MUSKEGON LUMBERJACKS: In a non-traditional weekend schedule, both the U.S. National Under-18 and Under-17 Teams will travel to the west side of the state for a game apiece against the Muskegon Lumberjacks.

Muskegon is tied atop the Eastern Conference standings with an 18-7-2-2 record through 29 games, good for 40 standings points. 

The 'Jacks do it by spreading the scoring as 10 different skaters have registered double-digit points, led by captain David Klee's 22 (12G-10A) total points and team-leading dozen scores. David Deputy, a midseason acquisition from Omaha, is second on Muskegon with 21 points (7G-14A) in 29 games played, including a team-high 14 helpers.

Xavier Veilleux is tied for fifth amongst all USHL blueliners with 17 points (5G-12A) while Luka Radivojevic, a highly-rated prospect in advance of the 2025 NHL Draft, has added 10 assists from the 'Jacks blue line. 

Muskegon is super solid in net as Russian goaltender Shikhabutdin Gadzhiev leads the league in both goals against average (2.11) and save percentage (.927), en route to an 11-4-1-0 record in 16 apperances. Backup Stephen Peck also ranks in the top-10 among qualified goaltenders with a 2.50 GAA and .910 SV% in his 13 games played.

The U18s topped Muskegon in their last USHL game played, a 3-1 victory back on December 11. Friday's game marks the second of three on the schedule.

The U17s dropped both games of a weekend set back on October 18-19 and will play Game 3 of the seasonal six-game set.

FERRIS STATE BULLDOGS: The U18s remain in-state to finish their weekend as they head an hour northeast to take on the Ferris State Bulldogs on Saturday evening. 

Ferris owns a 6-12-2 record overall on the season, but a much better 5-7-0 mark in CCHA conference play. Prior to the New Year, the Bulldogs dropped  both games at the Kwik Trip Holiday Face-Off Tournament in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, falling to Wisconsin, 8-0, and Alaska, 4-1, in their series. 

The Bulldogs are led by junior forward Caiden Gault, whose 10 points and eight goals both lead the team. Cole Burtch has pitched in nine points while Max Itagaki and Gavin Best have added eight points apiece.

Logan Heroux leads the team's back end with two goals, five helpers and seven total points.

In net, Noah West has taken the bulk of playing time, getting 18 of 20 starts to begin the season. He has played to a 6-10-2 record, 2.92 GAA and .909 SV% for Ferris State.

The game will be the fifth all-time between the NTDP and Bulldogs, with the latter having claimed victory in three of the previous four, including the most recent matchup, a 5-0 final back on October 8, 2019 in Big Rapids.