VELIKY NOVGOROD, Russia -The U.S. National Under-17 Team defeated Slovakia, 12-0, behind two goals performances from Cole Caufield (Stevens Point, Wis.) and Patrick Moynihan (Millis, Mass.), in its opening game of the 2017 Under-17 Four Nations Tournament this morning.
Alex Turcotte (Island Lake, Ill.) opened the scoring for Team USA 34 seconds into the game, before Henry Thrun (Southborough, Mass.) extended the lead, 2-0 at 6:27 of the first.
Caufield netted his first goal of the game on a centering pass from Michael Gildon (Plano, Texas) to put the U.S. up, 3-0.
Caufield netted his second of the game at the 17 minute mark of the first, to send the U17s into the locker room up 4-0 after the first 20 minutes.
Moynihan put the puck in the back of the net from the right circle with help from Owen Lindmark (Naperville, Ill.) at 10:32 of the second frame.
Alex Vlasic (Wilmette, Ill.) sent the puck to the front of the net where Trevor Zegras (Bedford, N.Y.) was able to shovel it into the net to put the U17s up, 6-0 at the end of two.
The U17s added six goals in the third period for a final score of 12-0.
Turcotte netted his second of the game at the 2:03 mark of the third period with help from Matthew Boldy (Millis, Mass.) and Drew Helleson (Farmington, Minn.).
Ryder Rolston (Birmingham, Mich.) sent in a one-timer from Sean Farrell (Hopkinton, Mass.) to put the U17s up, 8-0.
Case McCarthy (Clarence Center, N.Y.) and Marshall Warren (Laurel Hollow, N.Y.) also netted one apiece at 6:13 and 7:07 of the third period.
Moynihan netted his second of the game at 11:57 of the third period before Jack Hughes (Orlando, Fla.) finished the scoring for Team USA at the 13:45 mark.
The U17s are back in action tomorrow morning, Friday (Dec. 15) against Switzerland at 7 a.m. ET
