Thursday, February 10, 2011

Five Nations: U.S. tops Russia

Press Release

HRADEC KRALOVE, Czech Republic - Cole Bardreau (Fairport, N.Y.), Reid Boucher (Grand Ledge, Mich.), Rocco Grimaldi (Rossmoor, Calif.) and Ryan Haggerty (Stamford, Conn.) each recorded three points, as the U.S. National Under-18 Team topped Russia, 10-4, here today at Hradec Kralove Arena in its second contest of the 2011 Five Nations Tournament.


"It is not often we beat a quality opponent like Russia 10-4," said Ron Rolston, head coach of the U.S. National Under-18 Team. "Our challenge now is to come prepared to play the host country, the Czech Republic, on national television tomorrow."


Team USA opened the scoring when Blake Pietila (Brighton, Mich.) collected his own rebound, circled around the net and lifted the puck over Russian goaltender Artem Artemjev for the tally. The U.S. took a two-goal lead when Grimaldi broke free in the neutral zone and ripped a shot into the net. Russia responded before time expired in the first, but Team USA led 2-1 heading into intermission.


Boucher scored shorthanded 3:04 into the second period after connecting with Grimaldi and Connor Murphy (Dublin, Ohio). Russia responded with a goal, but Grimaldi regained Team USA's two-goal lead with a power-play tally less than three minutes later.


With the U.S. on the power play yet again, Boucher scored his second goal of the game at the 13:45 mark to put the U.S. ahead, 5-2. Less than a minute later, Tyler Biggs (Cincinnati, Ohio) caused a turnover and scored a breakaway goal. Bardreau followed with a tally of his own just 34 seconds later. Russia would add a goal before the end of the period, but Team USA carried a 7-3 lead into the final frame.


The U.S. continued its offensive outburst in the third period with another powerplay strike by Biggs at the 4:01 mark. Just 52 seconds later, Haggerty found the back of the net for his third point of the contest. Russia then notched a power-play goal midway through the third. Bardreau finished off the scoring with 18 seconds left in regulation to lift Team USA to a 10-4 victory.


Matt McNeely (Burnsville, Minn.) earned the victory for Team USA, while Artemjev was in goal for Russia.

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

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