t Chico’s Bail Bonds or something vulgar, then DC United will be fine.

6. Some clarification on last week’s explanation about NYCFC taking on four players on loan from Manchester City. As Alexi Lalas tweeted, the understanding is that any player loaned from a ‘parent’ club would be a designated player. As for the obvious difference between the four loaned players and the three designated player spots, rest assured, that will be clarified when the moment is right.

7. Lalas’ other important Twitter revelation was the structure of loan agreements. What we know now for sure is that the loaned player’s salary cap hit is whatever MLS pays him. However, that total is not and does not have to be his overall salary. The rest of the total is paid out either by the individual team’s ownership or by the parent club. We don’t know how the rest of Cesar’s salary is being paid but we know that Cesar is getting $250,000 from MLS and is a $250,000 cap hit. It is safe to assume that Toronto FC are picking up the better half of the $5.75 million wage bill left on the table. Remember this only applies to loans, not transfers.

8. Hofstra University is hosting an International Conference called Soccer As the Beautiful Game: Football’s Artistry, Identity and Politics from April 10-13. Pele will be on hand giving a keynote speech as well as receiving an honorary degree. Tickets for the general public are $100 for the four days. The Cosmos are listed as the main collaborator with Hofstra’s Cultural Center and Department of History. Good outreach move for them.

9. I don’t understand the vitriol over our asking if a Cosmos dynasty would be bad for the NASL. The Cosmos had a hand in the NASL’s demise in the 80’s simply by raising the bar too high and it started with the Pele signing. It kick started an overspending spree amongst other league owners and it turned the league into a boom town with new owners eager to grab a piece of a cake which was never really there. All the piece did was inform fans about a potentially dangerous road the Cosmos and NASL once traveled.

10. Cosmos fans need to develop a similar understanding that Red Bull fans have with other fanbases in MLS. All the support and banter is great but without the collective understanding that the NASL’s success matters just as much, if not more, than the individual team’s success, then the team’s fans risk turning themselves into the pariahs of American soccer. It would be a shame because American soccer would be much better off if both sides embraced each other more.

11. Johansson won the matchup of American strikers in the Eredivsie over the weekend scoring a goal for AZ in their win against Juan Agudelo’s FC Utrecht. Sacha Kljestan and Danny Williams each scored in their team’s respective wins last weekend. Hopefully all four players also get a chance to join Green in the buildup to the Ukraine game.