Tiny Wampum, Pa., has gone national.

Well, at least one of the population of roughly 600 has. Ellwood City's Lincoln High School sophomore Stephen Johns was selected from among the best hockey players his age in the nation to be part of the United States Ice Hockey National Team Development Program.

"We don't even have a red light," the affable Johns said.

Maybe not, but Wampum does have a 16-year-old hockey player who USA Hockey sees enough promise in that it first chose him among more than 40 players from across the country to take part in an invitation-only tryout in March.

Then last month, Johns was notified that he was chosen for the final roster of about 22 players.

"I was completely shocked by the selection," Johns said. "I've always dreamed of playing there and being a part of that team. It's a dream come true for me."

Johns, a defenseman, will for the next two years be part of the USA Hockey Development Program that will compete in international tournaments and against teams in the major-junior North America Hockey League.

Johns, 16, enters the program in the 17-and-younger age group. As part of the two-year commitment, he will then play on the 18-and-under team that plays at an even higher level and promises to increase his exposure for major NCAA colleges and the NHL entry draft, for which he will be eligible in 2010.

"I'm looking forward to playing with so many talented kids and against so many great teams and to the chance to represent the country internationally," Johns said.

At 6 feet 4, 200 pounds, it's easy to see why Johns' talent is so coveted. But he is more than just a hulking, physical defensive presence. Johns possesses exceptional skating ability for someone his size, and his offensive skill level makes him a dangerous two-way defenseman

"Stephen Johns is a extraordinary athlete," said Joe Gaul, his coach with the prominent midget AAA Pittsburgh Hornets organization. "That should become pretty obvious when you see he's only 15 but [look at his size]. And he's a highly-skilled player. That says a lot. You can watch Sidney Crosby, who's as skilled a player as there is in the game, but he's only 5-10, and he's not 15 years old, either. Stephen Johns is 6-4 and a legitimate 200 pounds, and he's just learning how to drive!"

About his rare talent for his size, Johns said, "I've always had to work at it, but I think I got my athleticism from my parents, so that helped me a lot. And my dad was always pushing me to do my best, and my mom was always there to support me.

"If you're not a good skater and you don't have good feet, there's nothing you can do in hockey. If you're not fast, you'll get burned."

Other than playing for the Hornets, the organization that has produced NHL players such as Ryan Malone and R.J. Umberger and several other pro prospects, Johns also played for the Lawrence County Lightning and the North Pittsburgh Wildcats.

He began to skate when he was 4 and was playing hockey competitively by kindergarten. Ellwood City does not have a high school team.

"He's very skilled, an excellent skater who's good with the puck," Gaul said. "He's big and strong for his age and will only get bigger and stronger. He can really shoot the puck. And he'll do whatever needs to be done to work on his game. He's a great kid to coach with an excellent attitude and a great sense of humor. He's good in the locker room and a good teammate. And that's important for his future development and in projecting how good of a hockey player he can be and how he can fit into a team."

Johns is hoping to have several more teams to fit into at some high levels of play over the course of his career.

Part of the decision-making process for Johns, who will live with a host family and attend his final two years of high school in Michigan, was the fact that he will retain his college eligibility. Johns was also drafted by the prestigious Windsor Spitfires of the Ontario Hockey League. But playing junior hockey in Canada relinquishes U.S. college eligibility.

"Ever since I heard about college hockey and started watching it, I've always dreamed of going to college just for that experience," Johns said.

Just like anyone in his position -- or anyone at all playing hockey at his age -- Johns has even loftier dreams.

"Obviously, every kid's dream is to play in the NHL," he said. "But I do want to get an education from college in case hockey doesn't work out. My dream right now is to play professionally and be successful at it for a long time."