Photo by Michael Caples/MiHockey
Photo by Michael Caples/MiHockey

 

By @MichaelCaples –

Fans of USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program and the Muskegon Lumberjacks can now start planning out their USHL viewing schedule.

The top junior league in the country announced their 2016-17 full schedule today. Here are some of the highlights, as it relates to the three Michigan-based teams (Muskegon and the NTDP U17 and U18 teams):

Muskegon will take part in the USHL Fall Classic East in Pittsburgh from Sept. 15-18. The NTDP U18 Team will play in both the Fall Classic East and in the Fall Classic West, which takes place in Omaha, Neb., from Sept. 8-11.

The NTDP will kick off their home schedule with a game against the Lumberjacks on Friday, Sept. 23. That’s the first game of the USHL season for any member club.

The Lumberjacks will host a AAA hockey tournament during the weekend series that features a 2015 Clark Cup Final rematch with the Sioux Falls Stampede on Oct. 28-29.

On Nov. 3, the Lumberjacks will host Hockey For Health, bringing local schools to a 10:30 a.m. game against the Youngstown Phantoms.

NTDP teams will host the Tri-City Storm – last year’s USHL champions – in back-to-back games on Jan. 27 and 28.

NTDP vs. Muskegon games this season (the schedule does not differentiate between U17 and U18 teams at this point):

  • Sept. 23 in Plymouth (7 p.m.)
  • Oct. 1 in Muskegon (7:15 p.m.)
  • Nov. 23 in Plymouth (2 p.m.)
  • Dec. 9 in Plymouth (7 p.m.)
  • Dec. 30 in Muskegon (7:15 p.m.)
  • Jan. 16 in Plymouth (2 p.m.)
  • April 1 in Muskegon (7:15 p.m.)

The Lumberjacks’ home opener is set for Saturday, Oct. 1 at 7:15 p.m. in one of the aforementioned games against the NTDP.

The ‘Jacks will play 26 regular-season games before the holiday break in mid-December, with 10 of them at L.C. Walker Arena.

Following the break, Muskegon will play 20 of its final 34 games at home. The Lumberjacks will play the Bloomington Thunder four times in the final 11 games.

The ‘Jacks lone preseason game will be against the NTDP U17 Team on Sept. 10 at 7:15 p.m. in Muskegon.

Stay tuned for a complete NTDP schedule for both the U17 and U18 clubs.