PLYMOUTH, Mich. – USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program today announced the promotions of Rod Braceful (Detroit, Mich.) to senior director of hockey operations, and Andrew Whiteside (Philadelphia, Pa.) to director of player personnel.
“Rod is an outstanding young executive who has had a big, positive impact on the program,” said Scott Monaghan (Ho-Ho-Kus, N.J.), assistant executive director of USA Hockey for the NTDP and USA Hockey Arena. “This promotion allows him to have a more direct impact on growing our day-to-day operations, philosophy and player development. It’s a great opportunity for Rod and for the NTDP.”
Braceful, who has served as director of player personnel for the NTDP since 2023, has played an integral role in the program’s player identification and evaluation efforts. In his new role, Braceful will oversee the NTDP’s hockey operations department, including player personnel, scouting, player evaluation, hockey strategy and the overall direction of the department. He’ll also oversee the coaching and hockey operations staff and help establish the strategic direction of the program’s hockey operations.
Braceful served as general manager of the 2026 U.S. Under-18 Men’s National Team after serving as assistant general manager for the 2025 bronze-medal winning team and the 2024 team that brought home silver. In 2025, he served as general manager of the U.S. Under-18 Men’s Select Team that won the Hlinka Gretzky Cup, the first championship at the event for the U.S. since 2003. Braceful spent two seasons as a scout with the National Hockey League’s Chicago Blackhawks (2021-23) after serving as assistant director of player personnel at the NTDP from 2018-21.
Whiteside, who served as assistant director of player personnel the past two seasons with the NTDP, has been promoted to director of player personnel where he’ll lead the team’s nationwide player identification and evaluation efforts. In the role, Whiteside will oversee the program’s player personnel strategy and scouting operations, working closely with the NTDP’s regional staff to evaluate and identify players from across the country.
Whiteside brings more than a decade of experience in player evaluation, scouting and development to his new role. He spent two seasons as an amateur scout with the Montreal Canadiens after serving as an assistant coach and director of player personnel with the North American Hockey League’s Lone Star Brahmas and assistant coach with the United States Hockey League’s Cedar Rapids RoughRiders. A Philadelphia native, he’s also worked with USA Hockey at the Boys National 16 Player Development Camp.
Together, Braceful and Whiteside will work alongside the program’s coaches, regional managers and scouting staff to ensure the NTDP maintains a comprehensive and collaborative approach to player evaluation and development.
The NTDP plays a 62-game regular-season schedule in the United States Hockey League, split between the U.S. National Under-17 and 18 Teams. In addition, NTDP teams also play games against North American Hockey League squads, NCAA Division I and III schools and compete in international tournaments.
Ticket packages for the 2026-27 National Team Development Program season, including the Kroger College Series six-pack and the Big Game Pack, as well as single-game tickets are on sale now by calling the USA Hockey Arena box office at 734-453-8400 or visiting HERE.
