GREEN BAY GAMBLERS: The U.S. National Under-17 Team travels to Green Bay, Wisconsin to take on the Gamblers in a two-game set at the Resch Center this Wednesday and Thursday. The U17s met the Gamblers earlier this season, earning a 3-2 victory off goals from Logan Cooley (West Mifflin, Pa.), Cruz Lucius (Grant, Minn.) and Marek Hejduk (Parker, Colo.).
The Gamblers enter the weekend coming off a sweep of the Youngstown Phantoms Dec. 18-19. The Gamblers sit in seconcd place in the Eastern Conference with a 8-2-0-1 record.
MUSKEGON LUMBERJACKS: The Muskegon Lumberjacks return to USA Hockey Arena for a rematch against Team USA after falling, 9-3, to the U18s Dec. 16. The Jacks enter the contest 7-4-1-0 through 12 contests in the USHL, good for third in the Eastern Conference. Muskeon last squared off against the Chicago Steel, splitting the Dec. 18-19 series.
YOUNGSTOWN PHANTOMS: Team USA meets Youngstown for the first time this season when the U18s face off against the Phantoms this Sunday. The Phantoms are fifth in the Eastern Conference with a 2-8-0-0 record.
Georgii Merkulov leads the Phantoms in scoring with six goals and 12 points in 10 contests. Kyle Chauvette and Mattias Sholl have each seen time in the net for Youngstown.