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U18s Open College Slate with Two Games

By Becky Olsen, 09/30/15, 8:00AM EDT

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U17s Continue USHL Play while U18s Play Two in Michigan's Upper Peninsula

Both the U.S. National Under-17 and Under-18 Teams will be in action this week. The U18s begin their college schedule with two road games while the U17s continue United States Hockey League play with a single road game.

COLLEGE BOUND: The U18s kick off their 17-game college schedule with a pair of games in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. They open at Northern Michigan University on Saturday before playing at Lake Superior State University on Sunday.

“With the college games, we are really focusing on how to raise our compete level,” U18 coach Danton Cole said. “One thing we want to work on is getting better and our execution and level of intensity. Playing college teams is a great way to learn these skills.”

The U18s posted a 6-4 win over Youngstown in their USHL opener on Saturday. Kieffer Bellows (Edina, Minn.) led the way offensively with a hat trick while Clayton Keller (Swansea, Ill.) tallied a pair of goals. Trent Frederic (St. Louis, Mo.) had a single tally. Jake Oettinger (Lakeville, Minn.) finished with 18 stops between the pipes.

IN-STATE RIVALRY: The U17s will travel to the west side of Michigan for a Saturday contest with the Muskegon Lumberjacks. Face-off is set for 7:15 p.m. at L.C. Walker Arena.

“It will be good to get on the ice and into the weight room this week,” U17 coach Don Granato said. “That first year is a learning process with our team. We will continue to work on different areas in practice as we get ready for another tough USHL opponent.”

The U17s dropped a 5-1 decision at Chicago in their USHL opener on Saturday. Michael Pastujov (Bradenton, Fla.) tallied the lone goal while Dylan St. Cyr (Northville, Mich.) kicked out 30 shots in net.

Notebook

  • NMU’s roster features two former NTDP players in Shane Sooth (Canyon Country, Calif./2008-10) and Barrett Kaib (Pittsburgh, Pa./2009-11).
  • Muskegon’s roster includes former NTDP defenseman Trevor Hamilton (Grosse Pointe Farms, Mich./2011-13).
  • Eight sets of brothers have played for the NTDP, including three this season. Michael (U17) and Nick Pastujov (U18) are playing concurrently. In addition, Brady Tkachuk (U17) and J.D.  Greenway (U18) are following older brothers Matthew Tkachuk (St. Louis, Mo.) and Jordan Greenway (Potsdam, N.Y.), who played for the NTDP from 2013-15.
  • The U18s carry a 3-2 mark into this week’s action.
  • Through the first five games, Clayton Keller (2-6) sits atop the U18 leader board with eight points, followed by Kieffer Bellows (5-2) with seven points. Trent Frederic (4-1) is third with five points. There is a three-way tie for fourth place as Will Lockwood (Bloomfield Hills, Mich./3-0), Joey Anderson (Roseville, Minn./1-2) and Chad Krys (Ridgefield, Conn./0-3) each have three points.
  • In goal for the U18s, Jake Oettinger is 3-2 with a 2.81 goals-against average and an .877 save percentage. 
  • The U17s are paced by Logan Hutsko (North Caldwell, N.J./1-3) and Nate Knoepke (Farmington, Minn./0-4) with four points each. Five players are tied for third with three points each. They are Joey Cassetti (Pleasanton, Calif./3-0), Josh Norris (Oxford, Mich./3-0), Logan Cockerill (Brighton, Mich./1-2), Scott Reedy (Prior Lake, Minn./0-3) and Brady Tkachuk (St. Louis, Mo./0-3).
  • Dylan St. Cyr and Adam Scheel (Lakewood, Ohio) have split time in goal for the U17s. St. Cyr is 0-2-1 with a 4.91 GAA and an .845 save percentage. Scheel is 1-1 with a 4.50 GAA and an .894 save percentage.

Story from Red Line Editorial, Inc.

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