U17s take first place at Five Nations

Press Release

HUTTWIL, Switzerland - Nicholas Schilkey (Smiths Creek, Mich.) scored four goals, and Joseph Cox (Chelsea, Mich./1-3) and Jordan Masters (Rochester, N.Y./2-2) each recorded four points, as the U.S. Under-17 Select Team defeated Germany, 14-2, here today at the 2010 Under-17 Five Nations Tournament. With the victory, Team USA clinched first place in the tournament, posting its best finish since 2005. The U.S. concluded the week with a 3-0-0-1 (W-OTW-OTL-L) overall record.

"The story of the day was our outstanding power play and penalty kill," said Sean Tremblay, head coach of the U.S. Under-17 Select Team. "The team really came together this week and had a great deal of success as a result. As a staff, we could not be more proud of them."


Team USA jumped out to a 1-0 lead 7:46 into the first period, when Brian Morgan (Windham, N.H.) connected on a centering pass from Masters. Four minutes later, the U.S. scored its first of six power-play goals. After Teddy Doherty's (Hopkinton, Mass.) shot was turned aside, Masters poked the rebound into the back of the net.

Germany cut the U.S. lead to 2-1 at the 16:08 mark of the first, but Team USA responded one minute later on the man-advantage. Doherty slipped a pass to Cox, who stickhandled and slid a shot between the legs of goaltender Marvin Cupper. With less than two minutes remaining in the first period, Schilkey netted a power-play goal on a rebound to give the U.S. a 4-1 advantage.

Team USA scored three goals within the first five minutes of the second period to extend its lead to 7-1. After a scramble in front of the net, Schilkey found the loose puck and buried it for the score. Less than three minutes later, Doherty scored on a tip-in for yet another U.S. power-play goal. Just 29 seconds after that, Kyle Osterberg (Lakeville, Minn.) skated in alone and beat Cupper high to the blocker side.

Midway through the middle frame, Schilkey gave Team USA a seven-goal cushion with his third goal of the game. Zach Stepan (Fairbault, Minn.) won the faceoff in the offensive zone and dished the puck across the crease to Schilkey, who flipped it in behind Cupper. Tim Davison (De Pere, Wis.) scored in a similar fashion just three minutes later.

Riley Barber (Livonia, Mich.) and Masters extended the U.S. lead to 11-1 early in the third period. Germany scored for the second time halfway through the final frame, but Team USA notched three more goals for the decisive 14-2 victory. A.J. Michaelson (Lakeville, Minn.) and Troy Donnay (Fenton, Mich.) assisted Jack Rowe (Cary, Ill.) for two goals, and Schilkey netted his fourth in the last minute of the game to complete the scoring.

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