NOTE – THE GAME TIME HAS BEEN MOVED TO 7:00 PM.
Johnstown hockey fans will have an opportunity to see some likely future NHL stars at 1ST SUMMIT ARENA this September, as the Johnstown Tomahawks will host an exhibition against the United States National Team Development Program.
The exhibition game, scheduled for Wednesday, September 18th, renews an exhibition series that has been dormant since 2019, the last time the Tomahawks faced the USNTDP Under-17 team.
The USNTDP represents the highest level of USA Hockey’s amateur development program. 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. Jack Hughes (New Jersey Devils) and Trevor Zegras (Anaheim Ducks) are among the young stars to 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, 16, is the first area player to make the USNTDP U17 roster. He played 61 games for the Pittsburgh Penguins Elite 15U team last season, scoring 64 total points. In 2022-23, he netted 14 goals in 9 games for Conemaugh Valley High School.
“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.”
Likewise, for Johnstown Tomahawks coach Jared Kersner, the exhibition will give his team a chance to sharpen their skills against elite competition.
“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.”
Tickets range from $10 to $20 and are be available at JohnstownTomahawks.com, as well as the 1ST SUMMIT ARENA box office.