VELIKY NOVGOROD, Russia – The U.S. National Under-17 Team defeated Russia today, 2-1, in a shootout in its final game of the 2017 Under-17 Four Nations Tournament to secure first place with a perfect 2-1-0-0 (W-OTW-OTL-L) record.
This marks the second international tournament the U.S. National Under-17 Team has won during the 2017-18 season, previously winning the championship at the 2017 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge in Dawson Creek, British Columbia in early November.
Cole Caufield (Stevens Point, Wis.) netted Team’s USA goal at 10:28 of the first period on a wrap-around shot. Cam York (Anaheim Hills, Calif.) and Matthew Boldy (Millis, Mass.) added the assists.
The goal was Caufield’s sixth in three games played at the tournament.
Owen Lindmark (Naperville, Ill.) nearly extended the U17s lead mid-way through the second period when goaltender, Spencer Knight (Darien, Conn.) sent a stretch pass to Lindmark at the opposite blue line. Lindmark skated the puck to the net on a breakaway but was ultimately stopped by the Russian goaltender to keep the game 1-0.
Russia tied the game at the 18:19 mark of the third period on the power play to send the game to overtime and eventually a shootout.
Team USA’s third shooter, Alex Turcotte (Island Lake, Ill.), netted the puck on his backhand to secure the win for Team USA in the shootout. Turcotte’s goal was the only one scored by either team in the shootout.
Knight made 31 saves in regulation and overtime and was a perfect 5-5 in the shootout to help secure the victory for Team USA.
The U17s are back in action on Friday, Dec. 29 when they travel to Muskegon to take on the Lumberjacks at 7:15 p.m. ET.
NOTES: Jack Hughes (Orlando, Fla.) was named Best Forward of the tournament and Cole Caufield (Stevens Point, Wis.) was named Highest Scorer of the tournament. The U17s went 0-3 on the power play while Russia went 1-7. The U17s outshot Russia, 35-32.
