HISTORY VS. CANADA BLACK

The U.S. National Under-17 Team came from behind scoring four third period goals, to defeat Canada Black, 5-4 in its last preliminary game of the 2017 World Under-17 Challenge. Cole Caufield scored twice in the victory.

RECAP VS. CANADA WHITE

The U.S. National Under-17 Team fell to Canada White, 5-2, in its second preliminary game. Ty Smilanic (Elizabeth, Colo.) netted two goals in the loss.

USA vs CZECH REPUBLIC RECAP

Hunter Strand (Anchorage, Alaska) and Landon Slaggert (South Bend, Ind.) each tallied a goal and an assist as the U.S. National Under-17 Team defeated the Czech Republic, 5-1, in its first preliminary game at the 2018 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge at Harbour Station in New Brunswick. Dylan Peterson (Roseville, Calif.), Luke Tuch (E. Greenwich, R.I.), and Matthew Beniers (Hingham, Mass.) also recorded goals in the victory. Matt Beniers (Hingham, Mass.) was named U.S. Player of the Game.

EXHIBITION vs CANADA RED RECAP 

The U.S. fell to Canada Red, 5-2 Thursday night in its exhibition game. Daniyal Dzhaniyev (Brooklyn, N.Y.) and Eamon Powell (Marcellus, N.Y.) netted goals in the loss.

WORLD U17 CHALLENGE HISTORY

The U17s have won the World Under-17 Challenge five times since 2001, last winning victory coming in 2017. During that tournament, the U.S. Under-17 Team went 7-0-0-0 in Dawson Creek, British Columbia. The U17s finished in seventh place in its last tournament held in New Brunswick in 1995 with a 2-2-1 overall record. Team USA has finished in the top three 15 times; first place in November 2017, 2014, 2010, 2002 and 2001; second place in November 2014, 2012, 2011, 2008, 2006, 1998 and 1996. 

Last year, and Hughes led Team USA in points for the tournament with 15, and Cole Caufield (Stevens Point, Wis.) led the U.S. in goals with eight. Both were also named to the media all-star team.

COACHING STAFF AT THE CHALLENGE 

Seth Appert (Cottage Grove, Minn.) will lead the U.S. National Under-17 Team along with associate coach Nick Fohr (Grand Forks, N.D.), intern assistant coach Jared Nightingale (Jackson, Mich.) and goaltending coach Thomas Speer (Janesville, Wis.).

INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE

Twenty members of the U.S. National Under-17 Team players are in Saint John, New Brunswick to compete in the World Under-17 Challenge, their first international tournament play with the NTDP.  The U.S. National Under-17 Team will return to international play once again when USA Hockey Arena hosts the 2018 Four Nations Cup Dec. 11-15.