CANADA WHITE HISTORY

The U.S. National Under-17 Team most recently faced Canada White in last year’s preliminary play at the U17 Challenge where Canada White took the game, 5-2. Ty Smilanic (Elizabeth, Colo.) netted both of Team USA’s goals.

CZECH REPUBLIC RECAP

The U.S. National Team defeated the Czech Republic, 10-1 Sunday (Nov. 3) night. The U.S. went down, 1-0 before answering with 10.

Chaz Lucius (Grant, Minn.) tied the game in the first period before Team USA netted seven in the second period.

Ty Gallagher sent two into the back of the net while Tyler Boucher (Haddonfield, N.J.), Liam Gilmartin (Falls Church, Va.), Jack Hughes (Westwood, Mass.), Sean Behrens (Barrington, Ill.) and Dylan Duke (Strongsville, Ohio) each added one.

Lucius and Ryan St. Louis (Riverside, Conn.) each added one in the third for a 10-1 final.

CANADA RED RECAP

The U.S. defeated Canada Red in its lone pre-tournament game at the U17 challenge on Thursday (Oct. 31) in a shootout, 7-6. Jack Hughes (Westwood, Mass.) netted the shootout-winner. 

WORLD U17 CHALLENGE HISTORY

Team USA has competed at the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge on 25 previous occasions, including the Quebec Cup in 1990 and the Quebec Esso Cup in 1986. Combined, the U.S. has a 89-8-6-37-7 (W-OTW-OTL-L-T) record, good for first in the all-time event standings. Team USA has finished in the top three 15 times; first place in November, 2017, January 2014, 2010, 2002 and 2001; second place in November 2014, 2012, 2011, 2008, 2006, 1998 and 1996. The U.S. took third place in 2013, 2009 and 1998. Last year the U.S. finished in eighth place. 

The U.S. Under-17 Team (2003 birth year) enters the 2019 World Under-17 Challenge with an 7-7-0-0 overall record. In last year’s tournament the 2002s went 1-0-1-4-0 (W-OTW-OTL-L-T) during its 2018 run in Saint John/ Quispamsis, New Brunswick. 

The last time the tournament was in Alberta was 2005 and the U.S. went 3-1-1 and placed fifth. 

The U.S. has advanced to the championship game of the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge in six of the last 10 seasons and won five titles in the event's history (2001, 2002, 2010, January 2014, 2017). 

CAN’T STOP, WON’T STOP

U17 forward Chaz Lucius (Grant, Minn.) scored his 16th and 17th goals of the season in the U17s, 10-1 win against the Czech Republic on Sunday (Nov.3) night.. The University of Minnesota commit has averaged over a goal-per-game for the team.

COACHING STAFF AT THE CHALLENGE 

John Wroblewski (Neenah, Wis.) will lead the U.S. in the event for the second time. Joining Wroblewski will be associate coach Dan Hinote (Elk River, Minn.), and  assistant coach Mike Leone (Dearborn, Mich.). Wroblewski coached Team USA to a first place finish at the 2017 tournament. 

INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE

This tournament  will be all 22-members' first international experience. The Under-17 Team will also compete in the Under-17 Four Nations tournament in Kazan, Russia in December and the Under-17 Five Nations Tournament in Tula, Russia in February.