Under-17 Players Take Away Valuable Lessons from Playing in 2025 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge

USA Hockey National Team Development Program

Under-17 Players Take Away Valuable Lessons from Playing in 2025 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge

By Sean Shapiro, 12/02/25, 11:30AM EST

The U.S. went 4-0-1-0 (W-L-OTL-SOL) at the November tournament and finished in third place.

Brayden Willis

PLYMOUTH, Mich. — As part of USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program, players become accustomed to representing their country and wearing the red, white and blue Team USA jersey.

It’s a feeling that never gets old. But there’s something even more special about the first time wearing a USA jersey in international competition.

“You represent your country, you look down and you see the jersey, and you see another country on the other side,” Under-17 forward Brayden Willis (Gilbert, Ariz.) said. “That’s pretty special, it’s something you really enjoy. To be able to play and have a chance to hear your anthem at the end, it’s awesome.”

After opening their season primarily against USHL competition, the U17s made its jump into international play last month at the 2025 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge held in Truro, Nova Scotia.

2025 U17 WHC

Carter Meyer

In an eight-team field, Team USA went 4-0-1-0 (W-L-OTL-SOL) in the tournament and finished in third place after a 3-1 win against Czechia.

For the U17 players, hopping into competition at the international level provided both a rush of excitement and some perspective on what development means.

In USHL play, the U17 team is frequently playing against teams where the average age is closer to 19. It’s an eye-opening experience for players, who have been used to success throughout their careers, to jump into a schedule that is designed to test them.

“It’s true, you go from that with the USHL, you don’t have as much time and space, to playing your own age group [at the international tournament] and you see you have the space again,” forward Carter Meyer (Winchester, Mass.) said. “It kind of gives you an idea of what you are working toward, how things can all come together.”

For U17 head coach Greg Moore (Lisbon, Maine), that’s an important lesson he’s happy to hear his players are taking from the schedule gauntlet.

“It’s an opportunity where players can go from the USHL to their own age group which provides a valuable learning opportunity,” Moore said. “The big thing for us is to keep pushing their development and helping players understand the challenges.”

It’s also the start of a long building block toward one of the main goals for each player with the NTDP. Each two-year cycle ramps toward the IIHF Under-18 Men’s World Championship, which is one of the reasons NTDP coaches spend two years with an age group — to build the best possible team at the end of the U18 season.

And for the U17 team, tournaments like the one last month — and others on the schedule this season against international teams — will all build toward the U18 Men’s World Championship in 2027.

Before they get there, the U17s are embracing the challenge of this season and the schedule in front of them. It’s also been an extremely close group, building camaraderie through both the USHL and international games.

"There's nothing better than this group of guys. We're a very close group, and everyone is here for each other,” Meyer said. “Everyone has each other's back. So, it's been good to get to spend every day with these guys, play golf with them, it's been one of the best groups of guys I've ever been with."

Since then, the U17 team returned to USHL play and will host the Lincoln Stars this Saturday (Dec. 6) for its annual Teddy Bear Toss followed by skating with the team afterwards. Puck drop is set for 7:00 p.m. ET and tickets are available at USAHockeyNTDP.com/tix or by calling the box office at 734-453-8400.

The team then heads off for another international break in the Vierumaki Cup in Finland Dec. 8-14, as it’ll get international experience on home soil Feb. 2-7 when the U.S. hosts the 2026 Under-17 Five Nations Tournament at USA Hockey Arena.

Story from Red Line Editorial, Inc.