Minnesota high school hockey will lose some of its best under-17 players next fall. The U.S. National Team Development Program announced April 3 that seven Minnesotans, including Moorhead’s Joey Cullen, will join the under-17 roster for the 2026-27 hockey season.

The players hail from everywhere from Minnetonka to Moorhead and will relocate to Plymouth, Mich., for the elite hockey program. The full roster of 23 will compete in the United States Hockey League and in three international tournaments.

Meet the Minnesotans headed to the NTDP, listed in alphabetical order:

Henry Buttweiler

Hometown: Alexandria

Team: Detroit Honeybaked 15-only

Position: Forward

Age: 15

Alexandria-born Buttweiler logged 56 goals and 85 assists in 77 games for the Honeybaked under-15 AAA team this season. Last year, he joined Joey Cullen on Moorhead’s Bantam AA roster with 107 points.

Joey Cullen

Hometown: Moorhead

Team: Moorhead

Position: Forward

Age: 15

Cullen will be missed on Moorhead’s roster after scoring 40 points, including a third-period goal in the boys hockey state tournament title game, during the 2025-26 season. The sophomore forward is no stranger to a state tourney trophy and led the Moorhead Bantam AA team to championship glory with 151 points during the 2024-25 season. The son of former NHL player Matt Cullen is expected to be a top prospect in the 2028 NHL draft.

Landon Knott

Hometown: Bemidji

Team: Bemidji

Position: Defenseman

Age: 16

Knott ended his sophomore season at Bemidji with five goals and 10 assists. The 6-1 defenseman stood out last year on Bemidji’s Bantam AA roster with 25 goals and 58 assists.

Maverick McKinnon

Hometown: Forest Lake

Team: St. Thomas Academy

Position: Forward

Age: 15

As a freshman, McKinnon contributed the second-most points for St. Thomas Academy — just behind senior All-Minnesota player Cole Braunshausen. The forward racked up 27 goals and 34 assists during the 2025-26 season. As an eighth-grader on Forest Lake’s roster, McKinnon scored 50 points last year.

Mason Schemenauer

Hometown: Minnetrista

Team: Minnetonka

Position: Defenseman

Age: 15

As a sophomore, Schemenauer got his chance to shine on the big stage with two state tournament points, including a goal against Rosemount in the semifinals. The defenseman scored two goals this season and logged 11 assists. Last year for Minnetonka’s Bantam AA team, he recorded 50 points.

Dean Stevens

Hometown: Minnetonka

Team: Minnetonka Bantam AA

Position: Forward

Age: 15

Stevens has played on Minnetonka’s Bantam AA team for the past two seasons. During the 2024-25 hockey season, the forward put up 84 points.

RJ Thompson

Hometown: Eden Prairie

Team: Eden Prairie

Position: Forward

Age: 15

As a freshman, Thompson led Eden Prairie with 22 goals during the 2025-26 season. The Eagles may have missed out on a state tournament visit, but Thompson ended his season on a high note with a hat trick against Buffalo on Feb. 12.