WEEKLY HONORS: The Under-18 Team took both games at the USHL Fall Classic as a pair of skaters played their way to USHL Player of the Week Honors.

Forward Cole Eiserman (Newburyport, Mass.) collected five points over two games to take home his first weekly honor of the season after winning Forward of the Week on two occasions last year.

Eiserman began his weekend potting Team USA's first goal of the Classic and followed up with a helper on Austin Baker's (White Lake, Mich.) goal that gave the U18s their first lead of the game. On Sunday, Eiserman netted a hat-trick with all three scores coming in a 10:36 span in the second period. He put 15 shots on net over the weekend and delivered a +9 rating to lead the team.

Leading the league's blueliners this week was Logan Hensler (Woodbury, Minn.), who collected five points in two games, including tying his career-high with a three-point effort (Feb. 19, 2023 @ Chicago - 1G, 2A).

The 6-foot-2 defenseman assisted on Eiserman's first goal of the game Friday night before capping the U18s' chaotic come-from-behind victory as he netted the overtime tally to end the game, his first game-winning goal as a member of the NTDP.

He followed that up with a goal and two assists in Sunday's 7-2 win over Omaha, to give him back-to-back multi-point games for the first time in his NTDP career.

SHOTS, SHOTS, SHOTS: The Under-18 Team racked up 37 and 45 shots, respectively, in their two games at the USHL Fall Classic last weekend. The 82 total shots were the most of any team in the league.

Eiserman led the team with 15 total attempts, while Brodie Ziemer (Hutchinson, Minn.) followed with seven and James Hagens (Hauppauge, N.Y.), Kristian Epperson (Mequon, Wis.) and Christian Humphreys (Pittsburgh, Pa.) all pitched in six shots apiece.

TEAMMATE TRADITION: While it will be the first time for Team USA fans to see the Under-17 Team in action this weekend, five groups of players bring some familiarity to the table as teammates from youth hockey.

Goaltender Joey Slavick (Westland, Mich.), defenseman Charlie Trethewey (Woodbine, Md.) and forward Will Horcoff (Bloomfield Hills, Mich.) all played locally last year at Little Caesars.

Forwards Landon Hafele (Fairbanks, Alaska) and Cullen Potter (Minneapolis, Minn.) skated together with the Dallas Stars Elite program. Asher Barnett (Wilmette, Ill.) and Cole McKinney (Lake Forest, Ill.) hail from the Chicago Mission, Harrison Boettiger (Wheat Ridge, Colo.) and Will Belle (Minnetonka, Minn.) come from Shattuck-St. Mary's and Carter Amico (Westbrook, Maine) and Conrad Fondrk (White Bear Lake, Minn.) suited up with Mount St. Charles last season. 

EVERYONE'S A WINNER: Join us at USA Hockey Arena for Opening Weekend and go home with some giveaways and autographs!

On Friday night, all fans will take home the 2023-24 Team USA magnet schedule, presented by X-Golf Canton.

Saturday marks the Under-18 Team poster giveaway. Be sure to stay after the game to fill it with autographs of your favorite players, thanks to our friends at TRUE!