LAST TIME OUT: Both the U17s and U18s opened the weekend with losses on Friday (Oct. 18) but rallied to end the weekend on a high note.

Matthew Beniers (Hingham, Mass.) scored his fourth goal of the season, and third in two games, but the U.S. National Under-18 Team fell 2-1 to Michigan State Friday evening at Munn Ice Arena.

The U.S. National Under-17 Team took a 5-3 lead into the third period but were unable to hold on as the Green Bay Gamblers rallied for a 6-5 win Friday night at USA Hockey Arena.

The U.S. National Under-18 Team scored early and often Saturday night, building a 4-0 lead after the first period en route to a 6-1 victory over the Madison Capitols at USA Hockey Arena. 

The U.S. National Under-17 Team picked up its first USHL win against the Chicago Steel Saturday night at Fox Valley Ice Arena thanks to two goals from Dylan Duke (Strongsville, Ohio) and an overtime-winner from Luke Hughes (Manchester, N.H.).

The U.S. National Under-18 team defeated the Madison Capitols, 3-1, Sunday evening during the 2nd annual sensory-friendly game at USA Hockey Arena behind two goals from Thomas Bordeleau (Houston, Texas).

HEATING UP: Forward Matthew Beniers (Hingham, Mass.) scored Team USA’s lone goal against Michigan State last weekend and added an assist on Saturday against Madison. After a six-game scoreless streak, the 6-1 center has now racked up five points (3g-2a) over his last four games. Beniers will head to Harvard University (ECAC) after the season as he is not eligible for the 2020 NHL Draft.

DOMINANT DUO: Goaltenders Drew Commesso (Norwell, Mass.) and Noah Grannan (Germantown, Wis.) have played excellent hockey between the pipes for the NTDP U18s. Neither goalie has allowed more than two goals in the team’s last five games. Commesso has gone 2-1 with a 1.69 GAA and .953 SV% while Grannan has accumulated a 1-1 record with a 1.49 GAA and .927 SV% over that span. Look for each goalie to get a start in New York this weekend.

CAN’T STOP, WON’T STOP: U17 forward Chaz Lucius (Grant, Minn.) scored his team-leading 12th goal of the season Friday night when he finished a breakaway with a beautiful forehand-backhand-top-shelf tally. The University of Minnesota commit has averaged a goal-per-game for the team and has added an assist in USHL play. 

SEND THEM HOME: Defenseman Luke Hughes (Manchester, N.H.) gave the U17s their first USHL win of the season when he scored 58 seconds into the overtime period Saturday evening in Chicago to win, 5-4. Hughes has three multi-point efforts in his last six games played, including five goals scored over that span. The blueliner now has 11 points (5g-6a) in 11 games to lead all NTDP defensemen in scoring.

HUGHES GOAL: Jack Hughes (2017-19) netted his first NHL goal on Friday (Oct. 19). The goal came in his first game against older brother Quinn Hughes’ (2016-18) Vancouver Canucks. Hughes was taken No. 1 by the Devils after scoring 74 goals at the NTDP and a record-setting 154 assists in his two years in Plymouth. 

BARDREAU DEBUTS: NTDP alum Cole Bardreau (2009-11) made his NHL debut last Saturday (Oct. 19). Bardreau had a long road to the NHL after the NTDP. In 2013, Bardreau was a part of the gold medal-winning U.S. World Junior Championship team, but weeks later at Cornell, broke his neck in a game. After his recovery, he spent four years with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms before coming into the Islanders organization prior to this season.

FARABEE CALL-UP: A week after Joel Farabee netted his first professional goal, he got called-up for the big team. On Oct. 21, Farabee made his NHL debut with the Philadelphia Flyers.

KESSEL HITS 1,000: Phil Kessel, who played with the NTDP from 2003- 2005, skated in his 1,000th NHL game on Saturday (Oct. 12) for the Arizona Coyotes. Kessel has also played for the Pittsburgh Penguins, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Boston Bruins.

WAHLSTROM CALL-UP: On October 15, NTDP alum Oliver Wahlstrom (2016-18) got his first call-up to the NHL’s New York Islanders. Wahlstrom skated in the Islanders’ 3-2 OT win against the St. Louis Blues.

CENTRAL SCOUTING: NHL Central Scouting put out its preliminary players to watch for the 2020 NHL Draft.  Team USA had 18 skaters find their names on that list, including two who were graded as "A" prospects: defenseman Jake Sanderson (Whitefish, Mont.) and forward Ty Smilanic (Denver, Colo.).

PLAYER FEATURE: Tanner Latsch Learning There's No Substitute for Hard Work. Read the full feature on USAHockeyNTDP.com.

UPCOMING PROMOTIONS AND EVENTS AT USA HOCKEY ARENA: The NTDP will host a variety of promotional nights at USA Hockey Arena in the month of October:

Fri., Oct. 25 — $5 Fun Night

Sat., Oct. 26 -- Stay & Skate with the U17 Team

A full list of USA Hockey promotional nights are available at  USAHockeyNTDP.com/Promos.