LAST TIME OUT: Justin Janicke (Maple Grove, Minn.) and Jacob Truscott (Port Huron, Mich.) scored but the U.S. National Under-18 Team lost, 5-2, Saturday (Feb. 22) night to the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders at USA Hockey Arena. The teams split their two contests on the weekend. 

Sasha Pastujov (Bradenton, Fla.) picked up a goal and an assist to give him five points on the weekend, but the U.S. National Under-17 Team dropped a 10-3 decision to the Chicago Steel this afternoon (Feb. 16) at Fox Valley Ice Arena. 

WEEK-DAY WARRIORS: The Under-18 Team topped the Dubuque Fighting Saints, 4-1, Thursday evening at USA Hockey Arena to push their record to 7-2-0 on the season in games played during the week. The squad has won their last four mid-week decisions dating back to January 16th's 9-1 win over the Hamline Pipers. Forward Hunter Strand (Anchorage, Alaska) has paced the team with six total points (3g-3a) over those four games played. 

POWER POWELL: Defenseman Eamon Powell (Marcellus, N.Y.) tallied three points over three games in an impressive weekend. The 175-pound blueliner took the initial shot that got deflected in to kick off the game's scoring against Dubuque and then added a power-play goal of his own later in the game. Powell is a major contributor on Team USA's man-advantage unit and the team has produced five PPG over its last 20 chances, a 25.0% conversion rate, up from the season's 18.3% success clip. 

JACK ATTACK: Since the departure of four U17 players to the Under-18 Team, forwards Jack Devine (Glencoe, Ill.) and Jack Hughes (Westwood, Mass.) have continued their impressive seasons to create offense for the U17s. Devine picked up a pair of helpers in last weekend's series in Chicago and now has four points (2g-2a) over his last five games played. His 42 total points (13g-29a) on the season ranks second among active skaters. Hughes has collected three points (1g-2a) from his last four contests and sits right behind Devine with 38 points (14g-24a) on the campaign. 

USA IN THE NHL: Three USA Hockey NTDP alums currently sit in the top-11 in overall point leaders for the 2019-20 NHL season. Buffalo Sabres captain Jack Eichel (NTDP 2012-14) leads the way with 35 goals and 77 points in 61 games played while Blackhawks star Patrick Kane (NTDP 2004-06) has matched the 77 points in one more game played. Rounding out the trio is forward Auston Matthews (NTDP 2012-14), who is second in th league with 43 goals scored and 11th in points with 73. 

WORLD UNDER-18 CHAMPIONSHIP: The 2020 IIHF Under-18 Men's World Championship will take place in Plymouth and Ann Arbor, Michigan from April 16-26, 2020. USA Hockey Arena will host the games in Plymouth while the Ann Arbor Ice Cube will play host in Ann Arbor. Team USA will be one of 10 countries represented in the tournament. The group starting play in Plymouth will feature the Czech Republic, Finland, Germany, Russia and the United States. Tickets for the tournament are on sale now by visiting USAHockeyArena.com, calling the USA Hockey Arena Box Office at 734-453- 8400 or stopping by USA Hockey Arena during normal business hours. 

PLAYER FEATURE: Matthew Beniers (Hingham, Mass.) Aims to Build on Experience, Home Ice Heading Into U18 Worlds. Read this week's NTDP feature, presented by Milk Means More, 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 upcoming weeks: 

Fri. Feb. 28 - $5 Fun Night vs Waterloo 

Sat. March 21 - Salute to Heroes / Military Appreciation Night vs Chicago 

Sat. March 28 - Pucks, Paws and Claws Night