USA Hockey’s NTDP Under-17 Team schedule announced

By @MichaelCaples –

The new group of NTDP players now know what their first season in Plymouth will look like.

Today, USA Hockey announced the 2016-17 season schedule for the National Team Development Program Under-17 Team – one largely comprised of the team’s United States Hockey League campaign.

The 2016-17 season will mark the 20th anniversary of the NTDP, which began in Ann Arbor and moved to Plymouth last summer.

The U17 Team will start their 2016-17 season with a home-and-home preseason series against in-state USHL rival Muskegon on Sept. 9 and 10. Team USA will first host the Lumberjacks, then travel out to Muskegon the following day.

From there, the U17 Team will play two road contests with the Johnstown Tomahawks of the North American Hockey League on Sept. 17-18 before officially beginning USHL play on Sept. 23 at their home of USA Hockey Arena against Muskegon.

“We are excited to get started on the 20th season of the NTDP,” said Danton Cole, head coach of the 2016 U.S. National Under-17 Team, in a release. “It will be great to celebrate the history of the NTDP and continue to build the future of USA Hockey. The NTDP U17 team will get going in September at USA Hockey Arena and will be prepared to face an outstanding USHL and international schedule as they embark on their first year.”

The U17s will play in three international tournaments this season – the 2016 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge on Oct. 26 through Nov. 5 in Sault Ste. Marie, Ont.; the 2016 Four Nations Tournament from Dec. 11-18 in Switzerland; and the 2017 Five Nations Tournament from Feb. 6-13 in the Czech Republic.

For a full schedule, click here.