LAST TIME OUT: The U.S. National Under-18 Team swept the Muskegon Lumberjacks in its USHL opener,  skating to a 5-3 victory Friday at Mercy Health Arena before completing the sweep with a 4-2 win at USA Hockey Arena Saturday night.  The U.S. National Under-17 Team completed its first sweep of the season, defeating the Soo Eagles, 10-0, Wednesday night at Pullar Stadium. 

Nine different skaters tallied goals for the U.S., including Isaac Howard (Hudson, Wis.), who scored his team-leading fifth goal in the victory.

GONE STREAKING: Seven skaters had points in each of the U17s' first four games. Rutger McGroarty (Lincoln, Neb.) leads the team with 11 points (3g-8a) through four games played, while Ryan Chesley (Mahtomedi, Minn.), Maddox Fleming (Rochester, Minn.) Cutter Gauthier (Scottsdale, Ariz.), Isaac Howard,  Jimmy Snuggerud (Chaska, Minn.) and Tyler Duke (Strongsville, Ohio) have all recorded a point in every game thus far.

SUCCESS IN THE SECOND: The U17s have produced stellar scoring stats in the second periods of their games, outscoring opponents 18-4 in the frame throughout their first four contests of the season. The U17s also outscore opponents, 8-7, and 9-1 in the first and third periods, respectively. 

JACK ATTACK: Under-18 forwards Jack Hughes (Westwood, Mass.) and Jack Devine (Glencoe, Ill.) have paced the team thus far with eight points apiece through the team's first four games. Both skaters have four points in their past three games and Hughes carries a three-game point streak into the weekend.

PASTA PARTY: Forward Sasha Pastujov (Bradenton, Fla.) has started the season on a roll as he has jumped out to the team lead with five goals through the first five games. Last year's leading scorer on the U17s recorded a pair of goals in the opening game of the season and has now scored in three straight contests entering the weekend. 

FAMILY AFFAIR: Two sets of siblings are currently skating for the NTDP. Newcomers Cruz Lucius (Grant, Minn.)and  Tyler Duke (Strongsville, Ohio) each join their brothers, Chaz Lucius and Dylan Duke.  The Lucius brothers will also suit up for the same college program when the pair joins the University of Minnesota after their NTDP years. 

In total, 17 sets of siblings  have come through the NTDP since the program's inception. 

COACHING CHANGE: The beginning of 2020-21 season marks the debut of Dan Muse (Canton, Mass.) and Adam Nightingale (Cheyboygan, Mich.) as the 14th and 15th head coaches of the USA Hockey National Team Development Program. Muse brings 15 years of coaching experience to the NTDP and was an assistant coach for the Nashville Predators for the past three seasons. Nightingale has spent the last three years with the Detroit Red Wings, serving most recently as an assistant coach for the 2019-20 campaign. Muse will coach the U.S. National Under-18 Team in 2020-21 while Nightingale will lead the U.S. National Under-17 Team. The hirings fill the vacancies left by former NTDP head coaches Seth Appert and John Wroblewski, who both accepted head coaching positions in the AHL.

THE NEXT GENERATION: The 2020 NHL Entry Draft took place last Tuesday and Wednesday, held virtually from the NHL Network Network studios in Secaucus, New Jersey. 

Thirteen players were selected directly from USA Hockey's National Team Development Program, while two alumni were taken on Day 2 of the draft. Defenseman Jake Sanderson (Whitefish, Mont.) led the way for the NTDP, going fifth overall to the Ottawa Senators. Sanderson is the 81st NTDP alum to be selected in the first round of the draft. 

In addition, Brett Berard (East Greenwich, R.I.), Thomas Bordeleau (Houston, Texas), Drew Commesso (Norwell, Mass.) Brock Faber (Maple Grove, Minn.) Tyler Kleven (Fargo, N.D.), Dylan Peterson (Roseville, Calif.), Eamon Powell (Marcellus, N.Y.), Landon Slaggert (South Bend, Ind.), Ty Smilanic (Denver, Colo.), Jacob Truscott (Port Huron, Mich.), Luke Tuch (Baldwinsville, N.Y.) and Chase Yoder (Fairview, Texas) each heard their names called.

The NTDP now boasts 343 players from the program drafted in the NHL. Of the 343 players, 81 were selected in the first round, 74 were chosen in the second round and 42 were taken in the third round.

WORLD UNDER-18 CHAMPIONSHIP:  The 2021 IIHF Under-18 Men's World Championship will take place in Plymouth and Ann Arbor, Michigan from April 15-25, 2021. 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.