Woodridge Hockey Player Makes National U-18 Team

A Woodridge hockey player has been named to Team USA. 

Thomas Di Pauli will play forward for the U.S. Men's National Under-18 Team. The 22 players on the team come from nine different states. Illinois is most represented with six players, according to a USA Hockey press release. 

Di Pauli will compete at the 2012 International Ice Hockey Federation Men's World Under-18 Championship from April 12 to 22, in Brno and Znojmo, Czech Republic.

Team USA will look to win its fourth consecutive gold medal in the event. USA has won eight consecutive medals, including two more gold in 2005 and 2006. 

Team USA's six gold medals are the most of any country in IIHF Men's World Under-18 Championship history. Team USA earned its first gold medal in 2002. The event began in 1999. 

The U.S. Men's National Under-18 Team played one pre-tournament game against Sweden on April 9 in Znojmo, Czech Republic, before opening tournament play on April 12 against Finland at Rondo Arena at 1 p.m. CDT.

Di Pauli is part of the USA Hockey's National Team Development Program. He was born in Italy and moved to the U.S. when he was 13. He can speak four languages -- English, Spanish, Italian and German, according to USA Hockey.

He played hockey at after moving to the U.S. and represented the U.S. at the Under-17 Four Nations Cup at the arena in 2010.