Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Team USA Drops 6-3 Decision in First IIHF World Junior Championship Pre-Tournament Game

Press Release

RED DEER, Alta. -- J.T. Miller scored a shorthanded goal and added an assist, but a U.S. squad of candidates for the 2012 U.S. National Junior Team dropped a 6-3 decision to Russia tonight at the Enmax Centrium.

Tonight's game was the first of three pre-tournament games designed to prepare the U.S. National Junior Team for the 2012 International Ice Hockey Federation World Junior Championship, which will take place Monday (Dec. 26) through Jan. 5 in Edmonton and Calgary, Alta.

"While we're disappointed with the loss, this is just a step in our evaluation process," said Dean Blais, head coach of the U.S. National Junior Team. "We will continue to work to prepare for the tournament, beginning with tomorrow's exhibition game against Switzerland."

After falling behind in the game's first three minutes, 2-0, Team USA got on the scoreboard when Josh Archibald's (Brainerd, Minn./University of Nebraska Omaha) long shot beat Russian goaltender Andrey Vasilevskiy.

Russia regained a two-goal lead midway through the second period. Miller intercepted a pass with his team shorthanded in the period's final minute, sped away for a breakaway and beat Vasilevskiy to make the score 3-2 after two.

The U.S. could not get closer in the third period, as Russia pushed its advantage to 5-2 before Kenny Agostino (Flanders, N.J./Yale Univ.) connected on a rebound opportunity from the slot. An empty-net goal by Russia closed out the scoring.

Team USA goalie Jack Campbell (Port Huron, Mich./Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds) made 20 saves in the loss, while Vasilevskiy stopped 34 U.S. shots in the win.

Next up for Team USA is an exhibition game tomorrow night (Dec. 21) against Switzerland in Camrose, Alta. Puck drop is slated for 7:30 p.m. MST, with full coverage at USAHockey.com.

Team USA will play its first preliminary-round game of the IIHF World Junior Championship on Monday (Dec. 26) against Finland. The game, to be televised on NHL Network U.S., will start at 8:00 p.m. EST.

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

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