HEY THERE HAEDEN: The U.S. National Under-17 Team added forward Haeden Ellis (Buffalo, N.Y.) to the roster for their overseas trip.
Currently playing for the OJHL's Buffalo Jr. Sabres, Ellis has put up 10 goals and 12 assists for 22 points in 23 games, placing him fifth on the team in scoring.
The Northeastern University commit is the son of former NHLer Matt Ellis, who played more than 850 games throughout the AHL and NHL, and is currently an assistant coach on the Buffalo Sabres.
DEPENDABLE DEFENSEMEN: The Under-18 Team's group of eight defensemen have yet to miss a game through 24 contests of the 2023-24 campaign.
Cole Hutson (Chicago, Ill.) has led the group in offensive output, registering 21 points (6g-15a) thus far. Logan Hensler (Woodbury, Minn.) has added 14 points (2g-12a), while John Whipple (Minnetonka, Minn.) has 12 points, all assists, including six over his last nine games played.
EJ Emery (Compton, Calif.) and Sam Laurila (Moorhead, Minn.), a pair of North Dakota commits, have been sturdy in their own zone as each player owns a +17 rating in their 24 games.
Will Skahan (Woodbury, Minn.) has 30 PIM on the year to lead the team as his physicality brings a different style to the blue line. Rounding out the group are Noah Lapointe (Hinsdale, Ill.), who has points in two of his last three games and Dakoda Rheaume-Mullen (Northville, Mich.).
CARTER COMMITS: U17 defenseman Carter Amico (Westbrook, Maine) made his decision on where to play college hockey over the weekend as he verbally committed to play for the Boston University Terriers.
The 6-foot-5 defenseman has collected four assists in 19 games played this season while assuming his role as a defensive defenseman. Amico joins teammates Conrad Fondrk (White Bear Lake, Minn.), Jack Murtagh (East Greenbush, N.Y.) and Charlie Trethewey (Woodbine, Md.) as Terriers commits from the 2007 class.
CAREER NIGHT: U18 forward Shane Vansaghi (St. Louis, Mo.) was feeling great Friday night after he exploded for a career-high four goals in the U18s' 8-4 win over St. Lawrence.
Vansaghi had only previously had one multi-goal game in his NTDP career, connecting for two goals and two assists in Team USA's win over Canada White at the 2022 U17 Challenge.
The Michigan State commit topped his season total of goals coming into the game (3), and nowh as seven goals and 12 points in 24 games played this season.
Vansaghi, a 6-foot-2 power forward, now has seven points (5g-2a--7pts) over his last six games played and he became the 14th player on the U18s to hit double digit points this year.