ON A HIGH NOTE: In a pre-tournament matchup in Truro, Nova Scotia, Team USA’s Under-17 squad defeated Canada White, 6–4.

Carter Meyer (Winchester, Mass.) opened the scoring for the U.S. before Canada White tied it, but Nolan Fitzhenry’s (Andover, Minn.) power play goal gave Team USA a 2–1 lead after the first. Kane Barch (Plano, Texas) led the offense with two goals, including one during a second-period power play that extended the lead to 5–1. Brayden Willis (Gilbert, Ariz.) also added a shorthanded tally, while Freddie Schneider (Edina, Minn.) scored on the power play in the third.

Canada White scored three late goals to close the gap, but the U.S. held on for the win. Goaltenders Nate Chizik (Warrington, Pa.) and Eli Winters (Muskegon, Mich.) combined for 30 saves.

NHL CENTRAL SCOUTING PRELIMINARY WATCH LIST: Eighteen members of the 2025-26 U.S. National Under-18 Team and nine National Team Development Program alums were named to NHL Central Scouting's Preliminary Players to Watch list.

The preliminary rankings are broken up into four categories. An "A" rating indicates a player projected to be selected in the first round of the draft. A "B" rating indicates a candidate for the 2nd and 3rd rounds. A "C" rating is a possible 4th or 5th round pick while a "W" ranking indicates a selection in the final two rounds of the draft. 

The NTDP's A-rated players include current skaters Luke Schairer (Charlotte, N.C.) with seven players following as B-rated players. Forwards Mikey Berchild (Minnetonka, Minn.), Dayne Beuker (Portland, Ore.), Casey Mutryn (Norwell, Mass.), Victor Plante (Hermantown, Minn.) and Logan Stuart (Manhattan Beach, Calif.) were among the seven. Defenseman JJ Marthaler (Superior, Wis.) and goaltender Brady Knowling (Chicago, Ill.) make up the rest of the current seven.

Defensemen Nick Bogas (Royal Oak, Mich.), AJ Francisco (Hermantown, Minn.) and Sam Wathier (Des Moines, Iowa), along with forwards Wyatt Cullen (Moorhead, Minn.), Parker Trottier (Edina, Minn.) and Lukas Zajic (Plainfield, Ill.) all drew "C" ratings on the initial list.

Rounding out the preliminary list of current NTDPers is goaltender Luke Carrithers (Maple Grove, Minn.), defenseman Logan Lutner (Maple Grove, Minn.) and forwards AJ Garcia (Romeoville, Ill.) and Brody George (Johnstown, Pa.), all given "W" ratings.

NTDP alum goaltenders Harrison Boettiger (Wheat Ridge, Colo. / 2023-25), Jack Parsons (Ithaca, N.Y. / 2022-24) and Patrick Quinlan (Kennett Square, Pa.), defensemen Jonas Kemps (Santa Rosa, Calif. / 2024-25), Lincoln Kuehne (West Fargo, N.D. / 2023-25) and Dakoda Rheaume-Mullen (Northville, Mich. / 2022-24), and forwards Landon Hafele (Fairbanks, Alaska / 2023-25), JP Hurlbert (Allen, Texas / 2024-25) and Andrew O'Neill (Fargo, N.D. / 2023-25) were named to the list.

Current U18s Abe Barnett (Wilmette, Ill.), Tyler Martyniuk (Washington Twp., Mich.), Jamie Glance (Stratham, N.H.) and Sammy Nelson (Maple Grove, Minn.) are all ineligible for the 2026 NHL Draft as they are born after the September 15 cut-off date.

The 2026 NHL Draft is set to take place in the summer of 2026, with specific dates, times and location to be announced.