PLYMOUTH, Mich. – USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program, which enters its 20th anniversary season in 2016-17, today announced the schedule for its U.S. National Under-18 Team. Tickets for all home games, to be played at USA Hockey Arena in Plymouth, Michigan, are available now through the box office.
The Under-18 Team will open the 2016-17 season with games against the United States Hockey League’s Sioux City Musketeers and Omaha Lancers at the Omaha Fall Classic on Sept. 9-10 at Ralston Arena. The U.S. will play its first home contest of the season on Sept. 24 when the Youngstown Phantoms travel to USA Hockey Arena.
Additionally, the U18s have 17 NCAA contests throughout the season, including six home games.
“We’re really looking forward to this milestone 20th anniversary season,” said John Wroblewski, head coach of the 2016-17 U.S. National Under-18 Team. “The team has a challenging schedule of USHL, college and international opponents, and we’re excited to welcome Youngstown to kick off the year at USA Hockey Arena.”
The U18s will compete internationally at the 2016 Five Nations Tournament from Oct. 30-Nov. 5 at USA Hockey Arena; the 2017 Five Nations Tournament from Feb. 5-13 in the Czech Republic; and the 2017 International Ice Hockey Federation Men’s Under-18 World Championship from April 14-24 in Poprad and Spisska Nova Ves, Slovakia.
NOTES: The U18s will have 12 NCAA Division I games and five NCAA Division III matchups … The U.S. National Under-17 and Under-18 Teams utilize The Hockey IntelliGym, a revolutionary software program that trains hockey sense. To learn more, visit USAHockeyIntelliGym.com.
ABOUT THE NTDP: In 1996, USA Hockey launched a new initiative called the National Team Development Program, originally based in Ann Arbor, Michigan. In March of 2015 the USA Hockey Foundation purchased Compuware Arena (now USA Hockey Arena) in Plymouth, Michigan, which became the new home of the NTDP in 2015-16. The goal of this full-time development program is to prepare student-athletes under the age of 18 for participation on U.S. National Teams and success in their future hockey careers. Its efforts focus not only on high-caliber participation on the ice, but creating well-rounded individuals off the ice.
