• Playing his second season with the U.S. National Team Development Program (NTDP), he helped the team to back-to-back World Under-18 Championship gold medals (2009 and 2010) – in 2010 he was selected by the coaching staff as one of the team’s top three players.

• Merrill also played a key role for Team USA’s three-game sweep at the 2009 Four Nations Cup and their second-place finish at the 2010 Six Nations Cup.

• He was born in Oklahoma City, but moved to Michigan at the age of five where he began following in the footsteps of his hockey playing older brother, Greg. His brother is now a defenseman for the Bay State Breakers of the Eastern Junior Hockey League.

• Merrill, who has committed to Michigan University for next season, on the type of game he plays: "I'm not the strongest or the fastest player and I don't have the heaviest shot, so when I play the game, I have to out-think my opponent because I can't out-skill or throw guys into the boards."

• Before joining the NTDP, he played for Little Caesar's in the Midwest Elite Hockey League and growing up in Michigan he idolized Detroit Red Wings defenseman Nicklas Lidstrom.

FAVORITES

NHL Team: Detroit Red Wings
NHL Player: Nicklas Lidstrom
Shootout move: Shot
Video Game: Guitar Hero
Movie: Dazed and Confused
TV Show: Entourage
Actress: Jennifer Aniston
Home-cooked meal: Flank steak
Activity away from the rink: Disc golf