PIESTANY, Slovakia – The United States Under-17 Men’s Select Team closed out the 2018 Five Nations Tournament today with a 5-0 win over Slovakia at Easton Arena.
Jack Williams (Biddeford, Maine) led the way for Team USA, scoring two goals and adding an assist. Cross Hanas (Highland Village, Texas), Mark Estapa (St. Clair, Mich.) and Mackie Samoskevich (Sandy Hook, Conn.) also scored in the victory.
Hanas struck for the game’s first goal 8:38 into the second frame. After being hooked from behind on a breakaway, Hanas was awarded a penalty shot. On his solo foray, he forced the goalie to push to his right and then Hanas extended his stick to the far side of the net with one hand to tuck the puck over the goal line.
The U.S. soon extended its lead while shorthanded. Williams made the play, stealing the puck at his defensive blue line, accelerating through the neutral zone for a shorthanded breakaway and beating the goaltender on his forehand.
Estapa capitalized again for the U.S. just 3:56 later to extend the lead to 3-0 at the end of the second period.
Williams scored on the power play during the third period, his second goal of the game, and Samoskevich added his second goal of the tournament to secure the victory.
NOTES: With the win, Team USA skated to a third-place finish at the Five Nations Tournament… Goaltender Colin Purcell (Shaker Heights, Ohio) recorded a seven-save shutout and was named U.S. Player of the Game… The U.S. went 1-for-5 on the power play and 8-for-8 on the penalty kill.
