AUGSBURG  AUGGIES: Augsburg enters the game ranked No. 2 in the Men's Division III PairWise rankings as they've won nine of their first ten games, including a sweep over Hamline University on December 10-11, their last games played.

YOUNGSTOWN PHANTOMS: This contest will be the third matchup between the 17s and Phantoms on the season, after Youngstown swept a home-and-home set to begin the USHL season.

The Phantoms sit in seventh place in the USHL's Eastern Conference, one spot ahead of Team USA. They are led by forward Adam Ingram, who has recorded 32 points (14g-18a) in 24 games, good for the sixth most points in the USHL. Jarden Grant and Ryan Alexander have also hit double-digits in goals for Youngstown as each have netted 10 times. 

Kyle Chauvette has taken the lion's share of games in net, appearing in 17 contests and ownign an 8-5-1-2 record with a 3.03 goals-against average and .901 save percentage for the Phantoms.

NORTH DAKOTA FIGHTING HAWKS: The Fighting Hawks own a 13-6 record on the year, 8-2 in NCHC play and enter the game having won three straight contests, a 5-3 win over St. Cloud State and a sweep of Colorado College (5-2, 4-1) on December 10-11.

Team USA is winless in 10 previous matchups with North Dakota, dating back to 2003. The last time the two sides met was on December 28, 2019 at USA Hockey Arena that saw the Fighting Hawks take a 3-1 win.

UND is led in scoring by sophomore forward Riese Gaber, who has compiled 20 points (8g-12a) in 19 games thus far on the year.

In the cage, Zach Driscoll has started 18 of 19 games and posted an impressive 12-6-0-1 record, 2.58 GAA and .893 SV%.

North Dakota will be without two familiar faces in NTDP alum defensemen Jake Sanderson and Tyler Kleven, who are playing for Team USA at the 2022 World Junior Championship in Red Deer and Alberta, Canada.

Forwards Gavin Hain and Judd Caulfield, who played at the NTDP prior to going to school, should be in the lineup for the Fighting Hawks. Hain is tied for fourth on the team with six goals while Caulfield has posted eight points.

MUSKEGON LUMBERJACKS: Muskegon is led offensively by defenseman Jacob Guevin who has accumulated 28 points (3g-25a), the most of any defenseman in the USHL. The 'Jacks also boast five forwards who have 10 or more goals in Jacob Braccini, Ben Strinden, Joey Larson, Phillip Tresca and Quinn Hutson. The five skaters in double digits is the most of any team in the league.

Russian netminder Platon Zadorozhny has appeared in 11 games for Muskegon with a 7-4-0 record, 2.98 GAA and .894 save percentage, including a shutout of the U17s on November 24 at USA Hockey Arena.

After a two-week break in game action, the U17s will travel back to Mercy Health Arena for a game on January 14 before hosting the 'Jacks for a pair in Plymouth late in the season.

MINNESOTA GOLDEN GOPHERS: The Gophers are 10-8 overall, 6-4 in Big Ten play and last played a pair of games against the University of Michigan on December 3-4, winning 5-1 before falling in the rematch, 6-2.

Forwards Ben Meyers and Blake McLaughlin are tied for the team lead with 18 points apiece on the season, while Matthew Knies, Byce Brodzinski, Sammy Walker and defenseman Ryan Johnson have all eclipsed the double-digit plateau.

Knies, along with NTDP alums Brock Faber and Chaz Lucius, will be in Canada for Team USA's World Junior Championship run. 

Minnesota has gotten superb goaltending play from senior Jack LaFontaine who has started all 18 games for the team, compiling a 10-8-0 record, 2.76 GAA and .898 save percentage on the year.