STONE COLD KEMPF: U18 netminder Nick Kempf (Chicago, Ill.) is playing the best hockey of his NTDP career early in the season and continued his torrid stretch with a 22-save, one-goal allowed performance last weekend in Omaha.

The win extended Kempf's season-long record to an extraordinary 9-1-0, lowered his goals-against average to 2.17 and upped his save percentage to .930.

Kempf has won eight straight decisions dating back to October 6, including two wins in international play at the Five Nations and three victories over NCAA competition.

The University of Notre Dame commit has been even more superb over his last seven appearances, picking up wins in all seven games played while pitching a 1.57 GAA, .946 SV% and one shutout.

The U18s will look to have their traditional goalie split in two weekend games and Kempf will be looking to pick up win No. 10 in his appearance.

WORLD JUNIOR INVITE: USA Hockey has named 29 players to the preliminary roster of its 2024 U.S. National Junior Team, including U18 forward James Hagens (Hauppauge, N.Y.). The group will gather for a training camp at USA Hockey Arena in Plymouth, Mich., from Dec. 14-16.

Players are auditioning for a spot on the final 25-player roster that will represent the United States in the 2024 IIHF World Junior Championship Dec. 26, 2023 – Jan. 5, 2024, in Gothenburg, Sweden.

In addition to Hagens, 17 other NTDP alums were named to the preliminary roster.

Hagens has been one of the NTDP's most consistent players this season, racking up 34 points (11g-23a) in 20 games played. There have been only three games this year in which Hagens has not recorded a point. He carried a six-game multi-point streak from November 9-22, in which he recorded five goals and 10 assists for 15 total points.

This is the third straight year in which at least one current NTDP player has been invited to the camp. Hagens will try to make it 3-for-3 in making the squad after Trey Augustine last year, and Logan Cooley made the 2022 USA roster.

BAD MOONEY RISING: U17 forward LJ Mooney (West Mifflin, Pa.) has found his stride as he has collected 10 points (6g-4a) over his last 10 games, including a career-high three-point performance Sunday afternoon in Chicago. The two-goal game was Mooney's second of the season, tying him for the team lead in multi-goal efforts.

Mooney's run gives him 13 total points on the season, good for sixth most on the U17s. He'll get his next opportunity to add to the total when the team goes overseas next week for some international matchups in Germany and Switzerland.

U18 FIVE NATIONS: USA Hockey Arena is proud to host the 2024 U18 Five Nations Tournament, taking place from February 6-10, in Plymouth, Michigan.

The best hockey players under the age of 18 from the United States, Czechia, Finland, Sweden and Switzerland will all compete in a round-robin style schedule, facing off against all other teams throughout the week.

All tickets for the Five Nations will be sold as day passes - one ticket provides entry to both games on a given day. Tickets for all five days of the tournament are on sale now and fans can purchase by online at USAHockeyArena.com/fivenations, visiting the USA Hockey Arena box office in person or by calling 734-453-8400!

This tournament will be Team USA's final international competition prior to the 2024 IIHF Under-18 Men's World Championship, set to be played in April in Espoo, Finland.

CHIPOTLE ALL-AMERICAN GAME: The Chipotle All-American Game, which features the top American prospects eligible for the upcoming 2024 NHL Draft, will be played Jan. 15, 2024 at USA Hockey Arena in Plymouth, Mich. Opening faceoff is set for 4 p.m. ET.

The annual event, which began in 2012, has seen 292 players that have gone on to be drafted, including 62 first-round picks. 2023 first round NHL Draft picks Will Smith, Ryan Leonard, Oliver Moore, Charlie Stramel and Gabe Perreault all previously played in the Chipotle All-American Game.

Tickets for the Chipotle All-American Game are on sale now. You can purchase tickets in person at the USA Hockey Arena box office, by calling 734-453-8400, or online at USAHockeyArena.com/AAPG.