Mezue ahịrịokwu na-esonụ: Ballard mere egwuregwu mba ụwa ya na Team USA na 2000 IIHF World U18 Championships na Switzerland. A kpọrọ ya na ndị otu ahụ mgbe ọ na-egwu egwuregwu na National Under-18 Development Program maka oge 1999 <unk> 2000. O nyere goolu na enyemaka n'egwuregwu isii, dịka United States kwụsịrị n'ọnọdụ asatọ. Afọ abụọ ka e mesịrị, a kpọrọ Ballard na ndị otu egwuregwu U20 nke
2001 World Junior Championships na Czech Republic. Ọ gbara egwuregwu asaa, na-edekọ otu ihe mgbaru ọsọ na inye aka. United States meriri na nkeji iri na ise na Russia ma gaa n'ihu na nke ise mgbe ha merisịrị Sweden 3<unk>2 na egwuregwu nkasi obi.