PLYMOUTH, Mich. - Andrew O'Neill (Fargo, N.D.), Charlie Trethewey (Woodbine, Md.) and Landon Hafele (Fairbanks, Alaska) all found the back of the net while Joey Slavick (Westland, Mich.) earned his first career NTDP shutout as the U.S. National Under-18 Team shut out the Youngstown Phantoms in their first action of the 2024-25 campaign. 

With a little more than four minutes to play in the frame, the U18s got another great look as Will Moore (Ithaca, N.Y.) found Conrad Fondrk (White Bear Lake, Minn.) on the back door, but Strahl slid over to keep it a one-goal game into the first break.

The middle frame went without a score thanks in large part to a big stop from Slavick early in the period. He stoned a Brecken Smith wraparound attempt, stuffing the shot with the left pad to keep the Phantoms off the scoreboard. 

On a U.S. power play later in the period, Donny Bracco (Freeport, N.Y.) set up Hafele in the slot for a one-timer, but the forward boomed his shot over the cage and off the glass.

Early in the third period, Trethewey doubled the U.S. advantage on the power play. LJ Mooney (West Mifflin, Pa.) used some fancy stickwork through a pair of Youngstown defenders and found Trethewey stationed at the right circle. He fired short-side to put the U18s up 2-0. 

Hafele added an empty-net tally to push the final to 3-0 in favor of the Under-18 Team.

Slavick shut the door on the Phantoms to earn his first career NTDP shutout. 

The two sides finish the home-and-home preseason set tomorrow night back at USA Hockey Arena for the 7th annual 'Play With Purpose' charity game on the Mitchel Kiefer Memorial Rink. Puck drop is set for 6:00 p.m. ET and tickets are available by calling the USA Hockey Arena box office at 734-453-8400.