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Under-18 Team Ready for Home Opener vs. Youngstown

By usahockeyntdp.com, 09/22/16, 9:30AM EDT

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The Under-18 Team returns to the confines of USA Hockey Arena to face a familiar foe in the Youngstown Phantoms on Saturday evening at 7 p.m.

NTDP Notebook Team USA

Matchup Preview

The Under-18 Team returns to USA Hockey Arena to face a familiar foe in the Youngstown Phantoms at 7 p.m. ET Saturday.

Last week, Team USA took on Youngstown to close out their preseason at the USHL Fall Classic East in Pittsburgh. Following a 4-3 loss to the Phantoms, Team USA is looking to bounce back in front of their hometown fans. 

Youngstown has six returning players: Tommy Apap (F), Alex Esposito (F), Eric Esposito (F), Ty Farmer (D), Noah LaLonde (F), and Garrett Hall (F).

Gone are their top point scorers from a year ago: Cameron Morrison (66 points) will suit up for the University of Notre Dame this season; Chase Pearson (50 points) will play for the University of Maine and Yushiroh Hirano (46 points) has returned to his home country (Japan) to compete in the Asian Hockey League for the Tohoku Free Blades.

Brothers Alex and Eric Esposito look to pick up some of the offense for the Phantoms during the 2016-17 season.

Notebook

U18 TEAM SPLITS AT USHL FALL CLASSIC EAST: The NTDP U18s went 1-1 at the USHL Fall Classic East last weekend in Pittsburgh.

Saturday, the Youngstown Phantoms beat the U18s, 4-3. Josh Norris (Oxford, Mich.), Sean Dhooghe (Aurora, Ill.) and Grant Mismash (Edina, Minn.) scored for Team USA, while Adam Scheel (Lakewood, Ohio) stopped 21 of 25 shots in goal. Tommy Apap scored the game-winning goal for the Phantoms at 14:44 of the third period to snap a 3-3 game.

Friday, the U18s never trailed in an 8-2 victory over the Dubuque Fighting Saints. Eleven U18 skaters registered points in the victory. Evan Barratt (Bristol, Pa.) led the attack with two goals and an assist; Scott Reedy (Prior Lake, Minn.) added a goal with two assists. Norris, Randy Hernandez (Miami, Fla.) and Mismash scored a goal and an assist each. Dhooghe and David Farrance (Victor, N.Y.) added single goals in the victory.

The NTDP U18s completed the preseason with a record of 1-3-0-0.

REEDY LOOKS TO CONTINUE SUCCESS: Reedy looks to capitalize on a productive first year with the NTDP where he tallied 19 goals and added 33 assists in 49 games.

FINDING THE OPEN MAN: U18 forward Brady Tkachuk (St. Louis, Mo.) is averaging an assist per game and currently leads the team in points with five.

NTDP IN THE WORLD CUP: 15 NTDP Alumni are playing in the 2016 World Cup, currently ongoing in Toronto.

Patrick Kane (2004-06), Ryan Kesler (2000-02), Kyle Palmieri (2007-09), James van Riemsdyk (2005-07), Erik Johnson (2004-06), Jack Johnson (2003-05), and Ryan Suter (2001-03) suited up for Team USA.

Jack Eichel (2012-14), Dylan Larkin (2012-14), Auston Matthews (2013-15), J.T. Miller (2009-11), Brandon Saad (2009-10), Seth Jones (2010-12), Jacob Trouba (2010-12) and John Gibson (2009-11) are playing as part of Team North America, comprised of players under the age of 23 from the U.S. and Canada.

2016 NHL PROSPECTS TOURNAMENT: Five NTDP alums played in the 2016 NHL Prospects Tournament in Traverse City, Michigan, including Josh Wesley (Carolina; 2012-13), Tyler Motte (Chicago; (2011-13), Sonny Milano (Columbus; 2012-14), Zach Werenski (Columbus; 2013-14) and Alex Tuch (Minnesota; (2012-14). Click here for 2016 NHL Prospects Tournament data.

NTDP In the News

Jack Skille (2003-05) signed a professional tryout contract with the NHL’s Vancouver Canucks.

David Booth (2001-02) signed a professional try out contract with the NHL’s Anaheim Ducks.

Frank Simonelli (2008-10) signed a PTO contract with the NHL’s Edmonton Oilers.

Mike Brown (2001-03) signed a PTO with the NHL’s Columbus Blue Jackets.

Stephen Gionta (2000-02) signed a PTO with the NHL’s New York Islanders.

Patrick Eaves (2000-02) re-signed with the NHL’s Dallas Stars.

Brandon Saad (2009-10) re-signed with the NHL’s Columbus Blue Jackets.

Kevin Porter (2002-04) re-signs with the NHL Pittsburgh Penguins.

Matt Hunwick (2001-03) re-signs with the NHL’s Toronto Maple Leafs.

Connor Carrick (2010-12) re-signs with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Jimmy Hayes (2006-08) signs with the NHL’s Boston Bruins.

Upcoming Games

Matchup Information

Saturday

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Puck Drop: 7:05 p.m.

Television: CN900

Stream: FastHockey.com

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