USA Upends Russia 5-1

Press Release

KINGSTON, Ontario – Aaron Palushaj (Northville, Mich./University of Michigan) scored a natural hat trick to help the United States National Junior Team defeat Russia, 5-1, here tonight in its final tune-up prior to the 2009 International Ice Hockey Federation World Junior Championship. Team USA outshot Russia, 40-17, including by a 15-0 margin in the opening period.

Palushaj tallied the only goal of the first stanza at 16:06. He went from backhand to forehand in tight and spun from the goalline to beat Russian goalie Danila Alistratov on the shortside over his blocker. Team USA prevented Russia from registering a shot on goal in the period and held a 1-0 lead after 20 minutes.

Palushaj scored a power-play goal off a rebound at 4:32 of the middle frame, before scoring off a rush just :13 later to complete the natural hat trick and stake the U.S. to a 3-0 advantage. James van Riemsdyk (Middletown, N.J./University of New Hampshire) scored from just above the goal line at 16:53 to give Team USA a four-goal advantage after 40 minutes.

Russia scored a power-play goal off a deflection at 8:43 of the third to break the shutout. Colin Wilson (Greenwich, Conn./Boston University) fired home a slapshot from the high slot at 17:12 to account for the 5-1 final.

U.S. netminder Thomas McCollum (Sanborn, N.Y.) made 16 saves to earn the victory.

The U.S. National Junior Team returns to action Friday (Dec. 26) when it faces Germany at 3:30 p.m. EST in its opening game at the 2009 IIHF World Junior Championship in Ottawa, Ontario. The game can be seen live in the United States on the NHL Network.

NOTES: Aaron Palushaj (3-0--3) was named Team USA's player of the game ... Defenseman Jonathon Blum(Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.) is the captain of the 2009 U.S. National Junior Team, while forward Colin Wilson and defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk (New Rochelle, N.Y./Boston University) are the team's alternate captains ... The 2009 U.S. National Junior Team trained in Lake Placid, N.Y., at the Olympic Training Center from Dec. 16-20 ... Ron Rolston (Ann Arbor, Mich.), head coach of the U.S. National Under-18 Team within USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program, is the head coach of the 2009 U.S. National Junior Team. Nate Leaman (Clifton Park, N.Y./Union College) and P.K. O'Handley (Waterloo, Iowa/Waterloo Black Hawks) are serving as assistant coaches, while Jeff Blashill (Indianapolis, Ind./Indiana Ice) is the goaltending coach ... The NHL Network will broadcast live all Team USA games in the 2009 IIHF World Junior Championship ... Team USA finished fourth at the 2008 IIHF World Junior Championship and has played for a medal in the event each of the last six years.

(Nathan also is a writer for Maineiacs Post to Post and the Maine Hockey Journal. He can be reached at fourniern@students.nescom.edu)