TRI-CITY STORM: The Under-18 Team hosts the Tri-City storm in cross-conference action for their first two of three games this weekend at USA Hockey Arena.

The Western Conference foes enter the weekend in sixth place with a 15-13-2-1 record over their first 31 games played, good for 33 standings points.

Forward Artemi Nizameyev not only leads the Storm in scoring, but the entire USHL as well. The Russian forward has put up a league-high 22 goals and added 18 assists for 40 total points in 31 games played. St. Cloud State commit Nolan Roed has pitched in more than a point-per-game, earning 32 points (14G-18A) in 31 games.

Shaun McEwen leads all Storm defensemen in goals (3), assists (14) and points (17), while Rylan Bonkowski has also eclipsed double digits with 10 points (2G-8A). 

In the cage, Tri-City has a pretty true split  and only two netminders have played for them all season. In 18 games played, Erick Roest has produced a 7-9-0-1 record, 3.19 GAA and .884 SV%. Adam Dybal has an 8-4-2-0 record, 3.74 GAA and .857 SV% in his 16 appearances on the year. 

The two games this weekend will be the only games between the NTDP and Storm this season.

LINCOLN STARS: The U17s go cross-conference as well as they travel to Nebraska for a pair of contests with the Lincoln Stars.

Lincoln is in third place in the Western Conference with a 19-11-1-0 record through 31 games, racking up 39 standings points.

Five different Stars have already accumulated 20+ points, including Jack Pechar who ranks in the league's top-10 in scoring with 28 (11G-17A) points from 26 games. Helping him out is Daniel Shlaine (11G-15A--26PTS), Layne Loomer (9G-14A--23PTS), Gio Digiulian (12G-10A--22PTS) and Matt Maltais (11G-10A--21PTS).

On the blue line, its Caeden Herrington (8G-9A--17PTS) and Etienne Lessard (2G-15A--17PTS) leading the offensive charge.

Lincoln's one-two punch in net includes starter Yan Shostak and backup William Prowse. Shostak, a Belurussian, has taken 21 starts and owns an 11-9-0-0 record with a 2.46 GAA and .908 SV%. Prowse, a rookie in the league, has 14 appearances with an 8-2-1-0 record, 2.60 GAA and .902 SV%. 

This weekend's pair will be the only two games between the two sides this campaign.

GREEN BAY GAMBLERS: The U18s wrap their three games in three days weekend with a Sunday matinee against the Gamblers.

Green Bay is just above the .500 mark and owns a 16-14-1-0 record, good for fifth place in the USHL's Eastern Conference.

The Gamblers roster three of the top-7 leading scorers in the league, eld by Aidan Park's 16 goals and 16 assists for 32 total points across 31 games. Will Zellers has just 28 points (18G-10A) in comparison, but has done it in 21 games as he tops the USHL in points-per-game with 1.33.

On the blue line, Lukas Peterson leads all league blueliners in scoring. The diminutive defenseman has posted six goals and 22 assists for 28 points in 31 games.

Gavin Moffat, last week's USHL Goaltender of the Week, is Green Bay's lone qualified goaltender and has a 14-12-0-0 record in his 28 appearances. His 2.76 GAA and .905 SV% both rank in the league's top-10 amongst goaltenders with 800+ minutes played. 

The NTDP and Gamblers are frequent foes, although this will be the first of three matchups between the U18s and Green Bay this season. The U17s see the Gamblers four times on their schedule for 2024-25.