After a season-opening 7-2 scrimmage win against the Czech University Selects that saw seven unique goal scorers light the lamp for men’s hockey, the Red is set to host the United States Under-18 National Team Development Program.
The NTDP boasts two squads in the Under-17 and Under-18 age groups and attracts the best of the United States’ youth to its home in Plymouth, Michigan. The program, founded in 1996, has produced NHL stars such as Auston Matthews, Patrick Kane, Cole Caufield and Jack Eichel as well as current NCAA Division I players such as Boston University’s Cole Hutson and Boston College’s James Hagens.
This year’s Under-18 iteration, although considered to be a “down year” for the team, contains many prospects for the 2026 NHL Entry Draft. NHL Central Scouting rated the NTDP’s Luke Schairer as a first round candidate and seven others as second/third round likelies. Notable B-rated (projected second and third rounders) players include Minnesota Duluth commit Victor Plante, the team’s leading scorer thus far (three goals, five assists in 11 games), and Mikey Berchild — ranked 16th in the 2026 class by Ryan Kennedy of The Hockey News — is committed to Denver University.
Playing against college and United States Hockey League teams that are older, larger and more experienced, the NTDP only has one win in its first 11 games of the season. Specifically against NCAA Division I clubs, the squad has been outscored 4-29. Nonetheless, head coach Casey Jones ’90 believes the nation’s best young players will help provide a gut check for the Red.
“I think it will give us a really good indication how we are in transition defense and how we are in special teams,” Jones said.
Historically, the Red has played a physical matchup against the younger squad. The last matchup between the two programs in 2023 featured 11 total penalties.
“I think what happens is there is a little intensity in [the matchup],” Jones said. “[NTDP] gets a little feisty. They're playing up [in age] and generally speaking, we're physical and we're big.”
In that 2023 5-4 overtime win, the Red allowed four straight goals before a then-freshman defenseman George Fegaras’ game-winning goal ended the Americans' comeback bid.
The Red will also likely return three major contributors who did not play in last Friday’s scrimmage: junior forward Ryan Walsh, junior defenseman Hoyt Stanley and senior forward Winter Wallace — who missed all of last season due to injury. Walsh had the most points on the team last season and looks to add to a Red offense that has already looked solid. Stanley and Wallace both add size and tenacity to the lineup at 6'3 and 6'4", respectively.
“I'm excited [for] another chance to look at [a] more full roster in terms of some new guys coming in,” Jones said. “And we'll see a couple more combinations up front, and then we'll get ready.”
Cornell also looks to continue its early success on the power play. In the win against the Czech University Selects, the Red looked strong on the man-advantage and scored twice on five attempts. Last year, the Red only scored two power-play goals in a game twice, and converting at a 14.7 percent clip, the Red ranked last in the Ivy League and ECAC. This season, a big focus will be placed on improving the power play despite losing key contributors Ondrej Psenicka ’25 to graduation and Dalton Bancroft ’26 to professional hockey.
Despite a focus on offense in the last game, eyes will also be on the crease. Against the Czech University Selects, senior goaltender Remington Keopple and freshman goaltender Alexis Cournoyer split time in net. A similar trend could take place on Saturday night.
“[We might] flip them a little bit,” Jones said. “You know, we're looking to see whether we get more than two involved or not.”
While the starter will likely be unknown until opening night puck drop, what won’t be a mystery is what Jones expects from the game — a full 60 minutes, after Cornell’s slow second and third periods last week.
“Just [to] have that energy we want to play with for the 60 minutes would probably be my number one goal,” Jones said.
This game marks the Red’s final game at Lynah Rink until Nov. 14th against Brown and its last opportunity to find chemistry before the regular season. Puck drop is slated for 7 pm in Ithaca, with the game streaming live on ESPN+.
