USA Hockey Teams Compete in Europe and Canada
The U18 squad heads to Switzerland while the U17 team plays in Oakville, Ontario, as both continue their international schedules.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Hockey
USA Hockey's U18 team travels to Kloten, Switzerland, to compete in the U18 Five Nations Tournament against Sweden, Czechia, Finland and Switzerland. Meanwhile, the U17 team remains in Oakville, Ontario, for the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge, where it will face Canada Red and Finland.
Why it matters
Both squads are competing in international events that serve as important evaluation platforms for young American players. Their results so far have been mixed, with the U18 team holding a 5-9-0-0 record and the U17 team at 3-7-0-0.
USA Hockey's National Team Development Program holds an 8-16-0-0 overall record, while Team USA in the USHL stands at 4-7-0-0 with 8 points in 11 games and sits 7th in the Eastern Conference. The U17 team's October 30 win over Canada White ended a stretch in which it had dropped its prior matchup 5-1 to the Lumberjacks.
The players
USA Hockey
USA Hockey is the national governing body for ice hockey in the United States, overseeing its national teams and development programs.
The details
The U18 squad will face Sweden, Czechia, Finland and Switzerland in the Five Nations event in Kloten. The U17 team, which defeated Canada White 7-2 in pre-tournament action, will play Canada Red and Finland in the World Under-17 Challenge, and may play quarterfinal, semifinal and final games if it advances.
Timeline
October 28: U17 team lost 5-1 to the Lumberjacks.
October 30: U17 team defeated Canada White 7-2 in pre-tournament action.
Season Trajectory
The USA Hockey National Team Development Program's 8-16-0-0 overall record places its current cohort in a challenging stretch of international play. Both age groups now face tournament opponents that test their development against top-tier European and Canadian programs.
The U17 team's remaining tournament games will determine whether it advances to the quarterfinal, semifinal and final rounds in Oakville. For USHL followers, Team USA's 7th-place standing in the Eastern Conference shows how much the team needs to gain in the standings.
The takeaway
Youth international results like these show how player development is measured across several competitions, not just one tournament. Tracking win-loss trends across both the U17 and U18 squads gives a clearer picture of where American prospects stand.
Further reading
Explore more hockey coverage for the latest on USA Hockey's development programs and international competition.
