Sunday, January 2, 2011

U.S. SCORES DOZEN TO ROUT ATLANTIC

Press Release

WINNIPEG, Man. – The United States are off to the semifinals again at the World Under-17 Hockey Challengeafter hammering Atlantic 12-1 on Saturday afternoon at the MTS Iceplex.

The win means the U.S. and Quebec will be the two teams from Group A advancing to Monday’s semis; thosetwo teams will meet Sunday (3 p.m. CT) with first place in the group on the line.

Coming off its first win less than 24 hours earlier, Atlantic held the American offence at bay until the8:40 mark of the first period, when Henrik Samuelsson’s tournament-leading sixth goal broke the ice.

Frankie Vatrano made it 2-0 just 20 seconds after that, and although Atlantic captain Justin Haché got theCanadian side on the board midway through the period, goals from Ryan Hartman and Thomas Di Pauli made it a4-1 game after one period.

After outshooting Atlantic 20-4 in the first period, the Americans continued their offensive push inperiod two, holding a 17-4 advantage and getting two goals from Matthew Lane and one each from Vatrano, KyleOsterberg, Miles Koules and Jacob Trouba to hit double digits after 40 minutes.

Brady Skjei and Connor Carrick rounded out the scoring in the third period, the ninth and tenth Americansto put their names on the scoresheet. In total, 16 of the 20 U.S. skaters recorded at least a point.

Trouba was awarded Player of the Game honours for the U.S., while Brandon Pye received the nod forAtlantic.

Atlantic wraps up its preliminary round Sunday when it travels to Portage la Prairie to face Germany (3p.m. CT).

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

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