STRONG START: The U17s opened its 2018-2019 preseason play with a two-day matchup against the Johnstown Tomahawks last weekend. Friday (Sept. 7), the U17s fell to the Tomahawks, 6-2. Hunter Strand (Anchorage, Alaska) and Connor Kelley (Maple Grove, Minn.) netted goals in Friday’s loss.

The U17s earned a 4-3 victory with an overtime goal from Luke Tuch (Baldwinsville, N.Y.) on Saturday (Sept. 8). Hunter McKown (St. Louis, Mo.), Ty Smilanic (Elizabeth, Colo.) and Thomas Bordeleau (Houston, Texas) also scored in Saturday’s game. Goalie Drew Commesso (Norwell, Mass.) recorded a win while splitting the game with Noah Grannan (Germantown, Wis.). The pair recorded a combined .928 save-percentage on 41 shots.

PLAYER FEATURE: Drew Helleson’s off-season training has prepared him for success. Check out the full feature story here.

NEW TICKET PACKAGES: The NTDP is offering season ticket packages for the 2018-2019 season. These packages include the College Six Pack, Flex Pack, and Fan Experience Package. More information is available here or by calling 734.453.8400.

HOME OPENER COUNTDOWN: The countdown is at three  weeks until the U.S. National Under-17 Team welcomes Madison Capitols to USA Hockey Arena for the NTDP home opener. The showdown with the Capitols is Friday, Oct. 5 at 7 p.m. ET. Tickets for the season opener and all single games are available here.

ALL-AMERICAN PROSPECTS GAME: Eighteen current National Team Development Program Under-18 players will make up nearly half of the roster selected for the 2018 All-American Prospects Game.  The game on Wednesday, September 19th at XCel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minnesota will feature both U18 goalies, Spencer Knight (Darien, Conn.) and Cameron Rowe (Wilmette, Ill.). Of 14 defensemen selected, six NTDP defense will be playing: Drew Helleson (Farmington, Minn.), Case McCarthy (Clarence, N.Y.), Henry Thrun (Southborough, Mass.), Alex Vlasic (Wilmette, Ill.), Marshall Warren (Laurel Hollow, N.Y.), and Cam York (Anaheim Hills, Ca.).  John Beecher (Elmira, N.Y.), Matthew Boldy (Millis, Mass.), Cole Caufield (Stevens Point, Wis.), Judd Caulfield (Grand Forks, N.D.), Michael Gildon (Plano, Texas), Jack Hughes (Orlando, Fla.), Owen Lindmark (Naperville, Ill.), Alex Turcotte (Island Lake, Ill.), Danny Weight (Lattingtown, N.Y.) and Trevor Zegras (Bedford, N.Y.) will represent the NTDP out of 24 forwards on the roster.

NTDP ALUM, NHL TRANSACTION: Thursday (Sept. 14) brought trade winds for NTDP alumni Josh Norris and others who were dealt in a blockbuster trade. The transaction between the Sharks and the Senators brings Chris Tierney, Rudolfs Balcers, Dylan DeMelo, and Norris’ rights to Ottawa, as well as a conditional 2019 second-round selection and a conditional 2020 first-round selection, in exchange for Erik Karlsson and Francis Perron finding a new home in San Jose.