SHUTOUT SEASON: Under-18 Team goaltender Dylan Silverstein (Calabasas, Calif.) is coming off of his first shutout of the season, and of his NTDP career, a 3-0 blanking of the Michigan State Spartans Saturday evening at USA Hockey Arena. Silverstein turned aside all 26 shots he saw from the boys in green. 

The impressive performance escalated the California native's record to 3-0-0 on the year, to go along with a 1.34 GAA and .953 save percentage in his first four apperances. His shutout of an NCAA opponent was the first for Team USA at home since Gibson Homer shut out the Milwaukee School of Engineering on January 22.

Silverstein ran his career record to 13-1-1-2 in 21 apperances at the NTDP, his lone regulation loss coming at the hands of the Green Bay Gamblers back on January 30, 2021. 

BIG GAME JIM: U18 forward Jimmy Snuggerud (Chaska, Minn.) won the team race to double-digit points, collecting 10 (3g-7a) through the team's first six games of play.

All three of Snuggerud's goals have come on the man advantage to give him the most PPG on the squad and his marker Sunday at Notre Dame ended as the game-winner. 

The University of Minnesota commit's seven assists ties Isaac Howard (Hudson, Wis.) for the team lead. Both Snuggerud and Howard are tied atop the USHL leaderboards, averaging 2.00 points-per-game in league action

PERREAULT POPS: The U.S. National Under-17 Team has gotten its most impressive offensive performance through six games from forward Gabe Perreault (Hinsdale, Ill.). The 5-foot-9 skater has accumulated three goals and a pair of helpers for a team-high five total points.

Perreault showcased his skill in front of the hometown fans Friday evening in Michigan, scoring a pair of goals for his first multi-goal effort in an NTDP sweater. The second tally was a shorthanded effort, the U17s' first man-down goal of the campaign. 

MORE FROM MOORE: U17 forward Oliver Moore (Mounds View, Minn.) has provided an offensive spark for the younger USA team, as he's tied with Perrault for the team lead with three goals. 

Moore put up a pair of points over the past weekend against Youngstown and has produced a team-high 11 shots on the season. His +1 rating is also tied for the team lead. 

SATURDAY SUCCESS: The Under-18 Team has enjoyed playing in primetime on Saturday night's this season, picking up a trio of big wins over the past three weekends.

The team has more than doubled the output of its opponents, outscoring the Muskegon Lumberjacks, Sioux City Musketeers and Michigan State University by a combined 15-7 total over those three games.

The success is welcomed as the U18s will play every Saturday for the remainder of October.

KEEP THE STREAK ALIVE: Through six games against USHL and elite NCAA Division 1 competition, the Under-18 Team has yet to lose a game in regulation, racing out to a 5-0-1-0 record this year. 

The six-game streak matches the start of the 2020-21 squad, who started their season against NAHL, USHL and NCAA Division III teams, and is tied for the longest to start a season without a regulation loss since the NTDP's move to USA Hockey Arena for the 2015-16 season.

Saturday's game against Muskegon will be the U18s' lone opportunity to extend the point streak this season, but if they manage to get through unscathed, will head back to the NCAA slate with contests scheduled against Northern Michigan and Michigan Tech in the Upper Peninsula next weekend.

KNOW THE TEAMS: The 2021-22 team poster giveaways are coming up! The Under-18 Team giveaway, courtesy of Hines Park Lincoln, is Saturday evening at USA Hockey Arena.

The U17s' giveaway will follow a week later, thanks to our friends at Kroger, when they take on the Madison Capitols on Saturday, October 16.

Both teams will stick around on the concourse after the conclusions of their respective games for an autograph session to fill your posters!