Colin White (Hanover, Mass.) totalled five points, including two goals, as the U.S. Men’s National Under-17 Team tripped up Canada’s Team Atlantic, 9-1, here today at Centre 200. With the win Team USA’s record improves to a 3-0-0-0 (W-OTW-OTL-L).
“I liked the way our team maintained focus in a very physical game that had its share of adversity,” said Don Granato, head coach of the U.S. Men’s National Under-17 Team. “We’ll use the day offtomorrow to get ready for Ontario and hopefully more games to come.”
Team USA opened the scoring for the third-straight game of the tournament, 3:41 into the first period. White took a cross-ice pass from Jordan Greenway (Potsdam, N.Y.) in the right faceoff circle and one-timed a shot that beat Atlantic goaltender Frederic Foulem. Auston Matthews(Scottsdale, Ariz.) doubled the U.S. lead at 11:36, ripping a one-timer of his own into the net.Christian Fischer (Wayne, Ill.) cycled the puck back to Brendan Warren (Carleton, Mich.) in the left corner, and Warren fed Fischer as he moved along the half-boards. Fischer sent a quick pass to Matthews in the slot who fired the puck into the top-left corner.
Luke Kunin (Chesterfield, Mo.) started a four-goal frame for the U.S. three minutes into the second stanza. Matthew Tkachuk (St. Louis, Mo.) fed Kunin with a pass across the slot and Kunin one-timed the puck into the open net. Jeremy Bracco (Freeport, N.Y.) pushed the lead to 4-0 just over two minutes later, swatting a bouncing puck out of the air and off the back of Foulem as he skated behind the net. Luke Kirwan (Dewitt, N.Y.) and White added helpers on the play. Christian Evers (Waukee, Iowa) joined the scoring parade 39 seconds later on a shot from the point. Caleb Jones (Frisco, Texas) and White assisted on the marker. Kirwan notched a power-play goal at 14:30, with White collecting his third assist and Jones his second.
Atlantic scored its lone goal on the power play early in the third, but Bracco responded with Team USA’s first short-handed tally of the tournament. Nicholas Boka (Plymouth, Mich.) picked up an assist, helping to complete the two-on-one odd man rush. White added his second of the night with 6:18 left in the game and Fischer added another marker at 16:06, as Team USA skated to the 9-1 victory.
Michael Lackey (Washington, D.C.) made 20 saves for Team USA in the win, while Foulem blocked 46 shots in the loss for Atlantic.
All games of the 2014 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge will be streamed live, and also available on-demand, at FASTHockey.com.
The U.S. National Under-17 Team will next skate versus Canada’s Team Ontario on Jan. 2, 2014. The game will be held at Centre 200 in Sydney, Nova Scotia at 6 p.m. EST.
Notes
- Zach Werenski (Gross Pointe, Mich.) was named Team USA’s player of the game.
- Team USA outshot Atlantic, 55-21.
- Team USA went 1-6 on the power play, while Atlantic went 1-8.
- Team USA claimed third place in last year’s tournament after back-to-back second place finishes (2011, 2012). The U.S. won the tournament in 2010 and has now placed in the top three for seven consecutive years (2006, 2008-13). No tournament was held in 2007.
- The U.S. enters the tournament having captured first place three times (2001-02, 2010) and second place four times (1999, 2008, 2011-12).
- All 22 players on the roster come from the U.S. National Under-17 Team that is part of USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program based in Ann Arbor, Mich.
- The 2014 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge includes two pools of five teams. Pool A consists of teams from the Czech Republic, Pacific, Quebec, Sweden and West. Pool B consists of teams from Atlantic, Germany, Ontario, Russia and the United States.
- Follow @USAHockeyScores on Twitter for live scoring updates during the tournament. Scores will be designated with #WU17.
- For additional coverage, visit the NTDP Facebook page and follow @USANTDP on Twitter.
