| Pierson records a hat trick; 17 players record at least a point |
| Several NYS-Born Players Record Points |
| VISP, Switzerland – Charlie Kinsman (Orchard Park, N.Y.) recorded four assists as seven U.S. players had a multi-point game as the U.S. Under-17 Men’s Select Team won against Slovakia inside Lonza Arena. “It was a great team victory,” said Bob Mancini, head coach of the U.S. Under-17 Men’s Select Team. “It really feels good to win when all of the players on the ice are contributing.” Cooper Pierson (Zionsvile, Ind.) started the scoring for the U.S., fresh off a penalty kill nearly five minutes into the game. Matt Mania (Olmstead Township, Ohio) created the opportunity as he sent a quick pass in front of the net for Pierson who deflected it past Slovakian netminder Damian Slavik. The U.S. scored three times in less than two minutes midway through the opening period to take control. Gavin McCarthy (Clarence Center, N.Y.) redirected a lobbed pass from Jayson Shaugabay (Warroad, Minn.) at 9:54 to make it 2-0, before Logan Renkowski (Nesconset, N.Y.) buried a puck from in front of the net after a pass pinballed to him off two Slovakian players at 10:57. Just :26 later, Dashel Oliver (Bloomington, Ind.) intercepted a pass behind the net and fed it to Pierson who tallied his second goal of the game. The U.S. finished the opening 20 minutes with a 4-1 advantage. Slovakia made it 4-2 six minutes into the period. Mania, however, put the U.S. back up by three after he skated alongside William Whitelaw (Rosemount, Minn.) and converted on the backhand. Team USA scored two more within the next three minutes, as Cameron Briere (Stillwater, Minn.) tallied his first of the game, 47 seconds before Pierson completed a hat trick. Brian Nicholas (Scarsdale, N.Y.) picked up the eighth U.S. goal with just over 30 seconds to play in the period.The U.S. scored three more times in the final stanza, with goals from Carey Terrance (Akwesasne, N.Y.), Renkowski and Tanner Adams (Northport, N.Y.). Thomas Kiesewetter (Plymouth, Mass.) started in net for the U.S. The U.S., now 2-0 in Five Nations play, will face Germany Friday (Aug. 20) at 9:00 a.m. ET at Lonza Arena in Visp, Switzerland. The game will be streamed live on YouTube. (USA Hockey Photo) |
