MUSKEGON LUMBERJACKS: The 'Jacks beat the U17 Team Friday evening in Muskegon by a 4-1 final, but the U18s have won all three prior matchups on the year.

Team USA swept a pair of USHL preseason contests by 5-1 and 8-5 finals, then followed with an 8-3 win on October 9 at USA Hockey Arena.

Muskegon is led offensively by forward Quinn Hutson, who suited up with the U18s over the weekend in Boston. Hutson leads the 'Jacks with 1.19 points-per-game, picking up 25 (11g-14a) in 21 games for Muskegon. Phillip Tresca (11), Joey Larson (15) and Ben Strinden (11) have all hit double-digits in goals scored for the Lumberjacks.

On the blue line, Jacob Guevin leads all USHL defensemen with 26 points (3g-23a) in 23 games played on the year.

In the cage, Platon Zadorozhny, coming off a USHL Goaltender of the Week award, has led the team with 10 games played in net. The Russian native has posted a 6-4-0 record with a 3.08 goals-against average and .887 save percentage for Muskegon.

After Wednesday's game, the U18s and 'Jacks will see each other for three more games on the season, next playing on Friday, February 4 back at USA Hockey Arena.

YOUNGSTOWN PHANTOMS: Forward Adam Ingram leads the offensive charge for the Phantoms as he has produced 30 points (13g-17a) in just 23 games for Youngstown. He is followed by Jaden Grant and Ryan Alexander, who have put in 10 goals apiece.

The Phantoms have a pair of qualified netminders in Kyle Chauvette and Owen Bartoszkiewicz. The former has appeared in a team-high 16 games while collecting a 7-5-1-2 record to pair with a 3.10 GAA and .898 save percentage. Bartoszkiewicz has a 1-6-0-1 record in nine games played, alongside a 4.09 GAA and .857 SV%.

After this weekend's game, four contests will still remain between the Phantoms and Under-18 Team throughout the remainder of the campaign.

PIESTANY FOUR NATIONS: The U17s have had their biggest success this season on the international stage, previously winning a Four Nations in Vaasa, Finland in November. During that tournament, Team USA swept all four games it played with two wins over Finland (pre-tournament; in tournament), one over Sweden and one over Czechia. 

This time around, the U17s will see Slovakia, Russia and the Czech Republic in its bracket, playing on three consecutive days from December 16-18.