USHL U.S. National Team

National Team Development Program Weekly Update

Published on January 18, 2012 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
U.S. National Team News Release


U17 TEAM FACES MUSKEGON NEXT: The U.S. National Under-17 Team will continue its string of road games this weekend. Team USA faces the Muskegon Lumberjacks for two games at L.C. Walker Arena on Friday (Jan. 20) and Saturday (Jan. 21). Puck drop is scheduled for 7:15 p.m. EST both nights. The weekend tilts will mark the first time the Lumberjacks and the Under-17 Team have met this season.

U18 TEAM FACES THREE ON THE ROAD: The U.S. National Under-18 Team takes to the road for three consecutive games this weekend. First up is a Thursday night (Jan. 19) showdown with the Dubuque Fighting Saints at the Mystique Ice Center. Puck drop is at 8:05 p.m. EST. Team USA lost its previous match-up with Dubuque, 5-1, in October at the Ann Arbor (Mich.) Ice Cube. The Under-18 Team next travels to Green Bay for back-to-back contests against the Gamblers on Friday (Jan. 20) and Saturday (Jan. 21). Both games are 8:05 p.m. EST starts at the Resch Center. Team USA dropped its only decision to the Gamblers so far this season, 4-2, in Ann Arbor.

U17'S SWEEP WEEKEND AGAINST PHANTOMS: Curtis Frye (Northwood, N.H.) made 16 saves and Tyler Kelleher (Longmeadow, Mass.) tallied the eventual game winner in the third period, as the U.S. National Under-17 Team bested Youngstown, 2-1, at the Covelli Centre on Friday (Jan. 13). The following night (Jan. 14), Anthony Louis (Winfield, Ill.) tallied the game-winning goal in the second period, as the Under-17 Team toppled the Phantoms, 6-4, in a rematch at the Covelli Centre. With the win, Team USA took both games against its United States Hockey League Eastern Conference rival over the weekend.

U18'S SPLIT WEEKEND IN USHL: Jacob Trouba (Rochester, Mich.) scored one goal and recorded two assists, but the U.S. National Under-18 Team was clipped by the Indiana Ice, 4-3, at the Pepsi Coliseum on Jan 13. On Saturday (Jan. 14), Jared Rutledge (Chicago, Ill.) made 24 saves and Trouba registered another three-point effort, netting two goals and adding an assist, as the U.S. National Under-18 Team blanked the Des Moines Buccaneers, 5-0, at the Ann Arbor Ice Cube.

WEEK: The USHL recently announced the weekly award winners for the 16th week of the 2011-12 USHL regular season and Team USA defenseman Jacob Trouba was selected as CCM Defensive Player of the Week. Trouba had six points (3-3) in two games over the weekend.

UNDER-17 TEAM NEWS/NOTES: Netminder Hunter Miska (North Branch, Minn.) has won each of his last three USHL starts dating back to Dec. 17, 2011 ... Tyler Kelleher is on a three-game point streak dating back to Dec. 17, 2011. The forward has two goals and two assists, including a game-winning tally against Youngstown on Jan. 13, during that span ... Anthony Louis notched his team-leading, 18th goal last weekend (Jan. 15) on the power play. The forward's eight goals with the man advantage is also a team best ... J.T. Comper (Northbrook, Ill.) carries a three-game point streak into the weekend games as well. Dating back to Dec. 17, 2011, the forward netted two goals and added an assist.

UNDER-18 TEAM NEWS/NOTES: Defenseman Jacob Trouba has six points (3-3), including two power-play tallies in his past two games (Jan. 13-14) ... Jared Rutledge has not allowed a goal in 85:18 of action, which includes his 24-save shutout performance against Des Moines on Jan. 14. The netminder now has four career shutouts, which is tied-for-seventh all-time at the NTDP. Rutledge has won his last three starts in the USHL ... Matthew Lane (Rochester, N.Y.) has one point in his last three games dating back to Dec. 17, 2011. The forward has two goals and one assist in that span ... Brady Skjei (Lakeville, Minn.) has recorded five assists in his past five contests dating back to Dec. 11, 2011. The defenseman was also plus-2 in that span.

NTDP ALUMNI UPDATE: Justin Faulk (South St. Paul, Minn./2008-10) scored one goal for the Carolina Hurricanes in a 4-2 victory over the Boston Bruins on Jan. 14. The defenseman was also recently named to the 2012 Tim Horton's National Hockey League All-Star Game as a rookie participant ... Blueliner Kevin Shattenkirk (New Rochelle, N.Y./2005-07) notched the only goal of the shootout to propel the St. Louis Blues to a 3-2 win over the Minnesota Wild on Jan. 14 ... Four former NTDP players were named to the 2012 NHL All-Star Game roster: forwards Patrick Kane (Buffalo, N.Y./2004-06) and Phil Kessel (Madison, Wis./2003-05); defenseman Ryan Suter (Madison, Wis./2001-03); and goaltender Jimmy Howard (Ogdensburg, N.Y./2001-02) ... Forward Jimmy Hayes (Dorchester, Mass./2006-08) has three points in his last three games dating back to Jan. 12, scoring a goal and registering two assists for the Chicago Blackhawks ... Colorado Avalanche blueliner Erik Johnson (Bloomington, Minn./2004-06) has two helpers in his previous two games (Jan. 14, Jan. 16), including the primary assist on the game-winning goal against the Dallas Stars on Saturday (Jan. 14).

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United States Hockey League Stories from January 18, 2012


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