PORUBA, Czech Republic – Christian Fischer (Wayne, Ill.) and Caleb Jones (Frisco, Texas) each scored twice and Troy Terry (Highlands Ranch, Colo.) notched three assists to help guide the U.S. National Under-18 Team past Finland, 5-1, here today at the 2015 Under-18 Five Nations Tournament.
The two teams battled through a scoreless opening 10 minutes of action before Fischer put the U.S. on the board at 11:15. Michael Floodstrand (Hinsdale, Ill.) and Terry assisted on the play. Finland answered to knot the score at 1-1 just 22 second later, but Jordan Greenway (Potsdam, N.Y.) found the back of the net at 15:33 of the first stanza to give Team USA a 2-1 edge after 20 minutes. Jeremy Bracco (Freeport, N.Y.) was credited with the lone helper on Greenway’s goal.
Neither squad was able to score in the second period before the United States stormed out in the final frame, connecting for three goals while outshooting Team Finland, 17-3, in the period.
Jones’ collected his first of two goals just 16 seconds into the third with help coming from Luke Kunin (Chesterfield, Mo.) and Tage Thompson (Oyster Bay, N.Y.). Then, 59 seconds after Jones made it 3-1, Fischer notched his second tally of the contest to give Team USA a 4-1 cushion. Terry and Floodstrand earned assists on Fischer’s second goal. Jones capped the scoring at 15:53 to give the U.S. a 5-1 win. Terry gathered the lone assist on the final goal of the game.
Goaltender Luke Opilka (St. Louis, Mo.) started in goal for the Under-18 Team and made 13 saves.
The U.S. National Under-18 Team (1-1-1-0) closes out play in the 2015 Under-18 Five Nations Tournament tomorrow (Feb. 8) when it plays host Czech Republic at 12 p.m. ET.
Notes: Team USA outshot Finland, 38-14 … The U.S. went 0-6 on the power play, while Finland was 0-5 … Follow @USANTDP for additional tournament coverage following the event and join the conversation by using the #U18FiveNations tag … Don Granato, head coach of the U.S. National Under-18 Team, is leading the squad in the Czech Republic, along with assistant coach Nick Fohr and intern assistant coach J.D. Forrest … All 22 players on the roster are from USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program … For the complete Under-18 Team roster, click here … The U.S. National Under-17 Team trains with The Hockey IntelliGym, a revolutionary software program that trains hockey sense. To learn more, visit USAHockeyIntelliGym.com.
2015 Under-18 Five Nations Tournament
Feb. 4-8 | Kravare and Poruba, Czech Republic
Date Opponent Time (ET)
Wed., Feb. 4 Sweden W, 5-4 (SO)
Fri., Feb. 6 Russia L, 4-5 (OT)
Sat., Feb. 7 Finland W, 5-1
Sun., Feb. 8 Czech Republic 12:00 p.m.
