U.S. NTDP Under-18 team beats Michigan for first time in program history

By Michael Caples –

ANN ARBOR – Tyler Motte might not be greeted with open arms when he joins the Wolverines.

The University of Michigan commit scored twice against his future team Friday night, helping the U.S. National Under-18 team accomplish something for the first time in program history – a win against the Wolverines.

The NTDP beat the Wolverines 5-3 in an exhibition contest at Yost Ice Arena, something they had failed to do in 12 previous attempts.

“It’s an amazing feeling,” said Motte, a St. Clair, Mich., native. “This is the first time our program’s been able to come out here and beat the University of Michigan. All respect to Michigan, obviously, it was a tough game, but I love the guys in our locker room. The way they competed tonight was unbelievable.”

Fellow Michigan commit J.T. Compher assisted on both of Motte’s goals. Trevor Hamilton, a Grosse Pointe Farms, Mich., native and Miami commit, scored the game’s final goal, which was assisted by Sterling Heights native Evan Allen – another Michigan commit.

“It’s all a process for us,” said NTDP U18 coach Don Granato after the game. “It was great to play with confidence in a great environment, obviously and against a great team. All of it was all-around fun, but it was enjoyable because of the atmosphere. It’s great to play these games, it really helps the development of our players, and obviously you have to be fortunate. You come in here and you can only hope you’re fortunate and you get some bounces and I think we did tonight.”

Sean Malone (West Seneca, N.Y.) and John Hayden (Greenwich, Conn.) also scored for the NTDP, while Thatcher Demko (San Diego, Calif.) stopped 19 shots in goal.

Lee Moffie scored two first-period goals and Cristoval “Boo” Nieves scored in the third for the Wolverines, a team that “took another step backward” in the eyes of their coach – even though the game marked the return of injured defenseman Jon Merrill.

“It’s an exhibition game – we were able to play some extra players, we got Jonny Merrill back in uniform for the first time since early October, but he only played a minute, two minutes of the game; we just played him on power plays,” Berenson said. “But it’s disappointing. I thought their team came out and played with a lot more enthusiasm and they out-skated us, they out-muscled us, and out-hustled us, and obviously out-scored us. For a team that, that our team is trying to find our way, it’s not like we’re a first-place team having a bad night, we’re a seventh-place team having a bad night.

“I was hoping we would take some steps. It’s another game, it’s a chance for competition, I mean, there’s not a guy in our locker room that has played his best hockey this year. We’re trying to reach that, we’re trying to get better, with the puck and without the puck, and I just thought we took another step backward tonight.”

For the NTDP players, however, it’s a confidence boost as they prepare for the second half of their season.

“I think it’s a big step for all the guys in the room,” Motte said. “Our team played well tonight, and hopefully it pushes us in the right direction heading to Worlds in Sweden next month. It’s a big step, but there’s a lot of work to be done.”