The U.S. National Under-17 and Under-18 Teams will both be in action this week. The U17s play a two-game United States Hockey League series while the U18s head out on the road for a pair of college contests.

HERE COME THE BUCCANEERS: The U17s return to the Ann Arbor Ice Cube for a pair of games against the Des Moines Buccaneers on Saturday and Sunday. Saturday’s game begins at 7 p.m. ET, followed by a 3:30 p.m. contest on Sunday.

The U17s swept a two-game series against the Minnesota Elite League last weekend, beating Team Southeast 8-2 on Saturday and Team Southwest 11-1 on Sunday.

Clayton Keller (Swansea, Ill.) registered two goals in the win over Southeast. Graham McPhee (Bethesda, Md.), William Lockwood (Bloomfield Hills, Mich.), Keeghan Howdeshell (Brighton, Mich.), Keenan Suthers (Macomb, Mich.), Max Jones (Rochester, Mich.), and Matthew Hellickson (Rogers, Minn.) added single tallies. Joseph Woll (Dardenne Prairie, Mo.) stopped 27 shots to earn the win.

Patrick Khodorenko (Walnut Creek, Calif./1-3) and James Sanchez (Northbrook, Ill./2-2) paced the offensive attack with four points each in the 11-1 win. Clayton Keller (Swansea, Ill.) and Nick Pastujov (Bradenton, Fla.) also tallied a pair of goals. Joey Anderson (Roseville, Minn.), Trent Frederic (St. Louis, Mo.), Jones and Chad Krys (Ridgefield, Conn.) posted single tallies. Jake Oettinger (Lakeville, Minn.) kicked out 22 shots for his first career victory.

“Especially with the World U17 Challenge coming up, it was nice to be rewarded and see our work on the ice pay off with two wins this weekend,” head coach Danton Cole said. “It was nice to see the players understand what happens when they do things right. It was good to have success and, hopefully, we can find that balance as we get ready for two USHL games. Hopefully, this weekend can serve as that springboard.”

HEADING EAST: The U18s head out on the road for two college contests this week. The squad will head to Providence, Rhode Island, to face No.-5 ranked Providence College on Thursday. Two days later, Team USA will play at No. 13-ranked Boston University.

“We know how difficult it can be to win on the road, especially against college opponents,” said head coach Don Granato, whose squad carries an 8-2 record into this week. “We will continue to work on the little details and look to improve each game. We will be a little shorthanded this weekend, so it will be important for our players to step up.”

The U18s split a pair of games last week, falling 7-4 at then-ranked No. 9 University of Michigan on Oct. 6 before rebounding with a 6-3 win over the USHL's Youngstown Phantoms on Friday.

Matthew Tkachuk (St. Louis, Mo.), Colin White (Hanover, Mass.), Tage Thompson (Oyster Bay, N.Y) and Auston Matthews (Scottsdale, Ariz.) registered goals in the loss to Michigan. Luke Opilka (St. Louis, Mo.) kicked out 34 shots between the pipes.

Jeremy Bracco (Freeport, N.Y.) scored a pair of goals while Luke Kunin (Chesterfield, Mo.), Charles McAvoy (Long Beach, N.Y.), Thompson and Brendan Warren (Carleton, Mich.) had single tallies against Youngstown. Michael Lackey (Washington, D.C.) stopped 30 shots for the win.

Tickets for home games played at the Ann Arbor Ice Cube are $7 for adults and $5 for children, seniors and active military members. Youth hockey players wearing their team jerseys are admitted for $1 and group rates are available. Tickets can be purchased at the door or by calling the NTDP at (734) 327-9251.

A total of 51 NTDP alumni were on National Hockey League opening-day rosters:

• Anaheim (5)
  • Emerson Etem (Long Beach, Calif./2008-09)
  • Cam Fowler (Farmington Hills, Mich./2007-09)
  • John Gibson (Pittsburgh, Pa./2009-11)
  • Ryan Kesler (Livonia, Mich./2000-02)
  • Kyle Palmieri (Montvale, N.J./2007-09)
• Arizona (2)
  • Connor Murphy (Dublin, Ohio/2009-11)
  • Chris Summers (Milan, Mich./2004-06)
• Buffalo (1)
  • Jake McCabe** (Eau Claire, Wis./2009-11)
• Carolina (4)
  • Justin Faulk (South St. Paul, Minn./2008-10)
  • Nathan Gerbe (Oxford, Mich./2003-05)
  • Ron Hainsey (Bolton, Conn./1997-99)
  • John-Michael Liles (Zionsville, Ind./2007-09)
• Chicago (3)
  • Patrick Kane (Buffalo, N.Y./2004-06)
  • Jeremy Morin (Auburn, N.Y./2007-09)
  • Brandon Saad (Gibsonia, Pa./2009-10)
• Colorado (1)
  • Erik Johnson (Bloomington, Minn./2004-06)
• Columbus (3)
  • Nick Foligno (Hummelstown, Pa./2003-04)
  • Jack Johnson (Faribault, Minn./2003-05)
  • Jack Skille (Madison, Wis./2003-05)
• Dallas (1)
  • Patrick Eaves (Faribault, Minn./2000-02)
• Detroit (1)
  • Jimmy Howard (Ogdensburg, N.Y./2001-02)
• Florida (3)
  • Jimmy Hayes (Dorchester, Mass./2006-08)
  • Al Montoya (Glenview, Ill./2001-02)
  • Drew Shore (Denver, Colo./2007-09)
• Los Angeles (1)
  • Matt Greene (Grand Ledge, Mich./2000-01)
• Minnesota (3)
  • Keith Ballard (Baudette, Minn./1999-00)
  • Ryan Suter (Madison, Wis./2001-03)
  • Jason Zucker (Las Vegas, Nev./2008-10)
• Montreal (1)
  • Jarred Tinordi (Millersville, Md./2008-10)
• Nashville (3)
  • Seth Jones (Plano, Texas/2010-12)
  • Eric Nystrom (Syosset, N.Y./1999-01)
  • Colin Wilson (Greenwich, Conn./2005-07)
• New Jersey (2)
  • Stephen Gionta (Rochester, N.Y./2000-02)
  • Jon Merrill (Brighton, Mich/2008-10)
• New York Islanders (1)
  • Brian Strait (Waltham, Mass./2004-06)
• New York Rangers (2)
  • Matt Hunwick (Roseville, Mich./2001-03)
  • J.T. Miller (East Palestine, Ohio/2009-11)
• Philadelphia (1)
  • R.J. Umberger (Pittsburgh, Pa./1998-00)
• San Jose (2)
  • Mike Brown (Northbrook, Ill./2001-03)
  • Matt Nieto (Long Beach, Calif./2008-10)
• St. Louis (3)
  • Ian Cole (Ann Arbor, Mich./2005-07)
  • Jordan Leopold (Golden Valley, Minn./1997-98)
  • Kevin Shattenkirk (New Rochelle, N.Y./2005-07)
• Tampa Bay (1)
  • Matt Carle (Anchorage, Alaska/2000-02)
• Toronto (3)
  • David Booth** (Washington, Mich./2001-02)
  • Phil Kessel (Madison, Wis./2003-05)
  • James van Riemsdyk (Middletown, N.J./2005-07)
• Washington (1)
  • Chris Brown (Flower Mound, Texas/2007-09)
• Winnipeg (1)
  • Mark Stuart (Rochester, Minn./2000-02)
  • Jacob Trouba (Rochester, Mich./2010-12)

 (**Injured Reserve)

• Jeremy Bracco was named CCM Forward of the Week for the third week of the 2014-15 USHL regular season. In one game the forward posted four points (2-2) and was plus-3 in a 6-3 win over the visiting Youngstown Phantoms on Friday, Oct. 10.
• Six former NTDP players are on Boston University’s roster: defensemen Brandon Fortunato (North Hills, N.Y./2012-14), Matt Grzelcyk (Charlestown, Mass./2010-12) and Johnathan MacLeod (Dracut, Mass./2012-14) along with forwards Jack Eichel (North Chelmsford, Mass./2012-14), Matt Lane (Rochester, N.Y./2010-12) and Nikolas Olsson (Escondido, Calif./2010-12). Grzelcyk is BU’s team captain.
• Second-year BU coach David Quinn spent two years coaching with the National Team Development Program (2002-04).
• The U18s are paced by Jeremy Bracco (6-13), who has accumulated 19 points in 10 games. Matthew Tkachuk (9-6) and Auston Matthews (4-11) are tied for second with 15 points. Rounding out the top-five are Christian Fischer (Wayne, Ill./5-5) and Colin White (5-5) with 10 points apiece.
• In goal for the U18s, Michael Lackey and Luke Opilka split time. Opilka is 5-1 with a 2.17 goals-against average and a .919 save percentage. Lackey is 3-1 with a 3.77 GAA and an .861 save percentage.
• The U17s are led by Clayton Keller (6-3) with nine points. Chad Krys (1-5) is second with six points and Joey Anderson (2-3), James Sanchez (2-3), Trent Frederic (1-4) and Graham McPhee (1-4) all sit in a four-way tie for third with five points each.
• In goal for the U17s, Jake Oettinger and Joseph Woll have split time. Woll is 1-2 with a 2.59 GAA and a .914 save percentage. Oettinger also is 1-2 with a 4.00 GAA and an .878 save percentage.

Story from Red Line Editorial, Inc.