Saturday, November 13, 2010

U.S. National Under-17 Team Tops Russia

Press Release

WOODRIDGE, Ill. - Nine different players scored Team USA's goals, 15 players recorded at least one point and Miles Koules (Los Angeles, Calif.) notched the game-winner, as the U.S. National Under-17 Team topped Russia, 9-3, here tonight in the final round-robin game of the 2010 Under-17 Four Nations Cup at Seven Bridges Ice Arena. With the victory, Team USA will face Russia again tomorrow night (Nov. 13) in the championship game of the tournament at 8 p.m. ET.

"We got off to a strong start and got a couple of quick goals, and then carried that strong play throughout the game," said Danton Cole, head coach of the U.S. National Under-17 Team. "We know Russia will regroup and be a huge test for us tomorrow."

Kyle Osterberg (Lakeville, Minn.) opening the scoring for Team USA just under five minutes into the first period. Ryan Hartman (West Dundee, Ill.) caused a turnover at the left sideboards and then sent a pass to Osterberg at the left faceoff circle, who fired a shot that beat Russia goaltender Andrey Vasilevskiy on the glove side.

The U.S. then scored two goals within 1:13 to gain a 3-0 lead. Henrik Samuelsson (Scottsdale, Ariz.) converted on a turnover and backhanded a pass to Nikolas Olsson (Escondido, Calif.) at the right side of the crease, who lifted the puck past Vasilevskiy to give the U.S. a 2-0 edge.

Frankie Vatrano (East Longmeadow, Mass.) then caused yet another Russian turnover and started the U.S. breakout by sending the puck up the left sideboards. Matthew Lane (Rochester, N.Y.) picked up the pass at the blueline and fired a shot that was blocked by the defense. He then found the loose puck and sent it past Vasilevskiy on the short side.

Early in the second period, Koules gave Team USA a 4-0 lead after converting on a pass from Quentin Shore (Denver, Colo.) for the eventual game-winning goal. Five minutes later, while on the power play, Jacob Trouba (Rochester, Mich.) scored off a slap shot from the right point to put the U.S. up, 5-0.

Just over one minute later, Dakota Mermis (Alton, Ill.) skated through center ice, stickhandled around the Russia defensemen, and wristed a shot that beat Vasilevskiy. At the 13:12 mark of the middle frame, Russia was awarded a penalty shot, but Jared Rutledge (Skokie, Ill.) made the save with his blocker.

Nicolas Kerdiles (Irvine, Calif.) then notched a five-on-three power-play goal with just over four minutes left in the period to send Team USA into the second intermission with a 7-0 cushion.

At the 6:50 mark of the final frame, Samuelsson skated off the halfwall towards the left side of the goal and backhanded the puck into the net. Russia scored two consecutive goals, but Gavin Stoick (Portland, Ore.) converted another five-on-three opportunity into a goal, after connecting on a pass from Brady Skjei (Lakeville, Minn.).

Russia scored late in the third period, but the U.S. came away with the 9-3 victory.

Rutledge made 26 saves for Team USA in the win, while Vasilevskiy stopped 33 shots for Russia in the loss.

NOTES: Team USA went 3-for-8 on the power play, while Russia was 0-for-5 with the man-advantage ... Miles Koules now leads the tournament with five points (3-2) in three games, while Jacob Trouba is tied for second with four points (2-2).

(Nathan can be reached at fourniern@students.nescom.edu)

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