U.S. NTDP announces first ten commitments for 2015-16 season

By @SKubus –

The U.S. National Team Development Program announced Thursday morning its first ten commitments for the 2015-16 season, each from the 1999 birth year and will join the U.S. National Under-17 Team.

Among the ten is a pair of University of Michigan commits, one of which has been honing his game right here in Michigan.

Forward Michael Pastujov and defenseman Quinn Hughes could be spending a lot of time together in the next several years, as both will become teammates at the NTDP and then could eventually compete side-by-side once again right down the road at the University of Michigan.

Pastujov only appeared in five games this past season for his midget minor Honeybaked squad due to injury. His older brother Nick, a ’98 birth year, is also with the NTDP currently and is slated to become a member of the Wolverines, as well.

Hughes, meanwhile, played for the midget minor Toronto Marlboros of the Greater Toronto Hockey League, a team that won the GTHL title and Ontario Hockey League Cup. From the back end, Hughes amassed an impressive 18 goals and 49 assists for 67 points in 76 games.

Next year’s U17 Team will be joining the U18 Team as the first pair of NTDP squads skating out of USA Hockey Arena in Plymouth, as the national program will be moving from the Ann Arbor Ice Cube over the summer.

Full list of commitments:

Forwards:

Sean Dhooghe – Chicago Mission (HPHL) – Aurora, Ill. – committed to Ohio State University

Grant Mismash – Shattuck-St. Mary’s – Edina, Minn. – committed to the University of North Dakota

Michael Pastujov – Honeybaked (HPHL) – Bradenton, Fla. – committed to the University of Michigan

Scott Reedy – Shattuck-St. Mary’s – Prior Lake, Minn. – committed to the University of Minnesota

Brady Tkachuk – St. Louis Blues Midget Minor – St. Louis, Mo.

Defensemen:

David Farrance – Syracuse Jr. Stars (USPHL) – Victor, N.Y. – committed to Boston University

Max Gildon – Dallas Stars Midget Minor – Plano, Texas

Quinn Hughes – Toronto Marlboros Midget Minor (GTHL) – Orlando, Fla. – committed to the University of Michigan

Nate Knoepke – Lakeville South High School (Minn.) – Farmington, Minn.

Josh Maniscalco – Shattuck-St. Mary’s – Perkiomenville, Pa. – committed to the University of Minnesota