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GAME DAY: U17s Face Czech Republic in Final Game at World U17 Challenge

By USAHockeyNTDP.com, 11/09/18, 8:30AM EST

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Placement game set for noon local/11 a.m. ET

Quispamsis, N.B -- The U.S. National Under-17 Team will face the Czech Republic today at noon local/11 a.m. ET in its placement game at the 2018 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge at the qplex in New Brunswick.

RECAP vs CANADA RED  

The U.S. fell to Canada Red in overtime, 2-1, in its quarterfinal game Thursday night at the qplex. Dylan Peterson (Roseville, Calif.) netted a  goal 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.

RACKING UP POINTS

The U.S. National Under-17 Team is lead in points by Thomas Bordeleau (Houston, Texas) who has 13 in 17 games. Owen Gallatin (Hugo, Minn.) leads all defensemen in points with eight assists.

LEADING THE CHALLENGE

The U.S.  leads the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge tournament in most goals scored in a preliminary round with 20 in November of 2014. They also lead in fewest goals against for the tournament, allowing only six goals in January of 2014. 

Colin White leads the entire tournament history in points when he notched 18 (10G, 8A) in Jan. 2014. The U.S. hold three of the top five ranked players in tournament points, with Jack Hughes in second  with 15 and Rocco Grimaldi in fifth with 14.

Michael Lackey leads the U.S. in tournament goaltending statistics, when he recorded a 0.958 SVS% and 0.75 GAA in Jan. 2014.

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.

DATE OPPONENT RESULT U.S. PLAYER OF THE GAME
Thursday, Nov. 1 Canada Red
Pre-Tournament
L, 5-2 Jake Sanderson
Sunday, Nov. 4 Czech Republic
Preliminary
W, 5-1 Matthew Beniers
Monday, Nov. 5 Canada White
Preliminary
L, 5-2 Ty Smilanic
Tuesday, Nov. 6 Canada Black
Preliminary
L, 5-4 Brock Faber
Thursday, Nov. 8 Canada Red
Quarterfinals
L, 2-1 (OT) Drew Commesso
Friday, Nov. 9 Czech Republic
Placement
L, 2-1 Jake Sanderson

2018 Roster

Tournament History

Tournament Website

World Under-17 Hockey Challenge News