ARRIVALS IN SAINT PAUL
Yesterday, 42 of the best U.S. players arrived in Saint Paul, Minn., ahead of today's game. The players were joined by U.S. Olympians and Minnesota natives, Jamie Langenbrunner and Jordan Leopold, who will serve as head coaches for this year's game. Upon arrival, players and staff received AAPG-branded apparel at the hotel before traveling to the Bauer Hockey Experience Store for dinner and opening remarks on behalf of USA Hockey.
     Today, both teams will hold morning skates at the Xcel Energy Center before attending a luncheon that will include Minnesota Wild's general manager, Paul Fenton, and 2019 U.S. National Junior Team head coach, Mike Hastings, who holds the same role for Minnesota State.

PROJECTED NUMBER ONE 2019 NHL PICK
Team Leopold forward Jack Hughes (Orlando, Fla.) is the projected number one pick in the upcoming NHL Draft. Last season at USA Hockey's National Team Development Program, he registered a U17-record 116 points, including 40 goals and NTDP-record 76 assists, in 60 games. His point total was one point shy of tying Auston Matthews (Scottsdale, Ariz.) for the most-ever by an NTDP player in a single season. As an under-ager at the 2018 IIHF Under-18 Men's World Championship, Hughes earned tournament MVP honors while also being named Best Forward and a member of the Media All-Star Team.

TIDBITS ON THE GAME
Tonight's game will be streamed on HockeyTV with NHL Network's Steve Nelson handling play-by-play duties and Brian Lawton, the first-ever U.S. player be chosen first overall in an NHL Draft (1983), providing color commentary ... 1960 U.S. Olympic Men's Ice Hockey Team gold medalists Jack McCartan(Saint Paul, Minn.) and Dick Meredith (South Bend, Ind.) will take part in the ceremonial opening faceoff while Mike "Lefty" Curran (International Falls, Minn.), who helped the U.S. capture the silver medal at the 1972 Olympic Winter Games, will present the trophy to the game's most valuable player ... To date, AAPG alums have gone on to become Calder Trophy Finalists, NHL All-Stars, earn NHL All-Star Game MVP honors and win the Stanley Cup. Entering the 2018-19 season, 41 AAPG alums have already made their NHL debuts. For more on AAPG alums, see page 9 of the game notes ... Among those in attendance tonight are Hockey Hall of Fame member Lou Nanne; USA Hockey's assistant executive director of hockey operations and U.S. Hockey Hall of  Fame member, John Vanbiesbrouck; president and commissioner of the United States Hockey League, Tom Garrity; president and commissioner of the North American Hockey League, Mark Frankenfeld, among others.