FOUR NATIONS REMATCH
The U.S. National Under-17 Team will add another chapter to its season series against Russia when the two sides face off Wednesday morning. The U17s earned a 4-2 win over Russia during the group stage of the 2018 Under-17 Four Nations Cup in their first encounter before Russia secured a 3-2 overtime win in the first-place game.
Smilanic scored three goals for Team USA in its first two matchups against Russia. Peterson added four points to lead all skaters.
COLLEGE COMMITMENTS
Eighteen of the 22 full-time players on the U.S. National Under-17 Team are verbally committed to NCAA Division I college hockey programs.
Boston University, the University of Notre Dame and the University of Wisconsin all hold three commitments, while Providence College, the University of Minnesota-Duluth and the University of North Dakota hold two commitments apiece.
Boston College, Penn State University and the University of Michigan each hold one verbal commitment from the Under-17 Team.
Matthew Beniers (Hingham, Mass.), Thomas Bordeleau (Houston, Texas), Hunter McKown (San Jose, Calif.) and Ty Smilanic (Elizabeth, Colo.) are uncommitted.
TOURNAMENT DETAILS
Each team will compete in four matchups at the 2019 Under-17 Five Nations Tournament. Points will be awarded for regulation wins (3), overtime wins (2) and overtime losses (1).
U17 FIVE NATIONS HISTORY
The Under-17 Four or Five Nations Tournaments are held twice per season. The NTDP's Under-17 teams placed first in at least one of the international events in each of the past two seasons.
Team USA claimed its most recent title at the Under-17 Five Nations Cup in February 2018 in Järvenpää, Finland.
In total, U.S. National Under-17 teams have won the Four or Five Nations tournaments 10 times since the start of the 2007-08 season.
The U.S. has won both of the annual tournaments twice at the U17 level (2017-18 and 2013-14).
LAST YEAR ...
The U.S. National Under-17 Team earned first-place finishes at both the Under-17 Five Nations Tournament, held in Järvenpää, Finland, and the Under-17 Four Nations Tournament, held in Veliky Novgorod, Russia, during the 2017-18 season.
COACHING STAFF AT U17 FIVE NATIONS TOURNAMENT
Seth Appert (Cottage Grove, Minn.) will lead the U.S. National Under-17 Team at the 2019 Under-17 Five Nations Tournament. Associate coach Nick Fohr (Grand Forks, N.D.), intern assistant coach Jared Nightingale (Jackson, Mich.) and goaltending coach Jared Waimon (New Milford, Conn.) join Appert behind the bench.
TEAM USA CAPTAIN
Jake Sanderson (Whitefish, Mont.) is expected to serve as the team captain for the duration of the 2019 Under-17 Five Nations Tournament. Brock Faber (Maple Grove, Minn.) and Luke Tuch (Baldwinsville, N.Y.) were named assistant captains for Team USA's first game of the tournament.