MINNESOTA MADE: The 2023-24 National Team Development Program rosters a whopping 13 players from the state of Minnesota, including six new members of the program on this year's Under-17 National Team.

The U18s return defensemen John Whipple (Minnetonka, Minn.), Sam Laurila (Moorhead, Minn.), Logan Hensler (Woodbury, Minn.) and Will Skahan (Woodbury, Minn.) as well as forwards Brodie Ziemer (Hutchinson, Minn.) Brendan McMorrow (Lakeville, Minn.) and Max Plante (Hermantown, Minn.) for year two at the program.

The U17s bring in defensemen Garrett Lindberg (Moorhead, Minn.) and Maceo Phillips (Wayzata, Minn.), along with forwards Conrad Fondrk (White Bear Lake, Minn.), Will Belle (Minnetonka, Minn.), Jacob Kvasnicka (Plymouth, Minn.) and Cullen Potter (Minneapolis, Minn.), who all call the Gopher State home.

STAFF ADDITIONS: The NTDP breaks into the 2023-24 campaign with a new head coach a pair of new assistant coaches, one each on the U17 and U18 staffs.

Former NTDP player (2000-02) and assistant coach (2015-18) Greg Moore (Lisbon, Maine) takes over as the head coach for the Under-17 Team.

Moore returns to USA Hockey after serving as head coach of the AHL's Toronto Marlies from 2019-23. Prior to his time coaching professionally, he spent two years with the USHL's Chicago Steel, leading the team to the Clark Cup Finals in his first year.

Moore becomes the second coach in program history to compete at the NTDP as a player, serve as an assistant coach and as a head coach after John Wroblewski completed the trio previously.

Working with Moore and assistant coach Chad Kolarik (Abington, Pa.) on the U17 staff is the newly hired Ryan Hayes (Syracuse, N.Y.). Hayes, an NTDP alum as a player (2005-07), joins USA Hockey after spending the last 13 years playing professionally, including five seasons (2010-15) across the ECHL and eight campaigns (2015-23) in Europe.

Assistant coach Ryan Bourque (Topsfield, Mass.) was hired earlier this summer to round out the Under-18 Team coaching staff with head coach Nick Fohr (Grand Forks, N.D.) and assistant coach Matt Gilroy (North Bellmore, N.Y.).

Bourque, another NTDP alum (2007-09), comes to USA Hockey after two seasons as an assistant coach for the ECHL's South Carolina Stingrays, where he helped lead the team to a South Division championship in 2022-23.

Bourque played nine seasons of professional hockey from 2011-2020.

BACK AT HOME: Opening Weekend at USA Hockey Arena is quickly approaching and fans can go home with souvenirs, giveaways and player autographs.

The U17s kick off the 2023-24 NTDP home schedule with the first of two matchups with the Green Bay Gamblers on Friday, September 29. All fans in attendance will receive a 2023-24 NTDP magnet schedule, presented by X-Golf Canton.

On Saturday night, the Under-18 Team plays host to Green Bay, when fans can collect the 2023-24 U18 Team Poster and fill it with autographs from the team after the conclusion of the game. For tickets to either game, call the USA Hockey Arena box office at 734-453-8400.