The U.S. National Under-17 Team will play for the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge title versus Canada's Team Pacific this afternoon. Puck drop is scheduled for 3 p.m. EST at Centre 200 in Sydney, Nova Scotia. Team USA dropped Quebec, 9-1, yesterday to advance. Pacific outpaced Russia, 7-3, to earn its spot in the final showdown with the United States. Pacific went 3-0-0-1 (W-OTW-OTL-L) in preliminary play, with its only loss coming at the hands of Quebec in its first game of the tournament.

(Cover photo courtesy of Derek Leung/Hockey Canada Images)

Team USA and Canada's Team Pacific previously met at the 2012 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge in Windsor, Ontario. With a trip to the semifinals on the line, Evan Allen (Sterling Heights, Mich./2011-13) and Hudson Fasching (Burnsville, Minn./2011-13) scored two goals each, as the U.S. defeated Pacific, 4-2. Anthony Louis (Winfield, Ill./2011-13) contributed with three helpers in the win, while Hunter Miska (North Branch, Minn./2011-13) kicked out 17 shots for Team USA.

• The U.S. boasts three players in top six in points registered. Colin White (Hanover, Mass.) leads all skaters with 16 points (9-7) in five games. Teammates Luke Kirwan (Dewitt, N.Y./5-6) and Jeremy Bracco (Freeport, N.Y./3-5) rank tied for second and tied for sixth respectively, also appearing in five contests.
• Four American players rank in the top ten in goals scored: White (9), Kirwan (5), Auston Matthews (Scottsdale, Ariz./4) and Matthew Tkachuk (St. Louis, Mo./4).
• Michael Lackey (Washington, D.C.) ranks tied for first in goals-against average (1.00), while counterpart Luke Opilka (St. Louis, Mo.) holds down the third spot (1.50). Additionally, the netminding duo ranks second (Lackey/.949) and sixth (Opilka/.927) respectively in save percentage.
• The Americans rank first in goals per game (8.60). The next closest team is Canada's Team Ontario (5.20). On the flip side of the puck, Team USA allows 1.20 goals per game on average, also a tournament best.
• The U.S. ranks second on the power play (25.0%) and first on the penalty kill (93.5%).
• Team USA claimed third place in last year's tournament after back-to-back second place finishes (2011, 2012). The U.S. won the tournament in 2010 and has now placed in the top three for seven consecutive years (2006, 2008-13). No tournament was held in 2007.
• The U.S. enters the tournament having captured first place three times (2001-02, 2010) and second place four times (1999, 2008, 2011-12).
• All 22 players on the roster come from the U.S. National Under-17 Team that is part of USA Hockey's National Team Development Program based in Ann Arbor, Mich.
• The 2014 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge includes two pools of five teams. Pool A consists of teams from the Czech Republic, Pacific, Quebec, Sweden and West. Pool B consists of teams from Atlantic, Germany, Ontario, Russia and the United States.
• Follow @USAHockeyScores on Twitter for live scoring updates during the tournament. Scores will be designated with #WU17.
• For additional coverage, visit the NTDP Facebook page and follow @USANTDP on Twitter.
• The U.S. National Under-17 Team trains with The Hockey IntelliGym, a revolutionary software program that trains hockey sense. To learn more, visit USAHockeyIntelliGym.com.

Sweden 3 Ontario 6 (5th Place Game)
Emera Centre Northside, North Sydney, N.S.

Germany 3 West 4 (9th Place Game)
Civic Centre, Port Hawkesbury, N.S.

Russia 3 Pacific 7 (Semifinal)
Emera Centre Northside, North Sydney, N.S.

Quebec 1 USA 9 (Semifinal)
Centre 200, Sydney, N.S.