Petoskey’s Ryan Teuscher, who scored a highlight-reel, between-the-legs overtime goal for Detroit’s Fox Motors this year, was one of five Michigan-area players selected to join USA Hockey’s national team development program (NTDP) next year.
Teuscher is a 5-foot-9 forward who has scored 87 and 74 goals in the Fox Motors program. Here’s the other four local players, all from the 2010 birth year:
▶ Jack Trupiano: Forward, St. Clair Shores, Detroit Little Caesars 15U
▶ Griffin Carver: Defenseman, Flat Rock, Detroit Little Caesars 15U
▶ Andrew Krochalk: Defenseman, Caledonia, Fox Motors 15U
▶ Mason Martin: Goaltender, Byron Center, Fox Motors 15U
“Making final selections was a challenge given the level of talent,” said Detroit’s Rod Braceful, director of player personnel for the NTDP. “We extend our appreciation to all the youth organizations and coaches across the country for their contribution and development of these players.
“We are excited and couldn’t be happier that this group of 23 will be the next NTDP class as we head into our 30th season.”
The 23 players come from nine different states; Minnesota (7), Michigan (5), Massachusetts (2), New Jersey (2), New York (2), Pennsylvania (2), Alaska (1), Missouri (1) and Wisconsin (1).
Mammoth return home with season on line
After their second consecutive 5-4 overtime loss on Wednesday, you might expect the Utah Mammoth to be a little demoralized heading into Game 6 of their best-of-seven Western Conference first-round series with the Vegas Golden Knights.
But the mood around the Mammoth was surprisingly upbeat heading back to Salt Lake City for their must-win matchup with the Pacific Division champions.
“We’re a confident group,” Utah captain Clayton Keller said. “We believe in one another and in our team, and I think these are the most fun games to be a part of. Down 3-2, we get to go home, play in front of our fans. If you’re not fired up for that, then you’ve got something wrong with you.”
The Mammoth lost on a Shea Theodore overtime goal in their last game on home ice on Monday, blowing a 4-3 third-period lead in the process.
As painful as that was, Wednesday’s 5-4 double-overtime loss had to be even more of a gut punch. The Golden Knights tied it with a 6-on-5 goal from Pavel Dorofeyev with 52.7 seconds left, then won it on Brett Howden’s short-handed goal 5:28 into the second overtime.
“We’re right there,” Utah coach Andre Tourigny said. “We knew it would be a fight. It is what it is. We want to go back to Salt Lake for Game 6 in front of our fans, and we’ll give it our all and we’ll work from there. But I think we’re really confident in what we can achieve out there.
“I like the fight in our guys. I like our execution. Now it comes down to one game.”
“Go win one at home. I think that’s our focus,” Mammoth forward Lawson Crouse added. “… We have to win. We’ve got to step up and do it on our home ice. We’ve got incredible fans back home, and we’re excited to get going again.”
It won’t be easy. Vegas has a strong veteran group that won the 2023 Stanley Cup and has excelled at finding ways to win games when trailing late in contests.
The Golden Knights led the NHL in the regular season with 108 goals in the third period, and they’ve rallied in the third period in each of their three wins in the series.
“It’s something that we’ve prided ourselves on all season,” center Jack Eichel said. “So much credit to guys in the locker room. There’s a calmness and a confidence within our group.”
There have been 29 teams in NHL history that have trailed in the third period of each of the first five games of a playoff series. This year’s Golden Knights are the first such team to lead the series through five games, per Opta.
“You need to have that come from within the room,” Vegas coach John Tortorella added. “We’ve seen it through five games. You can tell they never feel like they’re out of it.”
History would appear to be on the Golden Knights’ side after Wednesday’s dramatic come-from-behind win. In its nine-year history, Vegas has won all eight of its series where it won Game 5.
Game 7, if needed, is scheduled for Sunday in Las Vegas.
Assistant coach Jessica Campbell leaving Kraken
Assistant coach Jessica Campbell will not return to the Seattle Kraken next season, the team announced on Thursday.
Campbell, 33, made history in 2024 when Seattle made her the first woman ever to hold a full-time role on an NHL bench.
“As Jessica’s current contract expires, she has expressed her desire to explore other coaching roles across the League and we support her in this process,” Kraken executive vice president and general manager Jason Botterill said in a statement. “Jessica has been an important member of our coaching staff for the past four years, demonstrating deep knowledge, and a unique ability to connect with and develop players. We respect her decision and believe strongly in her as a coach in this league.”
Campbell previously was an assistant coach with Seattle’s AHL affiliate, the Coachella Valley Firebirds from 2022-24. The team twice reached the AHL’s Calder Cup Final, losing both times to the Hershey Bears in seven games in 2023 and six games in 2024.
As an assistant coach for Germany in 2022, Campbell broke ground as the first woman on a coaching staff at the IIHF Men’s World Championship. She was an assistant with Nurnberg in Germany in 2021-22.
The Saskatchewan native played college hockey at Cornell and won gold medals with Canada at the World U18 Championship in 2010 and the 4 Nations Cup in 2014. Campbell played professionally in the Canadian Women’s Hockey League with the Calgary Inferno before going into coaching in 2017.
Caufield among Lady Byng finalists
Los Angeles Kings captain Anze Kopitar, Montreal Canadiens forward Cole Caufield and Ottawa Senators defenseman Jake Sanderson were named the finalists for the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy on Thursday.
Kopitar is no stranger to the award, presented annually to the NHL player who best combines sportsmanship, gentlemanly conduct and ability. He won the award in 2015-16, 2022-23, 2024-25.
The award, which will be voted on by the Professional Hockey Writers Association, will be announced at a later date.
Kopitar, 38, recorded 38 points (12 goals, 26 assists) and committed five minor penalties while competing in his 20th and final NHL season. He is bidding to become the first back-to-back winner of the award since Martin St. Louis accomplished the feat for the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2009-10 and 2010-11.
Caufield, 25, scored a career-high 51 goals to go along with 88 points and just 14 penalty minutes this season.
Sanderson, 23, totaled 54 points (14 goals, 40 assists) and just eight penalty minutes in 67 games this season.
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Ryan Teuscher was selected to join USA Hockey’s top development team