PUCHOV, Slovakia — Evan Barratt (Bristol, Pa.) scored two goals and added an assist but the U.S. National Under-17 Team was clipped by Slovakia, 5-4, here tonight at Zimny stadión Púchov. Team USA now sits at 1-1 at the 2015 Under-17 Four Nations Tournament.
Team USA opened the scoring 59 seconds in to the first period off the stick of Sean Dhooghe (Aurora, Ill.). Collecting assists on the play were Jake Tortora (Victor, N.Y.) and Logan Cockerill (Brighton, Mich.). Slovakia responded by putting the puck into the net three consecutive times, once off a successful penalty shot attempt, to jump out to a 3-1 lead. With 1:19 left in the frame, Barratt took a feed from Scott Reedy (Prior Lake, Minn.) and brought the U.S. back within one. Reilly Walsh (Andover, N.H.) also earned a helper on the play.
The lone goal in the second stanza came shorthanded from the Slovaks, who restaked their two-goal advantage. Adam Scheel (Lakewood, Ohio) was replaced in net by Dylan St. Cyr (Northville, Mich.) who stopped all nine shots faced in the second half of the period.
Early in the final frame Slovakia notched a power-play goal to increase its lead, now 5-2. Team USA answered with back-to-back markers to get within striking range, down just one score, but couldn’t muster the game-tying goal. Reedy and Barratt lit the lamp in the third period for Team USA.
The U.S. National Under-17 Team wraps tournament play tomorrow (Dec. 20) at 5 a.m. ET against Switzerland.
Notes: Team USA was outshot by Slovakia, 35-34 … For a complete U.S. roster click here … The U.S. National Under-17 Team has claimed the tournament title five of the last six seasons and eight times total dating back to 2001 … The official tournament website can be found here … Follow @USAHockeyNTDP and @USAHockeyScores on Twitter for tournament updates and join the conversation on social media by using the #4NationsU17 tag … Don Granato (Downers Grove, Ill.) is the head coach for the U.S. National Under-17 Team. Joining Granato on the bench is assistant coach Nick Fohr (Grand Forks, N.D.) and intern assistant coach Greg Moore (Lisbon, Maine).
Team USA Schedule – 2015 Four Nations Tournament
Dec. 16-20 | Púchov, Slovakia
Date Opponent Venue Time (ET)
Weds., Dec. 16 Slovakia* Zimny stadión Púchov W, 8-3
Fri., Dec. 18 Russia Zimny stadión Púchov W, 5-4 (OT)
Sat., Dec. 19 Slovakia Zimny stadión Púchov L, 5-4
Sun., Dec. 20 Switzerland Zimny stadión Púchov 5:00 a.m.
*Pre-tournament game
