Wednesday, November 5, 2008

The Upsets Continue

Press Release

CAMROSE, Alta. – The United States Junior Select Team fell to Germany, 5-2, here tonight in its first game at the 2008 World Junior A Challenge. Mike Cichy (New Hartford, Conn.), who notched a goal and an assist, was named Team USA's Player of the Game.

"While our guys worked hard, this wasn't obviously the outcome we had hoped for," said Mark Carlson (Cedar Rapids, Iowa), head coach of Team USA. "We'll re-focus and be ready to play tomorrow."

Cichy gave Team USA the early lead when he knocked in the rebound of Darren Rowe's (Simi Valley, Calif.) shot at 6:36 of the first period.Joe Howe (Plymouth, Minn.) stopped all nine shots he faced in the period and Team USA took a 1-0 lead into the first intermission.

David Gerths (Ankeny, Iowa) scored on the power play to give the U.S. a 2-0 lead 3:22 into the second stanza, however, Germany rallied with a pair of goals, including Alexander Oblinger's marker with :48 left in the stanza, to forge a 2-2 tie after 40 minutes.

Germany scored the only three goals of the final stanza to gain the victory. Team USA garnered 12 shots on goal during the frame but was unable to solve German goalie Markus Keller.

The United States outshot Germany, 37-28.

The U.S. Junior Select Team returns to action tomorrow (Nov. 5) when it faces Canada East at 10 p.m. EST, at the Edgeworth Centre in Camrose, Alta.

NOTES: Teams participating in the 2008 World Junior A Challenge include Belarus, Canada East, Canada West, Germany, Russia and the United States ... The 22 players on the U.S. roster represent 12 different states. All 22 players come from the United States Hockey League, the only Tier I junior hockey league in the United States ... Carlson, head coach and general manager of the USHL's Cedar Rapids RoughRiders, is assisted by Todd Knott (Sioux City, Iowa), head coach and general manager of the USHL's Sioux City Musketeers, and Bliss Littler (Omaha, Neb.), head coach and general manager of the USHL's Omaha Lancers. Carlson and Knott are both USA Hockey Level 4 certified coaches, while Littler is a Level 5 certified coach ... More information about the World Junior A Challenge can be found here.

Canada West defeated Russia 5-2 in the night cap..

That's My Take

(Nathan also is a writer for Maineiacs Post to Post and the Maine Hockey Journal. He can be reached at fourniern@students.nescom.edu)

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Did the team did not have any exhibition games to prepare for this short tournament? Team Canada had two games.