PLYMOUTH, Mich. – USA Hockey announced today the 22-player roster for its 2018 U.S. National Under-17 Team, which will compete at the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge from Nov. 3-10 in Saint John & Quispamsis, New Brunswick.
The roster includes 20 full-time members of the 2018-19 U.S. National Under-17 Team, part of USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program based in Plymouth, Michigan. Also added to the roster is goaltender Colin Purcell (Shaker Heights, Ohio) and forward Blake Biondi (Hermantown, Minn.).
“We’re excited about the 22 talented players we have on our roster,” said Seth Appert, head coach of the U.S. National Under-17 Team. “There is so much pride in competing for your country and I know our team will represent our nation tremendously well in New Brunswick.”
A complete roster can be found here.
The U.S. will skate in a pre-tournament game against Canada Red on Thursday, Nov. 1, before opening preliminary round play against the Czech Republic at 12 p.m. AST on Sunday, Nov. 4.
Team USA will look to defend its title after claiming first place at last year’s tournament. The U.S. has played in six of the last nine title matches in this event and has earned first place five times (2001, 2002, 2010, January 2014, 2017).
2018 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge Schedule
| DATE | OPPONENT | RESULT | U.S. PLAYER OF THE GAME |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thursday, Nov. 1 | Canada Red Pre-Tournament |
L, 5-2 | Jake Sanderson |
| Sunday, Nov. 4 | Czech Republic Preliminary |
W, 5-1 | Matthew Beniers |
| Monday, Nov. 5 | Canada White Preliminary |
L, 5-2 | Ty Smilanic |
| Tuesday, Nov. 6 | Canada Black Preliminary |
L, 5-4 | Brock Faber |
| Thursday, Nov. 8 | Canada Red Quarterfinals |
L, 2-1 (OT) | Drew Commesso |
| Friday, Nov. 9 | Czech Republic Placement |
L, 2-1 | Jake Sanderson |
NOTES: All preliminary-round games, as well as quarterfinals and placement games will be available via livestream on HockeyCanada.ca/WU17 … TSN will broadcast both semifinals, as well as the bronze- and gold-medal games in Canada … the official tournament website found here … The Team USA homepage for the 2018 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge can be found here … The 2018 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge includes two groups of four teams. Group A features Canada Black, Canada White, the Czech Republic, and the United States, while Group B includes Canada Red, Finland, Russia, and Sweden ... Follow @USAHockeyNTDP on Twitter for tournament updates and join the conversation on social media by using #WorldU17 … Seth Appert (Cottage Grove, Minn.) will lead the U.S. National Under-17 Team along with associate coach Nick Fohr (Grand Forks, N.D.), intern assistant coach Jared Nightingale (Jackson, Mich.) and goaltending coach Thomas Speer (Janesville, Wis.).