The Johnstown Tomahawks of the North American Hockey League will host the United States National Team Development Program U17’s on Wednesday, September 18th, 2024, at 7 PM at the 1ST SUMMIT Arena at Cambria County War Memorial for an exhibition game.
“Our entire organization is proud to work with USA Hockey to bring the USNTDP U17s to Johnstown,” said Johnstown Tomahawks Majority Owner, John Koufis. “We look forward to an exciting evening for our players and fans, and of course, a wonderful homecoming for Brody George. The Tomahawks always welcome the opportunity to showcase the rich hockey history of Johnstown, Pennsylvania to a broader audience.”
The USNTDP represents the highest level of USA Hockey’s amateur development program and includes several players on the NHL Central Scouting Futures List, projected to be early-round picks in the 2026 Draft. Elite players from across the United States are chosen to join the national team, which boasts current NHL superstars Auston Matthews, Matthew Tkachuk, and Patrick Kane among its alumni. Cole Caufield (Montreal Canadians), Jack Hughes (New Jersey Devils), and Trevor Zegras (Anaheim Ducks) are among the young stars who have competed against the Tomahawks in previous USNTDP exhibition games in Johnstown.
Another name holds perhaps even more interest for the local hockey community: Johnstown native Brody George. George played 56 games with the Pittsburgh Penguins Elite team this past season, scoring 29 goals and 30 assists for a total of 59 points. In 2022-23, he played on the Pittsburgh Penguins Elite U14 team, amassing 36 goals and 65 points in 63 games. Additionally, at Conemaugh Valley in 2022-23, he appeared in nine games, scoring 14 goals and totaling 18 points.
“We’re excited to get Johnstown back on our schedule this year,” said NTDP Head Coach Nick Fohr. “It will be a great opportunity for our new group of U17s to continue their acclimation into junior hockey, and it will be extra special for Brody to get to play in front of friends and family in his hometown.
Tickets for the exhibition game will go on sale, on Friday, July 26th at 10 AM and will be available for purchase on the Johnstown Tomahawks website as well as at the 1ST SUMMIT Arena
“This is a really exciting opportunity for us to play against the U17 team,” said Tomahawks Head Coach and General Manager, Jared Kersner. “The National Program continues to produce first-round NHL draft picks year after year, so playing against the country’s rising stars will be a fun and thrilling experience. It’s also a special game for our community, as Johnstown’s own Brody George will be returning to his hometown to compete against us in front of his family and friends. We’re looking forward to a great night of hockey and are excited to see our fans at 1SA for the first time this season.”