NTDP U17 roster, schedule announced
By Michael Caples –
USA Hockey announced today their official roster for the National Under-17 team today, the latest group of elite players who will train with the National Team Development Program in Ann Arbor.
Headlining the list of names on the roster are Michigan natives Nicholas Boka (Plymouth), Zach Werenski (Grosse Pointe), Brendan Warren (Carelton) and Dennis Yan (Troy).
Boka and Warren are verbal commits to the University of Michigan.
Other notable names on the roster include Caleb Jones, the younger brother of Seth Jones, Plymouth Whalers first-round pick Jordan Greenway, and Keith Tkachuk’s son, Matthew.
The Under-17 team will be coached by Don Granato, now in his third season with the NTDP. Pontiac native Danton Cole will be the head coach of the Under-18 team.
The new NTDP squad will begin the 2013-14 season with a NAHL preseason contest on Sept. 13 against the Janesville Jets, and kick off its USHL season with a home game against the Youngstown Phantoms on Sept. 21.
The Under-17 team will also represent Team USA internationally at the 2013 Four Nations Tournament, held in Slovakia, in November; at the 2014 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, from Dec. 28 through Jan. 4; and the 2014 Five Nations Tournament, held in Sweden in February.