USA VS CZECH REPUBLIC HISTORY

The U.S. and the Czech Republic have met eight previous times at the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge. Team USA is 6-1-0-1 (W-OTW-OTL-L) all-time, and has outscored the Czech Republic 32-19 in those meetings.

USA VS CZECH REPUBLIC HISTORY CONTINUED

The two countries most recently clashed in the opening game of last year's preliminary round, where the U.S. won 3-2 in overtime. Bode Wilde (Birmingham,  Mich.)and Patrick Giles (Chevy Chase Md.), both currently with the U.S. National Under-18 Team, netted goals in regulation while Joel Farabee (Cicero, N.Y.) had the overtime-winner. 

USA VS CANADA RED EXHIBITION RECAP

The U.S. defeated Canada Red, 9-1 Thursday night in its exhibition game. Matthew Boldy (Millis, Mass.), Judd Caulfield (Grand Forks, N.D.) and Cole Caufield (Stevens Point, Wis.) all netted two goals in the win. Jack Hughes (Orlando, Fla.) led Team USA with five points (1-4). 

Spencer Knight (Darien, Conn.) and Cameron Rowe (Wilmette, Ill.) split time in net combining for 23 saves. 

WORLD U17 CHALLENGE HISTORY

Team USA has competed at the World U17 Hockey Challenge on 24 previous occasions, including the Quebec Cup in 1990 and the Quebec Esso Cup in 1986. Combined, the U.S. has a 83-7-5-34-7 (W-OTW-OTL-L-T) record, good for first in the all-time event standings. Team USA has finished in the top three 14 times; first place in January 2014, 2010, 2002 and 2001; second place in November 2014, 2012, 2011, 2008, 2006, 1998 and 1996. Last year the U.S. finished in fifth place. 

The U.S. Under-17 Team (2001 birth year) enters the 2017 World Under-17 Challenge with an 8-1-0-0 overall record. In last year’s tournament the 2000s went 2-1-0-3 during its 2016 run in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. The U17s finished fifth while earning victories over the Czech Republic, Canada White and Canada Red. Joel Farabee (Cicero, N.Y.) and Bode Wilde (Birmingham, Mich.) led the U17s offensively as Farabee collected four goals, two assists and six points in five games and Wilde recorded two goals, four assists and six points in five games. Keegan Karki (Sartell, Minn./Muskegon Lumberjacks) was between the pipes for all five games for the U17s collecting a 2.28 goals-against-average and a .894 save-percentage with a 3-2-0 record. The U17s have won the World Under-17 Challenge four times since 2001, last winning victory coming in 2014. During that tournament, the U.S. Under-17 Team went 6-0-0-0 in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. The U17s overall record when competing in British Columbia is 8-0-2-1.

COACHING STAFF AT THE CHALLENGE 

John Wroblewski (Neenah, Wis.) will lead the U.S. in the event for the first time. Joining Wroblewski will be assistant coach Greg Moore (Lisbon, Maine), goaltending coach Thomas Speer (Janesville, Wis.) and intern assistant coach Kevin Lind (Homer Glen, Ill.). Moore was a member of the 2001 U.S. Under-17 World Hockey Challenge team that took first place.

INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE

This tournament  will be all 22-members' first international experience. The Under-17 Team will also compete in the Under-17 Four Nations tournament in Velikey Novgorod, Russia and the Under-17 Five Nations Tournament in Finland in February. 

RACKING UP POINTS

Cole Caufield (Stevens Point, Wis.) and Jack Hughes (Orlando, Fla.) both currently sit in the top ten in points in the USHL. Both are members of the Under-17 Team. 

With the exhibition win on Thursday, Caufield currently leads the U17s with 15 goals in 10 games this season. Caufield has scored two goals in six of 10 games. He is also second on the team with 18 points and tied for first in shots (31). Hughes is leading the U17s with 21 points in 10 games played and is averaging 2.50 points-per-game in four USHL games this season. His ten USHL points have him tied for first overall in the league. Hughes has two goals and six assists in the last three games played after recording 5 points (1-4) in Team USA's win against Canada Red. 

YOUNG GUNS 

The U.S. National Under-17 Team currently has five of the top ten rookies points leaders in the USHL. Hughes leads rookies with his 10 points (3-7-10) followed by Caufield with nine (7-2-9). Also on the list with five points through four games are: Michael Gildon (Plano, Texas) (4-1-5), Alex Turcotte (Island Lake, Ill.) (2-3-5), and Matthew Boldy (Millis, Mass.) (1-4-5).