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For Trent Frederic, Nothing Compares to Team USA Experience

By Becky Olsen, 04/27/16, 8:00AM EDT

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Frederic Moves on to the University of Wisconsin Next Season


Photo by Rena Laverty

Sitting in the locker room at Ralph Engelstad Arena on Sunday, bronze medal in tow, Trent Frederic savored some of his final moments in a Team USA sweater.

“It’s definitely the coolest jersey you can put on,” Frederic, a forward on the U.S. National Under-18 Team, said earlier. “I’m not sure if you can put on another jersey that is as cool as Team USA. It’s awesome to put it on. I will definitely miss putting it on every day.”

The St. Louis native won’t soon forget the last time he wore it. Playing archrival Canada in the bronze-medal game at the International Ice Hockey Federation Under-18 Men's World Championship on Sunday in Grand Forks, North Dakota, Team USA rolled to a 10-3 win.

That ended a long and memorable run with the National Team Development Program.

“I still remember walking into the locker room in my U17 year and seeing the jersey for the first time,” he said. “I remember taking a photo and sending it to my dad. It was pretty sweet. It was our blue jerseys, and it was our first game against the Michigan Warriors.”

Wearing the Team USA colors was special, but it is the brotherhood and the bonds Frederic created with his teammates that he’ll truly never forget.

“We have been spending so much time together these two years,” he said. “It’s been very special. There's not little groups between the huge group; we are just one big group. Any team I have played on before has never been like that. I can’t imagine having that experience again.”

The 6-foot-2, 201-pound forward has improved over the past two seasons. He finished his U18 season with 20 goals and 40 points in 61 games.

“Everything about my game has grown the past two years,” he said. “My offensive play and learning how to play two ways, especially on the defensive side. I’ve learned how to play more physical.

“I have good line mates, and I keep finding myself in the right place at the right time in terms of scoring goals.”

Frederic noted how NTDP practices and drills related to game situations.

“If we are working on a drill, it all relates to the game we are going to play,” he said. “If you are doing it in practice right, it will pop up in a game right.”

One drill sticks out to him.

“I love the Tim Taylor drill/game,” he said. “It’s competitive — everyone gets physical and gets into it. It’s just a great drill. It sometimes stirs up some trash talking on all sides, but it’s all in fun.”

Frederic plans to continue his hockey career at the University of Wisconsin next year, where former NTDP coach Don Granato is now an associate head coach.

“When I visited, it was a place I wanted to go to school if I wasn’t playing hockey,” Frederic said. “That was one important reason. It is on the lake, so that is pretty cool.”

Frederic has already played against Big Ten Conference opponents such as the University of Michigan and Michigan State University.

“Playing against those teams was kind of cool,” he said. “Playing at Yost and at Munn gave me an idea of what the atmosphere will be like next year.”

These experiences have also given Frederic an inside track on what to expect next year in college.

“It will give you an advanced freshmen look that you have already played college games,” he said. “You can understand the atmosphere and how the game is played in college. It should make a big difference.”

That’s why the comeback win on the road at St. Cloud State on Jan. 3 ranks as one of his favorite games from this year.

“We came back from being down, and we had a game the day before that we lost in overtime [at the University of Minnesota Duluth],” Frederic said. “It was one of those games and we were down, and I’m not sure if we ever thought that we would win that game. … They were a good team, and to come back and win that game, that was really good.”

Story from Red Line Editorial, Inc.

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Photo by Rena Laverty

Trent's Favorites

Favorite NHL Team
St. Louis Blues

Favorite NHL Player
David Backes

Favorite Goal Celebration
Throw Hands in the Air

Favorite Movie
Blades of Glory

Favorite TV Show
Friday Night Lights

Favorite Actor
Will Ferrell

Favorite Actress
Jennifer Aniston

Favorite Home-Cooked Meal
Chicken Quesadillas