Both National Team Development Program squads will be in action this week for a combined four United States Hockey League games. The U.S. National Under-17 Team hosts two games at the USA Hockey Arena while the Under-18 squad plays two road games. Team USA is a combined 5-3-1 (W-L-OTL) in USHL play this season.
BACK FROM THE BYE: Following a bye week, the U17s return home for a two-game series against the Fargo Force on Friday and Saturday. Face-off is set for 7 p.m. both nights.
“It will be nice to get back into game action this weekend,” said U17 coach Don Granato, whose squad has been off since Nov. 6. “Our break came at a well-needed time for our squad, and many of our players were able to go home last weekend and spend time with their family. We will be back on the ice this week, getting ready for two games against a tough opponent.”
BACK ON THE ROAD: The U18s play at the Omaha Lancers on Friday before facing the Buccaneers in Des Moines on Saturday. Start time for both games is 8:05 p.m. ET.
“We are ready for a good test,” U18 coach Danton Cole said. “It’s definitely a difficult challenge when we head out west with our travel. I also think it is good for us, as we still have things we need to work on. The effort has been there, but there are still things we can do to get better.”
The U18s swept a pair of home games this weekend, beating Youngstown 3-0 on Friday and Niagara University 3-2 in overtime on Saturday. They have now won nine straight.
Jake Oettinger (Lakeville, Minn.) earned his first shutout of the season when he stopped 20 shots against the Phantoms. Luke Martin (St. Louis, Mo.), Clayton Keller (Swansea, Ill.) and Joey Anderson (Roseville, Minn.) tallied the goals.
Keller netted the game winner just 1:37 into the extra session against Niagara. Kieffer Bellows (Edina, Minn.) and Trent Frederic (St. Louis, Mo.) notched the goals in regulation. Goalie Joseph Woll (St. Louis, Mo.) kicked out 28 shots to earn the win.
“With this group, everyone seems to buy in when this team wins,” Cole said. “When things are going well, our players embrace their role on the team. They do a good job on defense, or come in on the penalty kill, or find that role they need to fill. Our guys have bought into it. It’s been fun in practice and in games to watch the development.”
Upcoming Games
NTDP News & Features
U17s Shut Out by Youngstown, 3-0
- By usahockeyntdp.com 04/08/2017, 9:45pm EDT
U18s Defeat Madison Capitols, 4-1
- By usahockeyntdp.com 11/12/2016, 9:00pm EST
NTDP Alumni in the News at NJEC
- By usahockey.com 08/08/2016, 12:45pm EDT
NTDP Announces 2016-17 U18 Schedule
- By usahockey.com 07/29/2016, 1:45pm EDT
Notebook
- Former NTDP and current Harvard University goalie Michael Lackey (Washington, D.C./2013-15) earned ECAC Rookie of the Week honors on Nov. 10. Lackey helped the Crimson go 1-0-1 (W-L-T) against Yale University and Brown University. His 5-2 win over Brown on Nov. 7 was his first collegiate victory. Lackey stopped 54 of 58 shots for a .931 save percentage and 1.92 goals-against average for the weekend.
- For a second straight week, University of Denver defenseman Will Butcher (Sun Prairie, Wis./2011-13) earned National Collegiate Hockey Conference Defenseman of the Week honors. Butcher recorded one goal and four points in DU’s two-game sweep of Colorado College on Nov. 6-7.
- Two former NTDP players earned Hockey East weekly honors on Nov. 9. Boston College goaltender Thatcher Demko (San Diego, Calif./2012-13) earned Player of the Week accolades while Boston University defenseman Matt Grzelcyk (Charlestown, Mass./2010-12) was the Defensive Player of the Week. Demko posted back-to-back shutouts against the University of Maine (3-0 and 2-0). Meanwhile, Grzelcyk tallied two goals and three points in BU’s two-game sweep of Northeastern University.
- The U17s carry an 8-6-4 (W-L-OTL) overall record into this weekend’s action.
- Scott Reedy (Prior Lake, Minn./9-10) leads the U17s with 19 points. Evan Barratt (Bristol, Pa./7-9) is second with 16 points, while Josh Norris (Oxford, Mich./7-6) sits third with 13 points. Grant Mismash (Edina, Minn./6-6) is fourth with 12 points and Logan Hutsko (North Caldwell, N.J./2-9) ranks fifth with 11 points.
- In goal for the U17s, Dylan St. Cyr (Northville, Mich.) and Adam Scheel (Lakewood, Ohio) split time. St. Cyr is 4-5-2 with a 3.49 GAA and an .878 save percentage. Scheel is 4-1-2 with a 3.84 GAA and an .893 save percentage.
- The U18s carry a 14-3-1 (W-L-T) mark into this week’s action, including a 11-0-1 record in their last 12 games.
- Clayton Keller (13-22) continues to pace the U18s with 35 points while Kieffer Bellows (16-8) ranks second with 24 points. Adam Fox (Jericho, N.Y./1-17) is third with 18 points, and Chad Krys (Ridgefield, Conn./1-13) sits fourth with 14 points. Joey Anderson (5-8) rounds out the top five with 13 points.
- Jake Oettinger and Joseph Woll split time in goal for the U18s. Oettinger is 8-3 with a 2.36 GAA and a .900 save percentage. Woll is 6-0-1 with a 1.89 GAA and a .921 save percentage.
Story from Red Line Editorial, Inc.