Both National Team Development Program squads will see game action this week. The U.S. National Under-18 Team heads to Russia for an exhibition contest before starting the International Ice Hockey Federation Men’s World Under-18 Championship. Meanwhile, the U.S. National Under-17 team closes out the season with a pair of United States Hockey League road games.

OFF TO WORLDS: Coming off a bye week, the U18s head out on Tuesday (April 9) for the 2013 IIHF Men’s World Under-18 Championship in Sochi, Russia, where the 2014 Olympic Winter Games will be held. Team USA will be gunning for its eighth gold medal, including its fifth straight, at the event.

Team USA will play Canada in an exhibition contest on Sunday (April 14) before opening preliminary action against host Russia on Thursday (April 18).

“This is going to be a long trip to Russia and it will be important for our team to get rest, stay hydrated and get adjusted to the time difference,” U18 head coach Don Granato said. “Once we land in Sochi, our schedule is going to allow several days of practice and an exhibition contest before we open the tournament against a difficult opponent in Russia.

“We are very excited to be a test run for the 2014 Winter Olympics at the venues in Sochi. This is going to be a special treat for our players and staff.”

FINAL WEEKEND FOR U17 TEAM: After losing a pair of USHL contests last week, the U17s close out their 2012-13 schedule with two more games on the road. The squad heads to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, to face the RoughRiders on Friday (April 12) and Saturday (April 13).

“There have been some things we have done better, and we have played a pretty solid 60 minutes the last few nights,” U17 head coach Danton Cole said.  “We would like to get over the hump. I think for this summer to get a win or even two wins would be great for the guys and a reward for them for their efforts.

“The USHL is a good league and it makes us pay when we make mistakes. Offensively, we need to continue to put pucks on net, and that is when we have success. Sometimes we get a little too picky. We need to keep shooting the puck and banging for rebounds. We will keep working and, hopefully, we can get a win or two this weekend.”

Ryan Hitchcock (Manhasset, N.Y.) potted a pair of goals as the U17s dropped a 5-2 decision to Youngstown on Friday (April 5) to close out their home schedule. Blake Weyrick (Ojai, Calif.) and Hunter Miska (North Branch, Minn.) combined in net for 19 saves.

In a 3-2 loss at Indiana on Saturday (April 6), Nolan Stevens (Manhattan Beach, Calif.) and Anders Bjork (Mequon, Wis.) provided the offense. Miska stopped 23 shots between the pipes.

NOTEBOOK
• Eight more players have committed to join USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program for the 2013-14 season. They are forwards Jeremy Bracco (Freeport, N.Y.), Luke Kunin (Chesterfield, Mo.), Auston Matthews (Scottsdale, Ariz.), Jack Roslovic (Columbus, Ohio) and Colin White (Hanover, Mass.), along with defensemen Caleb Jones (Frisco, Texas) and Charles McAvoy (Long Island, N.Y.) and goaltender Luke Opilka (St. Louis, Mo.). The players, all from the 1997 birth year, will compete as members of the U.S. National Under-17 Team.

• Caleb Jones is the younger brother of former NTDP defenseman Seth Jones (Plano, Texas/2010-12). Seth won a gold medal with Team USA at the 2013 IIHF World Junior Championship in Ufa, Russia. In addition, Seth helped Team USA capture back-to-back gold medals at the World Under-18 Championship in 2011 and 2012.

• Several former NTDP players have signed professional contracts. Defenseman Jacob Trouba (Rochester, Mich./2010-12) signed with the Winnipeg Jets after his first year with the Michigan Wolverines while his teammate, junior blueliner Jon Merrill (Brighton, Mich./2008-10), signed with the New Jersey Devils.

North Dakota junior defenseman Derek Forbort (Duluth, Minn./2009-10) inked a deal with the Los Angeles Kings, who drafted him in the first round (No. 15 overall) in 2010. Junior forward Matt Nieto (Long Beach, Calif./2008-10), who played at Boston University, singed with the San Jose Sharks.

• Three members of the Team USA have experience at the World Under-18 Championships. Will Butcher (Sun Prairie, Wis.), J.T. Compher (Northbrook, Ill.) and Anthony Louis (Winfield, Ill.) won gold medals as underage players at the 2012 event last year. Compher tallied five points (2-3) in six games last year while Louis had one assist in six games and Butcher skated in all six games.

• The U18s closed out the regular season winning nine of their final 10 contests to finish the regular season with a 38-14-3-4 (W-L-OTL-T) mark.

• Heading into the World Championship, the U18s are paced by Tyler Kelleher (Longmeadow, Mass./22-24) who has totaled 46 points while Anthony Louis (18-25) ranks second with 43 points. Evan Allen (Sterling Heights, Mich./18-24) and J.T. Compher (15-27) are tied for third with 42 points each. Tyler Motte (St. Clair, Mich./21-15) rounds out the top-five with 36 points.

• In goal for the U18s, Thatcher Demko (San Diego, Calif.) has posted a 26-6-0-3 record along with a 2.07 goals-against average and a .912 save percentage.

• Team USA carries a combined 21-36-5 (W-L-OTL) record in USHL action.

• Heading into this weekend, the U17s are 15-35-4 (W-L-OTL). The squad has dropped 12 straight contests.

• The U17s are paced by Sonny Milano (Massapequa, N.Y./19-27), who has compiled 46 points in 54 contests. Jack Eichel (North Chelmsford, Mass./19-15), who is currently playing for the U18s, ranks second with 34 points. Ryan Hitchcock (14-18) ranks third with 32 points while Chris Wilkie (Omaha, Neb./13-18) sits fourth with 31 points. Dylan Larkin (Waterford, Mich./12-14) is fifth with 26 points while Ryan MacInnis (St. Louis, Mo./15-10) and Alex Tuch (Baldwinsville, N.Y./10-15) are tied for sixth with 25 points each.

• In goal for the U17s, Edwin Minney (Wind Gap, Pa.) has played in 33 games, posting a 8-19-3 record with a 4.19 GAA and an .889 save percentage.

Story from Red Line Editorial, Inc.