LAST TIME OUT: The U17s split a pair of games on the road last weekend, falling 5-4 in a shootout to the Janesville Jets on Friday  before notching a 10-1 win over the Jets in the first of a four-game set between the two teams. 

Nine skaters enjoyed multi-point performances over the weekend, including, Isaac Howard (Hudson, Wis.) who notched a goal and dished out four assists for five points in the two games. In addition,  Devin Kaplan (Bridgewater, N.J.) and Charlie Stramel (Rosemount, Minn.) each recorded four points, including a pair of goals each. Tyler Muszelik (Long Valley, N.J.) and Dylan Silverstein (Calabasas, Calif.) each appeared in goal over the weekend, stopping a combined 44 shots. 

The U18s fell, 5-2, to the Steel on Saturday in a rematch from last weekend. Dylan Duke (Strongsville, Ohio) and Andre Gasseau (Garden Grove, Calif.) provided the goals for the U.S. in the loss. 

BE LIKE IKE: Isaac Howard has a netted a goal in six of the last seven games, dating back to the U17s Oct. 31 win against the Shreveport Mudbugs (NAHL). In the stretch, Howard has amassed nine goals, including a hat trick in the U17s' 10-6 win over the Muskegon Lumberjacks on Nov. 22. Howard paces the team  in points with 14 goals, 10 assists and 24 points. Rutger McGroarty (Lincoln, Neb.) ranks second with eight goals, 13 assists and 21 points. 

POINT GETTERS: Twelve U17 skaters are recording at least a point per game so far this season. Isaac Howard paces the team with a 2.00 points-per-game average, while Rutger McGroarty is averaging 1.75 points a contests. In addition, all 21 skaters have recorded points this season, and 12 players, including Seamus Casey (Estero, Fla.), Ryan Chesley, Logan Cooley (West Mifflin, Pa.), Maddox Fleming (Rochester, Minn.), Cutter Gauthier (Scottsdale, Ariz.), Marek Hejduk (Parker, Colo.), Isaac Howard, Devin Kaplan, Cruz Lucius (Grant, Minn.), McGroarty, Frank Nazar III (Mount Clemens, Mich.), and Jimmy Snuggerud (Chaska, Minn.) have double-digit points on the season.

SUCCESS IN THE SECOND: The U17s continue to produce stellar scoring stats in the second periods of their games, outscoring opponents 37-9 in the frame throughout their first 12 contests of the season. The U17s also outscore opponents, 25-16 and 20-9 in the second and third periods, respectively. The U17s  are a perfect 9-0-0-0 when outscoring their opponents in the middle frame. 

THE DUKE OF HAZZARD: Under-18 forward Dylan Duke (Strongsville, Ohio) tallied his fifth goal of the season Saturday night in Chicago, giving him sole possession of the team lead in points, with 15. The University of Michigan commit has scored all five of his goals over the past six games and has recorded an impressive 10 points (5g-5a) over his last seven games of action.

KROGER COLLEGE SERIES: The Under-18 Team returns to its Kroger College Series as they head west to the Rocky Mountains to take on the Air Force Falcons. Through all of the seasons's posponements and cancellations, these games will only be the third and fourth collegiate matchups for the U18s this season. They started with an 8-2 win over the Concordia (Wis.) Eagles at USA Hockey Arena back on October 23, but fell to the Adrian Bulldogs the following day by a 5-3 final. The U18s will play Trine University, Bowling Green State University and Adrian, again, as NCAA opponents before the end of the season. More opponents and matchups to the Kroger College Series  are to be announced.

BREAKING THE TIE: The NTDP and Air Force Falcons have matched up three previous times in the program's existence, with each team owning a 1-1-1 record. In their first ever meeting, the two sides played to a 6-6 tie in 2001. In 2003, the NTDP took the series lead with a 4-2 win but Air Force evened it up the last time they played with a 4-3 Falcons win all the way back in 2007. 

PLAYER ADD: The U18s have added forward Clayton Cosentino (Colorado Springs, Colo.) for their weekend pair of games against Air Force. The 6-foot-2, 200-pound forward is a Falcons commit and currently serves as the captain of the NAHL's Aberdeen Wings. After finishing fifth on the team in points last season, Cosentino has already racked up 24 points (4g-20a) through the team's first 14 games this year. 

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.

STAFF NOD: NTDP athletic triainer Jason Hodges (New Baltimore, Mich.) was named to the same position on the Team USA staff at the 2021 International Ice Hockey Federation World Junior Championship. Hodges is in his 23rd season working with the NTDP and will represent Team USA for the sixth time in his career at this tournament. He has been a part of two gold-medal winning teams (2013, 2017) and picked up a bronze medal at the tournament in in 2011. Hodges has also served on the staff of five gold-medal winning USA squads at the IIHF U18 Men's World Championship.

2021 IIHF WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP: Eighteen NTDP  alumni were named to the 29-player preliminary roster for the  2021 U.S. National Junior Team. Players are auditioning for a spot on the final 25-player roster that will represent the United States in the 2021 World Junior Championship set for Edmonton, Alberta, from Dec. 25, 2020 – Jan. 5, 2021. A closed training camp will take place at USA  Hockey Arena in Plymouth, and the final roster will be announced on Dec. 13, prior to the team’s departure to Edmonton.

NTDP PLAYER FEAUTRE: U17 defenseman Charlie Leddy (Fairfield, Conn.) Finding Success in First Season at NTDP. Read the entire story at USAHockeyNTDP.com.