PLYMOUTH, Michigan – The U.S. National Under-18 Team defeated Finland 3-2 Saturday night at USA Hockey Arena to earn first place at the 2016 Under-18 Five Nations Tournament.
Team USA finished with a record of 3-1 and earned nine points in the standings, two more than any other team in the tournament. The U.S. National Under-18 Team has now won nine of the last ten international events held each November.
“Our players were ready from the beginning of the tournament and our shots on goal and possession stats showed that,” said John Wroblewski, head coach of the U.S. National Under-18 Team. “We played a determined style of hockey that evolved throughout the tournament. They can wake up tomorrow and know that they are winners and there’s no doubt they will carry the confidence they built in this tournament into our future international competitions.”
Tommy Miller (West Bloomfield, Mich.) opened the scoring for the U.S. at the 3:49 mark of the first period with a shot from the outside edge of the right circle. Scott Reedy (Prior Lake, Minn.) and Grant Mismash (Edina, Minn.) picked up assists on the play.
Finland evened the score at the 7:32 mark of the first period, on a point shot from Olli Kaskinen that sailed past Dylan St. Cyr’s (Northville, Mich.) right shoulder.
The U.S. scoring continued in the second when off a faceoff win by Josh Norris (Oxford, Mich.) and a pass from Jacob Tortora (Victor, N.Y.), David Farrance (Victor, N.Y.) added a power play goal off a shot from the point to give Team USA a 2-1 lead at the 9:04 mark of the second period.
Santeri Hartikainen tied the game at two off an Eero Teravainen rebound given up by St. Cyr at the 15:20 mark of the second to conclude the scoring in the second period.
Reedy netted the game-winner, deflecting a shot by Farrance just inside the left post at the 6:16 mark of the third period. Josh Maniscalco (Perkiomenville, Pa.) also added an assist on the play.
The U.S. National Under-18 Team next plays a weekend series with the Madison Capitols (USHL) next weekend with games on Friday (Nov. 11) and Saturday (Nov. 12) at 7 p.m. ET at USA Hockey Arena. Tickets are available at USAHockeyArena.com.
Notes: Seven U.S. players tallied points in the win with both Reedy and Farrance picking up two… The U.S. outshot Finland 50-25 … St. Cry turned away 23 shots while Lahtinen stopped 47… The U.S. was 1-2 on the power play in the game … Video highlights from all U.S. National Under-18 Team games are available on the USA Hockey National Team Development Program YouTube Channel … Sweden placed second in the tournament with seven points, the Czech Republic finished third (7), Finland finished fourth (6) and Switzerland finished fifth (2) … Reedy (2-3-5) and Tortora (3-2-5) led the U.S. in scoring over the four-game tournament.
Team USA Schedule – 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 L, 2-1
Fri., Nov. 4 Czech Republic USA Hockey Arena W, 6-2
Sat., Nov. 5 Finland USA Hockey Arena W, 3-2
