PLYMOUTH, Michigan — (Tortora Photo USA Hockey) – Jacob Tortora (Victor, N.Y.) netted two goals in the U.S. National Under-18 Team’s opening game of the 2016 Under-18 Five Nations Tournament Tuesday night at USA Hockey Arena. Team USA picked up three points with their 7-2 win over Switzerland.
The U.S. sits atop the tournament standings after day one.
Team USA took the lead early with a goal from Evan Barratt (Bristol, Pa.) at the 2:53 mark of the first period. Grant Mismash (Edina, Minn.) and Scott Reedy (Prior Lake, Minn.) picked up assists on the play. Tortora doubled Team USA’s lead with just nine seconds left in the first to head into the locker room up 2-0.
With Swiss goalie Joel Messerli out of position, Mismash netted a wrap-around goal at the 4:02 mark of the second period. Barratt and goalie, Dylan St. Cyr (Northville, Mich.) were awarded assists on the eventual game-winner.
Switzerland got on the board with a goal from Justin Sigrist at 5:17 of the second period.
Randy Hernandez (Miami, Fla.) scored his first goal of the tournament with 6:22 to play in the second period. Max Gildon (Plano, Texas) and Quinn Hughes (Orlando, Fla.) picked up their first points of the night on the play.
Team USA continued the momentum into the third, adding three goals from Brady Tkachuk (St. Louis, Mo.), Logan Cockerill (Brighton, Mich.), and Tortora.
Switzerland’s Nando Eggenberger collected a rebound at 8:38 of the third to make the final score of 7-2.
St. Cyr finished with 25 saves while Messerli turned away 32 shots.
Fifteen U.S. players recorded points.
Team USA continues tournament play tomorrow night at 7 p.m. ET against Sweden at USA Hockey Arena. Tickets for all Under-18 Five Nations games are available at USAHockeyArena.com.
Notes: All games will be streamed live on HockeyTV.com … The U.S. will compete in four games, and will earn points for wins (3), overtime wins (2) and overtime losses (1). The first-place team will be determined based on final point standings … Tournament standings and statistics can be found here … Five Nations news, notes, recaps, tickets and multimedia can be found on the Five Nations Tournament Website … Follow @USAHockeyNTDP and @USAHockeyArena on Twitter for tournament updates and join the conversation on social media by using #5NationsU18.
Team USA Schedule/Results – 2016 Under-18 Five Nations Tournament
Nov. 1 – 5 | Plymouth, Mich.
Date Opponent Venue Time/Results
Tues., Nov. 1 Switzerland USA Hockey Arena W, 7-0
Wed., Nov. 2 Sweden USA Hockey Arena 7 p.m. ET
Fri., Nov. 4 Czech Republic USA Hockey Arena 7 p.m. ET
Sat., Nov. 5 Finland USA Hockey Arena 7 p.m. ET
