Sunday, January 1, 2012

U17s skate past Canada West

Press Release

TECUMSEH, Ont. - J.T. Compher (Northbrook, Ill.) tallied one goal and collected three assists, as the U.S. National Under-17 Team skated past Canada West, 7-3, at the 2012 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge here tonight at Tecumseh Arena. With the win, Team USA improves to 2-1-0-0 (W-L-OTL-T).


"This was a crucial and hard-fought win for us tonight," said Don Granato, head coach of the U.S. National Under-17 Team. "It was a good effort put forth by both teams and now we look forward to another exciting match-up with Canada Pacific tomorrow."


Team USA jumped out to a quick lead at 2:10 of the opening frame when Connor Chatham (Belleville, Ill.) tipped a Keaton Thompson (Devils Lake, N.D.) slapshot into the net. The power-play tally was also assisted by Luke Voltin (Blaine, Minn.). After two consecutive penalties by the U.S., Canada West earned a two-man advantage and converted on the opportunity to tie the game. Team USA regained the lead at 16:33 when Compher flipped his own rebound from behind the net off the back of Canada West goaltender Austin Lotz. Will Butcher (Sun Prairie, Wis.) and Thompson assisted on the goal.


Anthony Louis (Winfield, Ill.) tipped the puck in at 7:06 of the second stanza to give Team USA a two-goal lead. Compher and Butcher assisted on the power-play tally. Canada West responded six seconds later on a long shot that took a favorable bounce over goaltender Hunter Miska's (North Branch, Minn.) shoulder. Traffic in front of the net and a scramble for the puck led to Voltin potting a goal for the U.S. Chatham and Evan Allen (Sterling Heights, Mich.) collected assists on the goal as Team USA enjoyed a 4-2 lead heading into the second intermission.


Midway through the third period, Tyler Motte (St. Clair, Mich.) clanked the puck off the post and the ensuing rush back by Canada West resulted in a goal. Team USA answered when Hudson Fasching (Burnsville, Minn.) jammed the puck past Lotz. Fasching's marker was assisted by Scott Savage (San Clemente, Calif.). Louis scored his second goal of the contest when he one-timed a rebound into the top corner of the net on the power play. Compher and Fasching registered assists on the play. Louis completed the hat trick at 17:06 with his third power-play marker. Butcher and Compher assisted and the U.S. skated away with a 7-3 victory over Canada West.


Miska stopped 14 shots for the U.S. in the victory, while Lotz made 38 saves for Canada West in the loss.

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

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