PLAYOFFS & FIRST ROUND BYE CLINCHED: Team USA clinched its spot in the USHL playoffs following a 10-3 win by the U.S. National Under-18 Team against the Madison Capitols at USA Hockey Arena on March 15. In addition, they clinched a first round bye following last weekend’s 4-1 record (W-L) weekend against Chicago and Central Illinois. Team USA is heading to the playoffs for the first time since the 2011-12 season. This marks the third time the combined Team USA will compete in the Clark Cup Playoffs.
WAHLSTROM CRACKS TOP-10: U18s forward Oliver Wahlstrom (Quincy, Mass.) has recorded 82 points (40-42-82) through 53 games this season. His 82 points has moved him into a tie with Clayton Keller (2014-16/Arizona Coyotes) and Phil Kessel (2003-05/Pittsburgh Penguins) for 10th all-time in single-season points for the NTDP. Oliver Wahlstrom (Quincy, Mass.) has also moved into sole-possession of ninth place on the all-time single season goals list with 40. His 64 career goals has also moved him into a tie with R.J. Umberger (1998-2000/UFA) for 10th all-time in career goals.
DERIDDER STAYS PERFECT ON HISTORIC RUN: U.S. National Under-18 Team goaltender Drew DeRidder (Fenton, Mich.) has amassed a 15-0-0-0 (W-L-OTL-SOL) record in USHL play after a pair of wins last weekend against Central Illinois. He’s the only goaltender in the league with over 2 games played that hasn’t recorded a loss. He leads Team USA goaltenders in wins, save-percentage (.902), shutouts (1) and goals-against-average (2.57). His 24 total wins on the season currently has him tied with John Gibson (2009-11/Anaheim Ducks) and fellow teammate Spencer Knight (Darien, Conn.) for the 9th most wins in a single season in NTDP history.
ROLSTON NAMED USHL FORWARD OF THE WEEK: U.S. National Under-17 Team forward Ryder Rolston (Birmingham, Mich.) was named the USHL Forward of the Week this week. It’s Rolston’s first honor of the season. This weekend, Rolston scored 5 goals and 3 assists over 3 games. He recorded his first USHL hat trick on Sunday (March 25).
This season, Team USA players to earn USHL Honors this season include Jack Hughes (Forward of the Week, March 12 and Jan. 22), Oliver Wahlstrom (Forward of the Week, March 5 and Oct. 16), K’Andre Miller (Defenseman of the Week, Dec. 11 and Nov. 20), Jonathan Mor (Goaltender of the Week, Nov. 20), and Jake Wise (Forward of the Week, March 19).
NTDP IN THE NHL POSTER SERIES: Team USA will feature several of its high-profile alumni in its new NTDP in the NHL poster series giveaway. There will be seven nights throughout the rest of the NTDP home schedule where fans can win Pepsi and Team USA prizes, collect an NTDP alumni poster, and have the chance to win a signed jersey. The first 500 fans at each of the games will receive a NTDP in the NHL alumni poster.
The final night of the series will be this Friday, March 30. 2010 World Junior gold medalist and 2009 Under-18 Men’s World Championship gold medalist, Cam Fowler (2007-09/Anaheim Ducks) will be the highlighted alumni.
JACK HUGHES APPROACHING MILESTONES: U.S. National Under-18 Team forward Jack Hughes broke the scoring record during the under-17 season on March 2nd. He surpassed Clayton Keller (2015-16/Arizona Coyotes) and Phil Kessel (2003-05/Pittsburgh Penguins) who each had 82 points during their under-17 seasons. Hughes accomplished this feat in 15 fewer games than Keller and 16 fewer games than Kessel.
Hughes now has 98 points in 51 games which places him in a tie for fourth place on the all-time single-season points list with Kessel who tallied the 98 in his under-18 season.
Hughes has already surpassed Jack Eichel (2012-14/Buffalo Sabres), Sonny Milano (2012-14/Columbus Blue Jackets), Andy Hilbert (1998-99/New York Islanders), Jeremy Bracco (2013-14/ Toronto Marlies), and Matthew Tkachuk (2013-15/Calgary Flames). Auston Matthews (2013-15/Toronto Maple Leafs) holds the record with 117 points followed by Clayton Keller (107), and Patrick Kane (102). All of those records occurred during the player’s under-18 season.
After tallying two assists this past weekend, Hughes also moved into second place for single-season assists with 65. Keller is atop the list with 70 assists during his under-18 season.
CAUFIELD MOVING UP NTDP ALL-TIME GOALS RECORD BOOK: U.S National Under-18 Team forward Cole Caufield scored one goal this past weekend. With the goal, Caufield gained sole possession of 6th place on the all-time single-season goals list with 49, passing Jeremy Morin (2007-09/SC Bern). He’s already passed notable NTDP alumni: Matthew Tkachuk (2013-15/Calgary Flames), Jack Eichel (2012-14/Buffalo Sabres), and James van Riemsdyk (2005-07/Toronto Maple Leafs).
At the top of the list is Auston Matthews (2013-15/Toronto Maples Leafs) with 55 goals, followed by Patrick Kane (2005-06/Chicago Blackhawks) and Phil Kessel (2003-05/Pittsburgh Penguins) with 52 goals in both his under-17 and under-18 seasons. Kieffer Bellows (2015-16/Portland Winterhawks) is fifth with 50 goals.
TWO-WAY GAME: Team USA boasts five of the top-ten, including the top four, plus-minus leaders in the USHL. Oliver Wahlstrom (Quincy, Mass.) leads the league with +29. Joel Farabee is second with +27, Jonathan Gruden is third with +26, and Jack Hughes is fourth with +25. Spencer Stastney is eighth with +20.
ESPECIALLY SPECIAL TEAMS: Team USA has made its special teams truly special this season though its first 54 USHL games. With the man advantage, the combined U17s and U18s have the second-ranked power play percentage (24.1% on 228 opportunities) and second-most power play goals (55). They have also been deadly on the penalty kill, recording 11 goals while short handed (second best in the league).
GETTING OFFENSIVE: The offense has flowed for the NTDP this season. The combined Team USA teams currently lead the USHL in goals with 272 through 54 games. That’s an average of 5.03 goals per game. By comparison, the Chicago Steel have the second ranked offense with 193 goals through 54 games which averages out to 3.57 goals per game. Team USA is on pace to score more than 302 goals this season; in the USHL last season, only two teams eclipsed 200 goals.
1+ POINTS PER GAME PLAYERS: A quartet of Team USA players are at the top of the USHL rankings in points per game. In his rookie season in the USHL, Jack Hughes is averaging over two points per game (2.04). Oliver Wahlstrom is second with 1.76 points per game. Jake Wise is third with 1.65 PPG, and Joel Farabee is fourth with 1.60 PPG.
Other Team USA players averaging at least a point per game in USHL play include Jonathan Gruden (1.33), Trevor Zegras (1.12), Cole Caufield (1.06), Alex Turcotte (1.03), and Matthew Boldy (1.03).
NTDP ALUMNI IN FROZEN FOUR: Three of the four teams in the 2018 Frozen Four feature former NTDP players.
Joey Anderson (2014-16/Univ. of Minnesota-Duluth) scored in the quarterfinal to help the Bulldogs move past Air Force to win the west region.
Joe Wegwerth (2012-14) scored in the first round to help propel Notre Dame to their Frozen Four appearance. Dawson Cook (2011-13) and Dylan St. Cyr (2015-17) will look to help Notre Dame earn a trip to the championship game.
Ten NTDP alumni play for the University of Michigan who will look to defeat Notre Dame in their Frozen Four appearance. In their win to advance to the Frozen Four, four of Michigan’s six goals were scored by NTDP alumni: Quinn Hughes (2015-17), Brendan Warren (2013-15), Nick Pastujov (2014-16), and Nicholas Boka (2013-15). Other NTDP alumni on Michigan’s roster include: Will Lockwood (2014-16), Griffin Luce (2014-16), Luke Martin (2014-16), James Sanchez (2014-16), Josh Norris (2015-17), and Michael Pastujov (2015-17).
28 NTDP ALUMNI FEATURED IN NCAA TOURNAMENT: A whole host of NTDP alumni played in the 2018 NCAA Division I Men’s Ice Hockey Championship Tournament.
University of Minnesota Duluth: Joey Anderson (2014-16)
Penn State University: Evan Barratt (2015-17), Trevor Hamilton (2011-13)
University of Denver: Troy Terry (2014-15)
Cornell University: Ryan Bliss (2012-14), Jared Fiegl (2012-14)
Boston University: Nikolas Olsson (2010-12), John Macleod (2012-14), Jordan Greenway (2013-15)
Chad Krys (2014-16), Jake Oettinger (2014-16), Logan Cockerill (2015-17), David Farrance (2015-17), Brady Tkachuk (2015-17)
University of Michigan: Nicholas Boka (2013-15), Brendan Warren (2013-15), Will Lockwood (2014-16), Griffin Luce (2014-16), Luke Martin (2014-16), Nick Pastujov (2014-16), James Sanchez (2014-16), Quinn Hughes (2015-17), Josh Norris (2015-17), Michael Pastujov (2015-17)
Northeastern University: Nolan Stevens (2012-14)
University of Notre Dame: Dawson Cook (2011-13), Dylan St. Cyr (2015-17), Joe Wegwerth (2012-14)
COLLEGE CHAMPIONS: With the college hockey regular season completed, several alumni are on their respective regular season conference championship teams.
Big Ten: Notre Dame: Dylan St. Cyr (2015-17), Joe Wegwerth (2012-14), Dawson Cook (2011-13)
Hockey East: Boston College: Casey Fitzgerald (2013-15), Logan Hutsko (2015-17), Zach Walker (2014-16), Jacob Tortora (2015-17), Graham McPhee (2014-16), Joseph Woll (2014-16)
ECAC: Cornell: Jared Fiegl (2012-14) & Ryan Bliss (2012-14)
WCHA: Minnesota State: Clint Lewis (2011-13)
COLLEGE AWARDS: Big Ten: NTDP alum Trevor Hamilton (Penn State University/2011-13) was named the Big Ten’s Defensive Player of the Year the league announced Tuesday (March 13). He was also named to the league’s All-Big Ten First Team.
Quinn Hughes (University of Michigan/2015-17) was named to the Second Team as well as the All-Freshman Team.
Trent Frederic (University of Wisconsin/2014-16) and Ryan Lindgren (University of Minnesota/2014-16) received honorable mention.
Hockey East: Brady Tkachuk (2015-17/Boston University), and the lone unanimous selection in Boston College’s Logan Hutsko (2015-17/Boston College) were both named to the Hockey East All-Rookie Team the league announced.
Casey Fitzgerald (2013-15/Boston College) was named the ‘47 Brand Best Defensive Defenseman.
Fitzgerald and Nolan Stevens (2012-14/Northeastern University) were named to the All-Star Second Team.
Joseph Woll (2014-16/Boston College) and Jordan Greenway (2013-15/Boston University) were named to the All-Star Third Team.
ECAC: Adam Fox (Harvard University/2014-16) was named to the ECAC Conference First Team.
NHL DEBUTS: With most of the college hockey seasons over several NTDP alumni have signed contracts with their NHL team and are making their debuts. Jordan Greenway (2013-15) made his debut on March 27 with the Minnesota Wild. Troy Terry (2014-15) skated with the Anaheim Ducks for the first time also on March 27. Shane Gersich (2013-14) made his debut for the Washington Capitals on March 28.
WERENSKI NOMINATED FOR MASTERTON: NTDP alumni and current Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman, Zach Werenski (2013-14) was nominated by the Columbus chapter of the Professional Hockey Writers Association for the Bill Masterton Trophy on Tuesday (March 27). The trophy is awarded annually to the player that best demonstrates “qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey.”
NTDP ALUMNI SHINE IN NHL ROOKIE SEASONS: Clayton Keller (2014-16/Arizona Coyotes) is second among rookies in points with 62. He is second in assists with 39. Keller was named NHL Rookie of the Month for October after posting 9 goals and 15 points in 13 games. Keller broke two Arizona Coyotes’ rookie records for most assists and points in a rookie campaign, breaking the records previously set by Peter Mueller in 2007-08. Currently on a 10-game point streak, Keller continues to add to these records as the season nears its end.
Will Butcher (2011-13/New Jersey Devils) is third among rookies, and first among rookie defensemen, in assists with 36. He is first in points among rookie defensemen with 37.
Charlie McAvoy (2013-15/Boston Bruins) is third in points among rookie defensemen with 32. He is second in plus/minus among rookies with plus-26 and first overall among rookie defensemen. He is averaging over 22 minutes per game as part of Boston’s top defensive pairing. On February 27, he became the youngest Bruins player to score an overtime game-winning goal.