THIS WEEK: The U.S. National Under-17 Team will take on United States Hockey League West Division opponent Sioux City Musketeers at home Friday at 7:05 p.m. EDT. On Saturday, the Under-17 team will travel to Indianapolis, Ind., to meet defending Clark Cup champion Indiana Ice at 7:05 p.m. EDT at the Pepsi Coliseum ... The U.S. National Under-18 Team will take on its fourth NCAA Division I opponent Friday night when it meets Bowling Green State University on the road at 7:05 p.m. EDT. On Saturday, the Under-18 squad will return home to the Ann Arbor Ice Cube for a 7:05 p.m. tilt against Sioux City.UNDER-18 HEAD COACH KURT KLEINENDORST: Kurt Kleinendorst is in his first season at the NTDP. Prior to coming to Ann Arbor, Kleinendorst spent three seasons (2006-09) as the first-ever head coach for the American Hockey League's Lowell Devils, top minor-league affiliate of the New Jersey Devils. Kleinendorst also spent one season as an assistant coach with the NHL's Devils in 2000-01. He has led the U.S. National Under-18 Team to a 2-4-0-1 (W-L-T-OTL) record this season.
UNDER-17 HEAD COACH RON ROLSTON: Ron Rolston is in his sixth season as a head coach at the NTDP. Rolston has compiled a career record of 195-115-7-16 (W-L-T-OTL).
U.S. NAT'L U18 TEAM NOTES: The U.S. National Under-18 Team is coming off a weekend sweep at the hands of No. 12 Boston College (3-6) and No. 2 Boston University (2-3). Team USA has played nationally ranked opponents in its last three games, including the last two NCAA Division I national champions ... Brandon Saad (Gibsonia, Pa.) has continued his consistent point production despite taking on some of the top teams in college hockey. Saad leads Team USA with seven points (3-4) in seven games ... Jon Merrill (Brighton, Mich.) is second in points for the U18s and first among all blueliners with five points (2-3) ... Justin Faulk (South St. Paul, Minn.) leads Team USA with three power-play goals after notching one against Boston University ... Netminder Andy Iles (Ithaca, N.Y.) has posted a 2.33 goals-against average in three starts, while Jack Campbell (Port Huron, Mich.) boasts a .918 save percentage through four starts.
U.S. NAT'L U17 TEAM NOTES: The U.S. National Under-17 Team will meet Sioux City as both teams are looking for its first USHL Victory ... Ryan Haggerty (Stamford, Conn.) is leading the way for the U.S. with six points including a team-high three goals ... Rocco Grimaldi (Rossmoor, Calif.) has paced Team USA with four assists ... Matt Van Voorhis' (Edina, Minn.) four points (2-2) are best among the squad's defensive unit ... Michael Vilardo (Geneva, Ill.) and Austin Hervey (Brighton, Mich.) have been added to the U.S. National Under-17 Team roster. Vilardo comes from the Chicago Mission, while Hervey is a product of Detroit Catholic Central High School.
U18 at BGSU: The U.S. National Under-18 Team will meet the University of Michigan for the second time in NTDP history Friday. The Falcons came away with a 7-1 victory over the U18s on Nov. 15, 2002.
NTDP vs. SIOUX CITY: Both NTDP squads will meet the Sioux City Musketeers this weekend ... Sioux City is winless through its first three games ... Former NTDPer Willie Yanakeff (2008-09) is a member of the Musketeers ... Defenseman Dan Dekeyser leads SC with two points (0-2) ... The U.S. National Under-18 Team met Sioux City at the 2009 USHL Fall Classic, with the Musketeers coming away with a 2-1 shootout win.
U17 at INDIANA: On Saturday, the U17s will travel to meet defending Clark Cup champion Indiana Ice for the first time at Pepsi Coliseum ... Saturday night's contest is Indiana's home opener and championship banner unveiling ... Antti Roppo leads the 1-1-1 Ice with five points (4-1) in three games.
UP NEXT: The U.S. National Under-17 Team hits the road for two games including a Friday (Oct. 23) game against Sioux City at the Tyson Events Center at 7 p.m. CDT, before traveling to Cedar Rapids to meet the East Division-leading Rough Riders at The Stable at 7:05 p.m. Saturday (Oct. 24) ... The U.S. National Under-18 Team will travel to New York to meet a pair of ECAC Hockey opponents starting with No. 6 Cornell University at Lynah Rink at 7 p.m. EDT Saturday (Oct. 24). Team USA then meets Colgate University Sunday (Oct. 25) at Starr Rink at 2 p.m.
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