MONTREAL -- Isaac Howard, the last of six players from the USA Hockey National Team Development Program Under-18 team to be selected in the first round of the 2022 Upper Deck NHL Draft, has a good idea why the NTDP has become such an elite program for developing future NHL talent.
"The secret is our hard work, our competitiveness," said Howard, selected by the Tampa Bay Lightning at No. 31. "We all want to be better than each other and we all push each other to be the best version of ourselves."
The six players selected in the first round Thursday is the second-most in the 25-year history of the program, behind the eight selected in the first round of the 2019 NHL Draft. Another eight NTDP players were chosen on the second day of the draft.
But what makes this group even more impressive is the road they've traveled from USA Hockey Arena in Plymouth, Michigan, to reach this point.
"These kids started with us picked virtually," USA Hockey executive director Pat Kelleher said. "They didn't have a tryout camp because of the pandemic. It's first time we've ever picked the team virtually.
"And I'd say our staff did a pretty good job. From where they started and what they had to go through to play and develop in our program, which is not easy anyway, and put all the COVID stuff on top it, I'm incredibly happy for them, their families and really for our staff that's there in Plymouth [Michigan] every day with this group; our strength coaches, our academic people, our tutors, along with the coaches. Just feel really, really good for them."
Among the selections were two in the top five: center Logan Cooley at No. 3 to the Arizona Coyotes and left wing Cutter Gauthier at No. 5 to the Philadelphia Flyers.
Gauthier, who was No. 3 on NHL Central Scouting's final ranking of North American skaters, also said that internal push helped him become the player that he is.
"Over the course of two years I've developed brothers that have like-minded goals of playing in the NHL one day," he said. "And they have that mentality every single day going to the rink or the gym and pushing each other on the ice and off the ice. It's been a big help for me, them pushing me and creating me into being the player I am today and person I am today."
Kelleher said that internal competition has grown during its 25 years, with the NTDP developing into a hotbed of the best junior-age players from the United States.
"Probably the biggest thing is they are among the best and against the best every single day," he said. "So practices, in the weight room, they're striving to be the best and they have probably the best 20 other players in their birth year in our entire country that are pushing them and pushing back on them. ... They make each other work and they make each other better. When that happens from the player level, and the coaches help put them in an environment to compete and go against each other, but also be great teammates, it's special things obviously that happen."
Center Frank Nazar went No. 13 to the Chicago Blackhawks and right wing Rutger McGroarty was chosen No. 14 by the Winnipeg Jets.
McGroarty said he had a chance to talk to Nazar as they made their rounds following their selections. But just seeing his teammates enjoy the moment made it even more special for him.
"It's good to have a bunch of friends," he said. "You can talk to each other, you can use each other. We've all kind of talked to each other and calmed each other down."
While most of the players described the friendship as closer to a brotherhood, that internal competition is the reason for the individual success.
"We came to work every single day," McGroarty said. "We want the best for each other and we love each other like brothers. We all want the best for each other and I felt like it was a really great atmosphere."
Right wing Jimmy Snuggerud went No. 23 to the St. Louis Blues, and then Howard was the second-to-last selection of the first round.
NHL teams have recognized the NTDP as one of the top places to find elite-level talent at the draft.
"The whole development model they have is excellent," Flyers general manager Chuck Fletcher said; in addition to Gauthier, Philadelphia chose right wing Devin Kaplan in the third round (No. 69).
"They have a great off-ice program," Fletcher said. "They play a lot of games; they play junior games, they play against kids their own age, but they also play against collegiate players. ... There's a lot of highly driven and motivated kids that play for the program. So I think they push each other and challenge each other. It's been an incredible concept and every year it continues to amaze me how many players they produce."
Since 2019, 18 players have been selected in the first round, by far the most of any team in that span. And Kelleher expects that run to continue at what he called the best hockey finishing school in the world.
"I hope it's a story every year," he said. "It's great for us. ... Hopefully next year, it's a bigger and better story. It's not easy and we do take a lot of pride in it. I know our staff in Plymouth, sharing emails and text messages, everybody plays a role in it. We hope it stays a story and it just gets better and better every year."
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