HERE’S JOHNNIE(S): The U18s travel to face NCAA Division III opponent St. John’s University Johnnies for the first time ever. This will be the U18s 14th NCAA opponent this season. Currently, the U18s record is 4-7-0 (W-L-T) against collegiate opponents.
St. John’s University has a record of 12-5-2 this season and currently have a record of 7-3-0 in the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) games. This week, they received one vote in the USCHO.com rankings.
The Johnnies have made six National Championship appearances since 1996, most recently in 2013 and have secured five MIAC championships during that stretch. They also boast 12 Hockey All-Americans all time. Hockey has been played at Saint John’s University since 1932.
Current head coach Doug Schueller is in his 9th year with the Johnnies and had a .502 winning percentage (104-103-25) coming into the 2017-18 season.
Johnnies Top Scorers:
Brady Heppner (9-11-20 in 19 GP), Sam Valerius (5-11-16 in 17 GP), Robb Stautz (5-10-15 in 19 GP)
Johnnies Plus-Minus Leaders:
Jake Dittel (+10), Sean Lang (+8), Joe Chitwood (+7)
Johnnies Goaltenders:
Andrew Lindgren (7-2-1 in 10 GP, 1.68 GAA, .935 SV%), Mac Berglove (5-3-1 in 9 GP, 2.32 GAA, .925 SV%)
BUCKING THE MAVERICKS: The U18s will take on the Minnesota State Mavericks on Saturday night in its last NCAA matchup of the season. The U18s have faced the Mavericks three times in past seasons. The first meeting was in the 2003-04 season when the Mavericks won 2-1. The U18s then tied the Mavericks 5-5 in the 2004-05 season and 3-3 in the 2011-2012 season. Bringing the overall record to 0-1-2 against them.
The Mavericks’ record this season is 19-7-0 (W-L-T) overall and 15-5-0 in WCHA play, placing them first in the conference.
Mavericks Top Scorers:
C.J. Suess (14-17-31 in 25 GP), Zeb Knutson (10-18-28 in 25 GP), Jake Jaremko (8-17-25 in 25 GP)
Mavericks Plus-Minus Leaders:
Clint Lewis (+13), Zeb Knutson (+13), C.J. Suess (+13)
Mavericks Goaltenders:
Connor LaCouvee (11-3-0 in 16 GP, 2.04 GAA, .911 SV%), Jason Pawloski (6-3-0 in 11 GP, 2.57 GAA, .895 SV%)
All-Time Record vs. Minnesota State Mavericks:
0-1-2 (W-L-T)
STOPPING THE FIGHTING SAINTS: The U17s host the Fighting Saints on Friday night. This is the first of three meetings with the Saints this season. The Fighting Saints are 16-11-3-1 (W-L-OTL-SOL) in USHL play this season and currently second in the Eastern Conference.
In their match-up last season with the Fighting Saints, the U18s won 3-1, with goals from Oliver Wahlstrom (Quincy, Mass.), Josh Norris (2015-17/University of Michigan), and Brady Tkachuk (2015-17/Boston University).
Fighting Saints Top Scorers:
Alexander Steeves (12-16-28 in 26 GP), Quinn Preston (14-10-24 in 30 GP), Adam Tisdale (10-9-19 in 29 GP)
Fighting Saints Plus-Minus Leaders:
Brendan Bushy (+14), Jacob Semik (+6), Alexander Steeves (+5)
Fighting Saints Goaltenders:
Cole Weaver (8-5-1-0 in 14 GP, 2.18 GAA, .903 SV%), Jaxon Castor (7-6-2-1 in 17 GP, 3.02 GAA, .891 SV%)
2016-17 Results/Schedule vs. Dubuque Fighting Saints:
September 16, 2016, U18s @ Dubuque (W, 8-2); March 11, 2017, U17s @ Dubuque (L, 4-2); March 17, 2017, U18s vs. Dubuque (W, 5-2); March 18, 2017, U18s vs. Dubuque (W, 3-1).
NTDP All-Time Record vs. Dubuque Fighting Saints:
13-22-1 (W-L-OTL) Home: 9-8-0 Road: 4-14-1
STOPPING THE LUMBERJACKS: The U17s travel to Muskegon to play the Lumberjacks on Saturday night. This will be the sixth of seven meetings between the two teams this season. Muskegon is currently 16-14-1-1 (W-L-OTL-SOL) in USHL play this season and fifth in the Eastern Conference.
In their last meeting, the U17s defeated Muskegon at USA Hockey Arena, 8-5. Cole Caufield (Stevens Point, Wis.) scored a hat trick to lead Team USA to victory. Ryder Rolston (Birmingham, Mich.), Trevor Zegras (Bedford, N.Y.), John Beecher (Elmira, N.Y.), Michael Gildon (Plano, Texas), and Matthew Boldy (Millis, Mass.) also tallied goals.
Lumberjacks Top Scorers:
Anthony Del Gaizo (23-15-38 in 32 GP), Matej Pekar (7-24-31 in 32 GP), Wyatt Bongiovanni (12-12-24 in 26 GP), Mikael Hakkarainen (10-14-24 in 17 GP)
Lumberjacks Plus-Minus Leaders:
Bray Crowder (+13), Wyatt Bongiovanni (+7), Benito Posa (+5)
Lumberjacks Goaltenders:
Adam Brizgala (4-5-1-1 in 13 GP, 3.02 GAA, .892 SV%), Keegan Karki (11-8-0-0 in 20 GP, 3.23 GAA, .881 SV%)
2017-18 Results/Schedule vs. Muskegon Lumberjacks:
September 23, 2017, U18s @ Muskegon (W, 7-6); October 14, 2017, U18s @ Muskegon (W, 7-0); December 19, 2017, U18s vs. Muskegon (W, 6-3); December 29, 2017, U17s @ Muskegon (L, 3-0); January 15, 2018, U17s vs. Muskegon (W, 8-5)
NTDP All-Time Record vs. Muskegon Lumberjacks:
25-34-5 (W-L-OTL) Home: 15-17-3 Road: 10-17-2