PUCHOV, Slovakia — Eight different skaters scored as the U.S. National Under-17 Team cruised past Slovakia, 8-3, here today at Zimny stadión Púchov. The pre-tournament contest comes before the 2015 Under-17 Four Nations Tournament which begins Friday (Dec. 18).
The host Slovakians tallied the game’s first goal late in the opening period. Team USA managed 14 shots on net in the frame but was held without a marker.
Sean Dhooghe (Aurora, Ill.) knotted the game, 1-1, for the United States 3:10 into the second stanza. Brannon McManus (Newport Beach, Calif.) assisted. Slovakia answered back less than two minutes to regain the edge, now 2-1. Three straight goals by the U.S. flipped the game in favor of Team USA. Grant Mismash (Edina, Minn.) and Reilly Walsh (Andover, N.H.) each lit the lamp 2:24 apart to seize the lead, 3-2. Josh Maniscalco (Perkiomenville, Pa.) doubled the lead at 16:48 as the United States took a 4-2 lead into the dressing room.
Team USA continued its offensive outburst and stretched its advantage to five scores when Jake Tortora (Victor, N.Y.), Randy Hernandez (Miami, Fla.) and Joey Cassetti (Pleasanton, Calif.) potted goals in the first half of the final frame. Slovakia added a tally midway through the period, but Josh Norris (Oxford, Mich.) capped the scoring at 18:51 as the U.S. won handily, 8-3.
Dylan St. Cyr (Northville, Mich.) and Adam Scheel (Lakewood, Ohio) split time in net making a combined 21 saves in the victory.
The U.S. National Under-17 Team opens round-robin play on Friday (Dec. 18), against Russia. Puck drop is slated for 7:30 a.m. ET at Zimny stadión Púchov.
Notes: Team USA outshot Slovakia, 43-24 … The U.S. went 2-5 with the man advantage … 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 7:30 a.m.
Sat., Dec. 19 Slovakia Zimny stadión Púchov 11:00 a.m.
Sun., Dec. 20 Switzerland Zimny stadión Púchov 5:00 a.m.
*Pre-tournament game
