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National Team Development Program Weekly Update

Under-18 Team Begins USHL Season Friday; Under-17 Team Faces Youngstown Saturday

OCTOBER 19, 2011 -- U17 TEAM FACES YOUNGSTOWN: The U.S. National Under-17 Team fell to the Indiana Ice in its only contest of the weekend. After starting the season earning three of four points, Team USA has dropped three straight and will look to rebound when it faces Youngstown on Saturday (Oct. 22). Puck drop is set for 3:00 p.m. ET at the Ann Arbor Ice Cube. The U.S. won the previous matchup with the Phantoms, 10-3, on Sept. 30 in Ann Arbor.

U18 TEAM BEGINS USHL SEASON FRIDAY: The U.S. National Under-18 Team will begin the United States Hockey League regular season starting on Friday (Oct. 21) night against defending league champion Dubuque Fighting Saints. The action begins at 7:00 p.m. ET at the Ann Arbor Ice Cube. On Saturday (Oct. 22), the U.S. faces the Des Moines Buccaneers at 7:00 p.m. ET in Ann Arbor. Team USA's previous five matchups were against collegiate opponents, going 2-3-0 in that span.

U18'S WIN PAIR OF COLLEGIATE GAMES: Stefan Matteau (Chicago, Ill.) and Jacob Trouba (Rochester, Mich.) each scored one goal as the U.S. National Under-18 Team earned a 2-1 victory over the University of Vermont at the Gutterson Fieldhouse on Oct. 14. Collin Olson (Apple Valley, Minn.) stopped 20 of 21 shots to give Team USA its first victory over a collegiate team this season. The following night (Oct. 15), Jared Rutledge (Chicago, Ill.) made 26 saves as the U.S. National Under-18 Team shutout Plattsburgh State University, 2-0, at the Stafford Ice Rink. Miles Koules (Los Angeles, Calif.) and Nikolas Olsson (Escondido, Calif.) netted one goal each to pace the U.S. in victory.

U17'S FALL TO ICE IN THIRD STRAIGHT GAME: Luke Voltin (Blaine, Minn.) scored the lone goal as the U.S. National Under-17 Team fell, 4-1, to the Indiana Ice at the Pepsi Coliseum on Oct. 15. It was the third-straight game between the two teams, with the Ice winning each contest.

GRUDEN NAMED ASSISTANT COACH AT NTDP: John Gruden, who played junior hockey in the USHL, college hockey at Ferris State University and went on to a 10-year professional playing career, has been named assistant coach at USA Hockey's National Team Development Program in Ann Arbor, Mich., it was announced Monday. Gruden will help guide the U.S. National Under-18 Team in the 2011-12 season.

SATURDAY MARKS BREAST CANCER FUNDRAISER: When both the U.S. National Under-17 and Under-18 Teams take the ice on Saturday (Oct. 22) at the Ann Arbor Ice Cube, members of the USA Hockey staff will be selling autographed pucks to help support the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. Each player on both teams signed game pucks, which will be sold at $15 for one or $25 for two, in pink marker to commemorate the event. All proceeds will benefit charity.

UNDER-18 TEAM NEWS/NOTES: Forward Miles Koules recorded three points (1-2) in wins over the University of Vermont (Oct. 14) and Plattsburgh State University (Oct. 15). It marked his first points of the season ... Goaltender Jared Rutledge picked up his third career shutout and his first this season with 25 stops in the 2-0 victory over Plattsburgh State (Oct. 15). The record for most career shutouts at the National Team Development Program is 10, held by Jack Campbell (Port Huron, Mich./2008-10) ... On Friday (Oct. 21), Riley Barber (Livonia, Mich.) will play his former team (Dubuque) for the first time since joinging Team USA ... Thanks in part to a strong showing over the weekend against Vermont and Plattsburgh (14-of-15), Team USA improved to .893 on the penalty kill ... Thus far this season, the U.S. is successful 13.5 percent of the time with the man advantage ... Team USA holds a slight edge in total shots (250-245) and goals per game (2.56-2.44) against all opponents to date.

UNDER-17 TEAM NEWS/NOTES: Luke Voltin is currently tied for eighth in the United States Hockey League with six points (3-3) in five games. Voltin is also tied for eighth in plus-minus rating at plus-four ... Tyler Kelleher (Longmeadow, Mass.) is tied for second in USHL scoring with four goals in five games ... Michael McCarron (Macomb, Mich.) is tied for eighth in the league in assists, collecting four in five games played ... Team USA is tied (Indiana) for the league lead in goals scored with 20. On the flip side, the U.S. has given up the second most goals (22) in five games played within the USHL regular season ... The U.S. power play is clicking at a 23 percent success rate ... Team USA is 33-46 in killing penalties ... The Under-17 Team holds a 258-220 advantage in shots taken per game and scores at a 3.38 goals-per-game clip ... The U.S. won the last matchup against Youngstown, 10-3, as 16 players collected at least one point and seven players recorded multiple-point efforts on Sept. 30 in Ann Arbor.

NTDP ALUMNI UPDATE: Michigan Tech University forward Blake Pietila (Brighton, Mich./2009-11) earned Western Collegiate Hockey Association Rookie of the Week honors for Oct. 11. Pietila had two power-play goals and earned one assist in a 4-3 comeback win over American International on Oct. 7 ... Forward Patrick Kane (Buffalo, N.Y./2004-06) scored one goal and added three assists as the Chicago Blackhawks rallied from behind to defeat the Winnipeg Jets, 4-3, on Oct. 13 ... Netminder Jimmy Howard (Ogdensburg, N.Y./2001-02) earned his first shutout of the season as the Detroit Red Wings blanked the Vancouver Canucks, 2-0, on Oct. 13 ... Phil Kessel (Madison, Wis./2003-05) had a three point (2-1) night as the Toronto Maple Leafs defeated the Calgary Flames, 3-2, on Oct. 15. The forward is tied for the points lead in the National Hockey League with nine (6-3) and was named the NHL's First Star for games played from Oct. 6 to Oct. 16 ... Forward Kyle Palmieri (Montvale, N.J./2007-09) was named the American Hockey League Player of the Week for the period ending Oct. 16. Palmieri had four goals and two assists in two games played for the Syracuse Crunch.

For the complete weekly update, click here.

ABOUT THE NTDP: In 1996, USA Hockey launched a revolutionary new initiative called the National Team Development Program, based in Ann Arbor, Mich. Celebrating its 15th season of play in 2011-12, 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.