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U18s Set for Mixed Weekend; U17s Travel to Alaska

By usahockeyntdp.com, 12/01/16, 10:45AM EST

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Photo by Rena Laverty

Matchup Preview

BENDING THE STEEL: The Steel come into the weekend at 14-4-1-1, good for first place in the Eastern Conference of the United States Hockey League. Chicago has been near the top of the USHL overall standings all season. The Steel won its first 10 games to start the season, allowing three goals just once during the ten-game winning streak.

Goaltenders Tommy Nappier (1.87 goals against, .929 save percentage) and Ales Stezka (2.19, .920, three shutouts) have split time in net for Chicago.

Up front, veteran center Jake Jaremko (5 goals, 10 assists, league leading +18), leading scorer Reggie Lutz (8-10-18), Walker Duehr (11-6-17) and Johnny Walker (10-3-13) have led the Steel offense during their fast start.

Last Saturday, Chicago acquired veteran defenseman Derek Daschke from Muskegon in exchange for import forward Mikael Hakkarainen. Daschke – a Western Michigan commit – made his Chicago debut last Saturday in a 3-1 loss to Dubuque.

STOPPING SPARTY: Following their matchup with the Steel, the U18s travel to East Lansing, Michigan, to take on Michigan State University at 3 p.m. ET on Sunday at Munn Ice Arena.

Michigan State comes into Sunday's game with a 4-6-1 record. They have yet to play a Big Ten Conference game this season.

The Spartans are coming off a road trip last weekend to Grand Forks, North Dakota, where they faced the fifth-ranked University of North Dakota. They defeated the defending NCAA Division I National Champions 4-3 on Friday (Nov. 25) before skating to a 2-2 tie on Saturday (Nov. 26) night.

Sophomore forward Mason Appleton has led the Spartan attack this season, averaging a point-per-game in Michigan State's first 11 games. The Green Bay, Wisconsin, native and Winnipeg Jets draft pick has recorded five goals and six assists. 

Junior defenseman and Muskegon Lumberjacks (USHL) alum Carson Gatt leads the Michigan State defense with a +4 rating through nine games this season.

NTDP alum Ed Minney (2012-14) has earned a 4-3-1 record in nine appearances, posting a 2.89 goals-against-average and .892 save-percentage for the Spartans. 

TRAVELING TO FAIRBANKS: The U17s travel to Fairbanks, Alaska, for a pair of North American Hockey League matchups with the Fairbanks Ice Dogs on Friday and Saturday night at the Bigger Dipper Ice Arena. 

Both matchups will begin at 11:30 p.m. ET. 

The Ice Dogs come into the weekend with a record of 7-14-2 and are 0-9-01 in their last ten games. 

The are led offensively by Hampus Eriksson who has collected 16 points (3-13-16) in 23 games this season.

CJ Boothe (3-5-2-1, 2.75 goals-against-average) and Joshua Sarlo (3-5-0-0, 3.21 goals-against-average) have split time in net this season.

Notebook

DEFENSEMAN OF THE WEEK: U.S. National Under-18 Team defenseman Quinn Hughes (Orlando, Fla.) was named the CCM/USHL Defenseman of the Week following a five assist performance in Team USA's 8-5 victory against Muskegon on Thanksgiving Eve, the United States Hockey League announced Monday evening. Four of the University of Michigan commit's five assists were the primary assist on the plays.

MICHIGAN STATE CONNECTION: Twenty-two NTDP alums have suited up for Michigan State over the 20-year history of the program, including NHL players David Booth (2001-02), Adam Hall (1997-98), John-Michael Liles (1997-99).

The Spartans currently have three NTDP alums on their roster: Patrick Khodorako (2014-16), Ed Minney (2012-14) and Dylan Pavelek (2012-14). 

Earlier this month, U18 defenseman Tommy Miller (West Bloomfield, Mich.) signed his National Letter of Intent to play for the Spartans starting in 2017-18.

WINNING STREAK: The U.S. National Under-18 Team is currently enjoying a four game winning streak, their longest of the season. Following an 8-3 victory against Adrian College on Saturday, Nov. 19, the U18s swept its matchups last week against Musekgon (8-5), St. Thomas University (6-3) and University of Wisconsin Stevens-Point (3-1). They have outscored their opponents 25-12 during the streak.

TEDDY BEAR TOSS: The U18s will host the NTDP annual Teddy Bear Toss Game during Saturday's contest with the Chicago Steel.

The first time the U18s score Saturday, fans are encouraged to throw new stuffed toys on the ice. The NTDP – with the help of event sponsor Orin Jewelers – will donate the toys to the Plymouth Community United Way.

Fans have the option of purchasing the stuffed toys Saturday at USA Hockey Arena for a donation of $5.

For every stuffed animal bought or donated, fans will earn a chance to win a party suite for 20 and $100 food credit for the suite during the 2016-17 regular season.

Tickets to the game are available at the USA Hockey Arena box office located at 14900 Beck Road in Plymouth, Michigan, by calling (734) 453-8400, or visiting USAHockeyArena.com.

NTDP BORADCASTS: CN-900 television – part of the Xfinity/Comcast system – shows NTDP broadcasts at 6 p.m. ET Sunday and 9 p.m. ET Monday. In addition, we’ll have an audio broadcast tomorrow on the NTDP YouTube page when the U18s play at Michigan State. Broadcast time is 3 p.m. ET on Sunday from Munn Arena in East Lansing.

WINTER CHAMPIONS SERIES AT USA HOCKEY ARENA: The Team USA Winter Champions Series comes to USA Hockey Arena at 4:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, Dec. 17, when the U.S. Women’s National Team hosts the Canadian Women’s National Team. Tickets are available at the USA Hockey Arena box office or by calling (734) 453-6400.

The Team USA Winter Champions Series serves as a precursor to the 2017 International Ice Hockey Federation Women's World Championship, to be held at USA Hockey Arena from April 1-8.

NTDP Headlines

NTDP Notebook Team USA

Matchup Information

Under-17

Friday @ Fairbanks Ice Dogs

Puck Drop:11:30 p.m. ET

HockeyTv.com

Friday @ Fairbanks Ice Dogs

Puck Drop:11:30 p.m. ET

HockeyTv.com

Under-18

Saturday vs. Chicago Steel

Puck Drop: 7 p.m. ET

HockeyTV.com

Live Stats

Tickets

Sunday @ Michigan State University

Puck Drop: 3 p.m. ET

BTN2Go (Paid Stream)

Live Stats

NTDP Audio Broadcast (Pete Krupsky)

Follow the NTDP

Leaderboard


Photo by Rena Laverty

Matchup Preview

BENDING THE STEEL: The Steel come into the weekend at 14-4-1-1, good for first place in the Eastern Conference of the United States Hockey League. Chicago has been near the top of the USHL overall standings all season. The Steel won its first 10 games to start the season, allowing three goals just once during the ten-game winning streak.

Goaltenders Tommy Nappier (1.87 goals against, .929 save percentage) and Ales Stezka (2.19, .920, three shutouts) have split time in net for Chicago.

Up front, veteran center Jake Jaremko (5 goals, 10 assists, league leading +18), leading scorer Reggie Lutz (8-10-18), Walker Duehr (11-6-17) and Johnny Walker (10-3-13) have led the Steel offense during their fast start.

Last Saturday, Chicago acquired veteran defenseman Derek Daschke from Muskegon in exchange for import forward Mikael Hakkarainen. Daschke – a Western Michigan commit – made his Chicago debut last Saturday in a 3-1 loss to Dubuque.

STOPPING SPARTY: Following their matchup with the Steel, the U18s travel to East Lansing, Michigan, to take on Michigan State University at 3 p.m. ET on Sunday at Munn Ice Arena.

Michigan State comes into Sunday's game with a 4-6-1 record. They have yet to play a Big Ten Conference game this season.

The Spartans are coming off a road trip last weekend to Grand Forks, North Dakota, where they faced the fifth-ranked University of North Dakota. They defeated the defending NCAA Division I National Champions 4-3 on Friday (Nov. 25) before skating to a 2-2 tie on Saturday (Nov. 26) night.

Sophomore forward Mason Appleton has led the Spartan attack this season, averaging a point-per-game in Michigan State's first 11 games. The Green Bay, Wisconsin, native and Winnipeg Jets draft pick has recorded five goals and six assists. 

Junior defenseman and Muskegon Lumberjacks (USHL) alum Carson Gatt leads the Michigan State defense with a +4 rating through nine games this season.

NTDP alum Ed Minney (2012-14) has earned a 4-3-1 record in nine appearances, posting a 2.89 goals-against-average and .892 save-percentage for the Spartans. 

TRAVELING TO FAIRBANKS: The U17s travel to Fairbanks, Alaska, for a pair of North American Hockey League matchups with the Fairbanks Ice Dogs on Friday and Saturday night at the Bigger Dipper Ice Arena. 

Both matchups will begin at 11:30 p.m. ET. 

The Ice Dogs come into the weekend with a record of 7-14-2 and are 0-9-01 in their last ten games. 

The are led offensively by Hampus Eriksson who has collected 16 points (3-13-16) in 23 games this season.

CJ Boothe (3-5-2-1, 2.75 goals-against-average) and Joshua Sarlo (3-5-0-0, 3.21 goals-against-average) have split time in net this season.

Notebook

DEFENSEMAN OF THE WEEK: U.S. National Under-18 Team defenseman Quinn Hughes (Orlando, Fla.) was named the CCM/USHL Defenseman of the Week following a five assist performance in Team USA's 8-5 victory against Muskegon on Thanksgiving Eve, the United States Hockey League announced Monday evening. Four of the University of Michigan commit's five assists were the primary assist on the plays.

MICHIGAN STATE CONNECTION: Twenty-two NTDP alums have suited up for Michigan State over the 20-year history of the program, including NHL players David Booth (2001-02), Adam Hall (1997-98), John-Michael Liles (1997-99).

The Spartans currently have three NTDP alums on their roster: Patrick Khodorako (2014-16), Ed Minney (2012-14) and Dylan Pavelek (2012-14). 

Earlier this month, U18 defenseman Tommy Miller (West Bloomfield, Mich.) signed his National Letter of Intent to play for the Spartans starting in 2017-18.

WINNING STREAK: The U.S. National Under-18 Team is currently enjoying a four game winning streak, their longest of the season. Following an 8-3 victory against Adrian College on Saturday, Nov. 19, the U18s swept its matchups last week against Musekgon (8-5), St. Thomas University (6-3) and University of Wisconsin Stevens-Point (3-1). They have outscored their opponents 25-12 during the streak.

TEDDY BEAR TOSS: The U18s will host the NTDP annual Teddy Bear Toss Game during Saturday's contest with the Chicago Steel.

The first time the U18s score Saturday, fans are encouraged to throw new stuffed toys on the ice. The NTDP – with the help of event sponsor Orin Jewelers – will donate the toys to the Plymouth Community United Way.

Fans have the option of purchasing the stuffed toys Saturday at USA Hockey Arena for a donation of $5.

For every stuffed animal bought or donated, fans will earn a chance to win a party suite for 20 and $100 food credit for the suite during the 2016-17 regular season.

Tickets to the game are available at the USA Hockey Arena box office located at 14900 Beck Road in Plymouth, Michigan, by calling (734) 453-8400, or visiting USAHockeyArena.com.

NTDP BORADCASTS: CN-900 television – part of the Xfinity/Comcast system – shows NTDP broadcasts at 6 p.m. ET Sunday and 9 p.m. ET Monday. In addition, we’ll have an audio broadcast tomorrow on the NTDP YouTube page when the U18s play at Michigan State. Broadcast time is 3 p.m. ET on Sunday from Munn Arena in East Lansing.

WINTER CHAMPIONS SERIES AT USA HOCKEY ARENA: The Team USA Winter Champions Series comes to USA Hockey Arena at 4:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, Dec. 17, when the U.S. Women’s National Team hosts the Canadian Women’s National Team. Tickets are available at the USA Hockey Arena box office or by calling (734) 453-6400.

The Team USA Winter Champions Series serves as a precursor to the 2017 International Ice Hockey Federation Women's World Championship, to be held at USA Hockey Arena from April 1-8.

NTDP Headlines