LAST TIME OUT: The U.S. National Under-18 Team split a pair of college games, defeating Concordia University, 8-2, before suffering a 5-3 setback at Adrian College. Dylan Duke (Strongsville, Ohio), Andre Gasseau (Garden Grove, Calif.) and Sasha Pastujov (Bradenton, Fla) each scored a pair of goals and combined for 14 points over the weekend.

The U.S. National Under-17 Team earned its first USHL win with a 3-2 victory over the Green Bay Gamblers last Friday at the Resch Center. Cruz Lucius (Grant, Minn.) and Logan Cooley (West Mifflin, Pa.) each scored for the U.S., and Marek Hejduk (Parker, Colo.) notched the game-winner to lift the U17s.

GONE STREAKING: Two skaters have points in each of the U17s' first five games. Rutger McGroarty (Lincoln, Neb.), who currently leads the team with 13 points (3g-10a), notched two assists in the team's 3-2 win over Green Bay last weekend, while Ryan Chesley (Mahtomedi, Minn.), who ranks third in scoring with nine points (3g-6a), dished out an assist.

SPREAD THE WEALTH: Every U17 skater has recorded at least one point so far this season. Isaac Howard (Hudson, Wis.) leads the team with five goals in five contests, while McGroarty's 10 assists pace the team.

SUCCESS IN THE SECOND: The U17s have produced stellar scoring stats in the second periods of their games, outscoring opponents 20-4 in the frame throughout their first five contests of the season. The U17s also outscore opponents, 10-2 in the third period.

HIGH-SCORING TRIO: Under-18 forwards Dylan Duke, Jack Hughes (Westwood, Mass.) and Sasha Pastujov pace the team thus far with 11 points apiece through the team's first six games. Pastujov leads the team in goals scored with seven tallies, while Hughes and Duke's nine assists tie for first.

TERRIFIC 23: Twenty members of the 2020-21 U.S. National Under-18 Team and three former NTDP players were named to the National Hockey League Central Scouting's first rankings ahead of the 2021 NHL Entry Draft. All 20 age-eligible U18 skaters for the draft were rated on the opening list. Forwards Chaz Lucius (Grant, Minn.) and Sasha Pastujov and defensemen Luke Hughes (Canton, Mich.) and Roman Schmidt (Midland, Mich.) were all rated as "A" skaters.

GASSING UP: NTDP newcomer Andre Gasseau enters the weekend on a three-game point streak and has recorded five points (2g-3a) over his last pair of games. The 6-foot-4 forward picked up his first multi-goal effort in a USA uniform after he netted his third and fourth goals of the season Saturday evening. On the season, Gasseau now averages over a point-per-game as he's racked up eight points (4g-4a) in seven contests and sits tied for fifth on the team in overall scoring. Gasseau joined the NTDP this summer after playing last season with Shattuck St. Mary's 16U.

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 earlier this month, 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. The 2020 tournament was supposed to be held at USA Hockey Arena from April 16-26, 2020, but was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.