USA Splits

The exhibition schedule got underway yesterday in Lake Placid, New York with Finland taking on USA Blue and Sweden taking on USA White.

Finland and USA Blue hit the ice first. It was the Blue Team running away with it, with a 4-1 victory. Ryan Bourgue (U-18 NTDP, UNH (2009), 2009) added a pair of powerplay goals for the Americans. Corey Tropp (Michigan State, CCHA, Buffalo) and Nick Palmieri (Erie Otters, OHL, New Jersey) rounded out the scoring for the Blue Team. Jesse Jyrkkio (Assat Pori, Sm-Liiga) was the only Finnish player to score on Thomas McCollum (Guelph Storm, OHL, Detroit).

The second contest was a dandy between Sweden and Team White. Sweden came away with the 3-2 victory in overtime. Sweden lost one of their best forwards in Mattias Tedneby (HV-71, SEL, New Jersey) who took a puck to the mouth and had to go to the hospital.

Nichlas Torp (HV-71, SEL, Montreal) took advantage of a two man advantage, 6:51 into the game. He fired a shot that found its way passed Jeremy Smith (Plymouth Whalers, OHL, Nashville). David Warsofsky (BU, Hockey East, St. Louis) got the game back to even almost six minutes later. He let a laser go past Jacob Markstrom (Brynas, SEL, Florida). Five minutes later James vanRiemsdyk (UNH, Hockey East, Philadelphia) stuffed the biscuit home after Mitch Wahl (Spokane Chiefs, WHL, Calgary) let a slapshot go.

There was no scoring in the second act.

Early in the third, Simon Hjalmarsson (Frolunda, SEL, St. Louis) tied the game at two all. Victor Hedman (MODO, SEL, 2009) took a penalty after vanRiemsdyk skated past him. The game would go in overtime and Phil McRae (London Knights, OHL, St. Louis) took a penaly with 2:10 remaining in the extra session. Torp got his second goal of the game and it was the game winner.

That's My Take

(Nathan also is a writer for MVN.com. He's the writer for the Asylum which covers the Lewiston Maineiacs of the QMJHL. He's also a regular contributor to the NHL Source also at MVN.com. He can be reached at fbbhgfan@aol.com)