PLAYER ADDS: Three additional players will join the U17 roster for the Nov. 16-17 games: Jack Williams (Biddeford, Maine), a forward with Selects Academy U16 in Connecticut, Michael Cameron (Berwyn, Penn.), a forward with Salisbury Prep School in Connecticut and Owen Michaels (Detroit, Mich.), a forward with the Oakland Jr. Grizzlies U16 in Michigan. Williams is committed to Northeastern University and has recorded 37 points in 29 games thus far (19-18-37), while Cameron is committed to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) and has tallied eight points in 11 games (4-4-8).
INTERNATIONAL LEADERS: The U18s dominated leaderboard standings throughout the Under-18 Five Nations Tournament.
Goaltenders Knight and Rowe ranked first and second on goals against average, with 1.50 and 2.00, respectively. Knight ranked No. 2 in save percentage at .925, and Rowe ranked No. 4 at .897.
Hughes ranked No. 1 in two offensive categories: points and assists. He tallied 16 points in four games (6-10-16), including a tournament-best 10 assists.
Caufield ranked No. 1 in goals, scoring seven over four games played. Hughes ranked No. 2 in goals with six total. Both Hughes and Caufield recorded hat tricks during the Five Nations Tournament.
Thirteen U18 players were ranked in the top 20 plus-minus leaders throughout the tournament, with U18 players comprising the top seven overall leaders: Hughes (+14), Caufield (+13), Fensore (+12), Zegras (+10), Gildon (+6), McCarthy (+6), Vlasic (+5).
STEEL BONDS: The NTDP and Chicago Steel have ties dating back to Oct. 9, 2015, when the NTDP played its first game at USA Hockey Arena against the Steel. Zach Walker (NTDP 2015-17; Boston College) scored the first goal at USA Hockey Arena in the game, which the NTDP went on to win 6-1. Walker’s goal can be viewed here.
The NTDP recorded its first playoff series win in 2017-18 against the Chicago Steel when the U17s won the series 3-1. The U17s won once at home and took two overtime victories at Fox Valley Ice Arena to make NTDP history with the playoff win.
Former NTDP player and coach Greg Moore (NTDP 2000-02) is in his first season as head coach of the Chicago Steel. With the NTDP, Moore placed first in the 2001 Under-17 World Challenge and won gold with the U18s the following year. Moore returned as intern assistant coach in 2015-17, and went on to be the U17 assistant coach for the 2017-18 season before taking a position with Chicago.
Steel forward Robert Mastrosimone has ties with the NTDP, having played with the U18s in the Fall 2018 Under-18 Five Nations Tournament in Kravaře, Czech Republic. Mastrosimone recorded one assist in four games during the tournament, and leads the Steel in goals.
D1 LEADERS: NTDP alumni Adam Fox (NTDP 2014-16; Harvard University), Joe Wegwerth (NTDP 2012-14; Notre Dame) and Brandon Fortunato (NTDP 2012-14; Quinnipiac) are taking the lead on NCAA Division 1 categories. Fox is tied for first place in average points per game, with 2.4, and leads in average assists per game with two. Wegwerth is tied at No. 1 in game winning goals with a total of four this season. NTDP alums Fox and Fortunato are tied for first place with five points in one game, while Fortunato ranks No. 1 for total assists in one game with five.
NCAA SCHEDULE: The U18s pick up their NCAA schedule with a matchup against Bowling Green State University on Wednesday (Nov. 21) at home. The college slate continues with the University of Maine on Dec. 8, Michigan State University (Dec. 15), Lake Superior State University on Dec. 16 at home, St. Cloud State University (Dec. 27), University of North Dakota (Dec. 29), College of the Holy Cross on Jan. 1 at home, University of Minnesota-Duluth (Jan. 5), Adrian College on Jan. 8 at home, and ends with the University of Wisconsin on Jan. 12.
PLAYER FEATURE: Henry Thrun is keeping his philosophy simple in his second season with the NTDP. Read the full story here.
2018 UNDER-17 FOUR NATIONS CUP TICKETS ON SALE: The 2018 Under-17 Four Nations Cup will be held at USA Hockey Arena from Dec. 11-15, sponsored by Hines Park Lincoln. Hockey teams from Switzerland, Slovakia, Russia, and the United States will compete for the title.
To purchase tickets, or for more information, visit USAHockeyNTDP.com/4NationsTix or call the USA Hockey Arena box office at 734.453.8400.
TICKET PACKAGES: The NTDP is offering season ticket packages for the 2018-19 season. The packages include the College Six Pack, Flex Pack, and Fan Experience Package. More information is available here or by calling 734.453.8400.
UPCOMING PROMOTIONS AND EVENTS
Friday, Nov. 16 & Saturday, Nov. 17 - vs. Cedar Rapids Rough Riders & Chicago Steel - Carnival Weekend & $5 Friday
Wednesday, Nov. 21 - vs. Bowling Green State University - ‘90s Night Thanksgiving Eve Bash & $1 Beer Night
Friday, Nov. 30 - vs. Waterloo Black Hawks - Just Drive Night
Saturday, Dec. 1 - vs. Waterloo Black Hawks - Trading Card Series Giveaway No. 1