2025-26 NTDP U17 Team Selection

[Trojans86]

I wish they would’ve taken Sung, despite his size

 

[William H Bonney]

By that logic, Scuderi’s kid should have made it. I think at end of the day, the second gen kids tend to just be further along with all the inherent advantages that come with it.

Scuderi isn't Rob's kid

 

[WarriorofTime]

Scuderi isn't Rob's kid

Ah. EP page said he was

 

[clevelandcane]

Salvador is the biggest headscratcher and I agree, he should not have made the team. I believe the poster @Oak referred to this.

Timmerman was going to the O and may very well have declined the acceptance.

Not sure why you didn't like Johnson, was told he was very good throughout the entire camp.

For me, the best forwards on this team are going to be Meyer, Schnieder and Milojevic. The best D will be Thoreson, McArthur and Semetsis.

This is a very well balanced team. It's lacking in high end talent but it has much more depth than the last two NTDP classes.

I saw the two games and it's tough to stand out for a spectator in two games. I'm just saying he didn't stand out. Not saying I didn't like him, just didn't notice his game.

Why would Timmerman attend the camp if he didn't intend to play for the team?

 

[clevelandcane]

I don't want to come off as overly harsh but if his name wasn't Pandolfo, he wouldn't be on this team. Ive watched a lot of this age group, I've seen him play a ton. He's a good player but there were a lot of kids out east who didnt even make camp who are better players. I was pretty disappointed in USAH to see him on the roster

That's tough to hear. Kids should be deserving.

 

[clevelandcane]

I wish they would’ve taken Sung, despite his size

I liked Sung as well as a 14. I didn't see him at all this year. He had one of the best motors and also hardest shots for that age group.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Let’s be honest, that’s always been most of the ntdp. Daley as well I believe

Most? I take issue with that.

It’s usually like 1-4 per year. It’s certainly not most.

And if you add it all up to who is amounting to what in the NHL, there was exactly 1 of these players the Canadian fans lament the USA stole that made the USA 4 Nations Team (7D Jake Sanderson), so while people rile themselves up about this and of course it’s not nothing, it’s far from the big deal it’s sometimes made into.

 

[bigdog16]

Let’s be honest, that’s always been most of the ntdp. Daley as well I believe

Daley played a majority of his minor hockey in Florida

 

[WarriorofTime]

Most? I take issue with that.

It’s usually like 1-4 per year. It’s certainly not most.

And if you add it all up to who is amounting to what in the NHL, there was exactly 1 of these players the Canadian fans lament the USA stole that made the USA 4 Nations Team (7D Jake Sanderson), so while people rile themselves up about this and of course it’s not nothing, it’s far from the big deal it’s sometimes made into.

Sanderson was born in Montana and was only in Canada for a few years, mostly lived in U.S. between birth and when he turned pro (and went to Ottawa).

 

[Hockeyville USA]

Sanderson was born in Montana and was only in Canada for a few years, mostly lived in U.S. between birth and when he turned pro (and went to Ottawa).

Sanderson played his key minor hockey years in Canada.

 

[WarriorofTime]

Sanderson played his key minor hockey years in Canada.

Played his key junior and college years in the U.S.

 

[Hockeyville USA]

Played his key junior and college years in the U.S.

Has nothing to do with my point though. Kids who play their minor hockey in Canada and are Canadian citizens should not be on the US NTDP. Just doesn't feel right IMHO.

 

[Kingpin794]

Has nothing to do with my point though. Kids who play their minor hockey in Canada and are Canadian citizens should not be on the US NTDP. Just doesn't feel right IMHO.

Well then take it up jus soli citizenship then.

 

[Lumber]

My point is that it is because of pro hockey, the vast majority of which is based in the USA. I haven't counted, however I would guess that there are at least 100 teams. That's a lot of Canadian hockey players having American babies, even the ones we know about lol. Cutter Gauthier was born to a Canadian professional hockey player in Sweden. I hate it but that's the way it is.

 

[WarriorofTime]

Has nothing to do with my point though. Kids who play their minor hockey in Canada and are Canadian citizens should not be on the US NTDP. Just doesn't feel right IMHO.

I think you have to (also) be a U.S. citizen. Or at least on the path to citizenship. Not sure what the “cutoff” should be in your eyes. Sanderson is both Canadian and American, spent some time in Canada, spent some time in the U.S., now plays for USA in international games. It is what it is.

 

[Corso]

I saw the two games and it's tough to stand out for a spectator in two games. I'm just saying he didn't stand out. Not saying I didn't like him, just didn't notice his game.

Why would Timmerman attend the camp if he didn't intend to play for the team?

Yeah, Johnson's not the flashiest of players and not a real elegant skater (although not a weakness by any means) so he probably didn't catch your eye but he is rock solid.

Who knows what they offered Timmerman or perhaps it was Timmerman's intentions all along.

 

[Lumber]

I think you have to (also) be a U.S. citizen. Or at least on the path to citizenship. Not sure what the “cutoff” should be in your eyes. Sanderson is both Canadian and American, spent some time in Canada, spent some time in the U.S., now plays for USA in international games. It is what it is.

I don't really think there is a cutoff at this point. Families and kids can make up their own minds based on their own backgrounds. Sanderson (great hockey player) serves to remind me about a time I cheered for his old man when he played for Team Canada. Now his son can go out and score the winning goal in overtime to beat Team Canada in the Olympics, yet as a Sens fan I wish him the best. Still going to burn his old man's sweater though lol.

 

[sigx15]

Ah. EP page said he was

Ya EP screwed up there. Scuderi’s dad is a hs football coach

 

[Hockeyville USA]

Ya EP screwed up there. Scuderi’s dad is a hs football coach

EP is wrong with a lot of things. Not gonna get on them too hard because they're a great resource, but they guess/assume on a lot of stuff that they haven't properly researched

 

[clevelandcane]

So does anyone else have any surprises either good or bad to share about this team? Meaning kids who they thought would make the team but didn't or kids who made the team and shouldn't have in their minds.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

I find all the gripes about who these players play their international hockey for to be a little stupid.

Who are any of us to tell these players what country they feel is best for them to represent? They have their own reasons, and if they are eligible they should be able to play for whoever they want.

I also think IIHF rules are way too strict and penalize the smaller hockey nations (like Czechia and Slovakia) to benefit USA and Canada, who don't really need the help. Country of your mother, country of your father, country of your birth, or where you've lived long enough to obtain citizenship. That should be the eligibility criteria for international hockey.

 

[WarriorofTime]

I find all the gripes about who these players play their international hockey for to be a little stupid.

Who are any of us to tell these players what country they feel is best for them to represent? They have their own reasons, and if they are eligible they should be able to play for whoever they want.

I also think IIHF rules are way too strict and penalize the smaller hockey nations (like Czechia and Slovakia) to benefit USA and Canada, who don't really need the help. Country of your mother, country of your father, country of your birth, or where you've lived long enough to obtain citizenship. That should be the eligibility criteria for international hockey.

Hockey Canada lobbies iihf for very strict criteria. Like must play two years post age 12 or whatever to keep the smaller guy countries down.

 

[SK94]

I haven't really followed the juniors in the last year, but is 2009 still the 97/01 level age group as some people hyped early on?

At least quite a few of the early hyped players didn't even make it to the NTDP like Dicunzolo, Scuderi, Simpson, Sung, Santa Maria and DiDomenicantonio. A year ago I would have said Scuderi is a 100% sure NTDP pick.

To the eternal US-CAN dual citizen debate I just have to say that if you have US citizenship, then you are eligible for this opportunity. It would be wrong to say that we won't take you because...

 

[Rabid Ranger]

I haven't really followed the juniors in the last year, but is 2009 still the 97/01 level age group as some people hyped early on?

At least quite a few of the early hyped players didn't even make it to the NTDP like Dicunzolo, Scuderi, Simpson, Sung, Santa Maria and DiDomenicantonio. A year ago I would have said Scuderi is a 100% sure NTDP pick.

To the eternal US-CAN dual citizen debate I just have to say that if you have US citizenship, then you are eligible for this opportunity. It would be wrong to say that we won't take you because...

It's not like countries like Canada don't take advantage of this as well, in particular in other sports. It comes off a bit sanctimonious.

 

[digicamo]

I haven't really followed the juniors in the last year, but is 2009 still the 97/01 level age group as some people hyped early on?

At least quite a few of the early hyped players didn't even make it to the NTDP like Dicunzolo, Scuderi, Simpson, Sung, Santa Maria and DiDomenicantonio. A year ago I would have said Scuderi is a 100% sure NTDP pick.

To the eternal US-CAN dual citizen debate I just have to say that if you have US citizenship, then you are eligible for this opportunity. It would be wrong to say that we won't take you because...

Truthfully I don’t think there should really be a debate. Todays hockey is all about opportunity and the Canadian kids are choosing the NTDP because of the development and exposure it offers, not because they want to play for the USA.

Maybe that’s a hot take but the program has proven to churn out pro player after pro player and if you’re Barch or Thibodeau, under the new NCAA rules, why not take the opportunity to play with some of the best 09s in the world for two years rather than playing 3rd or 4th line minutes on an OHL team.