| Both U.S. National University Teams Earn Victories to Begin 2013 Winter World University Games |
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| U.S. Men’s National University Team beats Sweden, 2-0; U.S. Women’s National University Team tops Russia, 4-2 |
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U.S. MEN’S NATIONAL TEAM DEFEATS SWEDEN, 2-0
Alba di Canazei, Italy – Chris Joseph (Levittown, N.Y./Stony Brook University) tallied a first-period goal and Bobby Bodette (Garden, Mich./Adrian College) added a late empty-netter to help the U.S. Men’s National University Team defeat Sweden, 2-0, in the opening game of the 2013 Winter World University Games here today.
“I’m extremely excited to have a great first win against a very good Swedish team,” said Scott Balboni, head coach of the U.S. Men’s National University Team. “We’re looking forward to enjoying the success over the next few days. Right now we’re playing great as a team, which is what we’re excited about, but we also know we have a long way to go to reach our ultimate goal.”
Joseph scored 16:57 into the opening frame to give the U.S. a 1-0 lead. Nick Taurence (Trenton, Mich./Eastern Michigan University) took as pass from Duncan Green (Athens, Ohio/Ohio University) and skated the puck up the right side before dishing it to Joseph just inside the blue line. Joseph settled the puck, moved to the top of the left circle and beat Team Sweden goaltender Kent Helin between the glove and left leg.
The score stayed 1-0 after two periods despite Team USA out-shooting the Swedes, 16-10, in the middle stanza and 38-17 through 40 minutes.
The Americans continued to pressure in the third period, out-shooting Sweden, 9-2, and finally were able to add an insurance marker with just 11 seconds remaining in the contest. After killing off a Team Sweden power play in the final three minutes of regulation, Bachman grabbed a puck along the far wall and flipped it into the open net to seal the U.S. victory. Ryan Cotcamp (Hopewell Junction, N.Y./Stony Brook University) and Billy Balent (Waterford, Mich./Oakland University) were credited with assists on the play.
Matt Cooper (Duluth, Minn./Iowa State University) started for the U.S. and was forced to make several quality stops on his way to a 19-save shutout.
The U.S. Men’s National University Team will resume play in the preliminary round of the 2013 Winter World University Games Friday (Dec. 13) when it takes on Latvia. Opening face-off is scheduled for2:30 p.m. ET.
U.S. Men’s National University Team Schedule
2013 Winter World University Games – Dec. 10-21 – Trentino, Italy
Notes: For live stats from the tournament, click here … All men’s games will be played at the Gianmario Scola Ice Stadium in Alba di Canazei, Italy… To follow Team USA at the Winter World University Games, visit the event page at USAHockey.com and follow @USAHockeyScores on Twitter … Join the conversation on social media by using hashtag #WWUG… Twelve states are represented on the U.S. roster. Michigan leads the way with seven players, while Illinois has three and Arizona, Minnesota and New York each have two. Seven other states — Alaska, Colorado, Massachusetts, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio and Pennsylvania — all have one … Arizona State University leads all schools with five players on the U.S. roster, while Adrian College has three and Iowa State University, Lindenwood University and Stony Brook University all boast two representatives … Scott Balboni (State College, Pa.), who served as head coach of the Penn State University men’s ice hockey team from 2006-11, is the head coach of the 2013 U.S. Men’s National University Team after having previously served as an assistant for the 2009 and 2011 teams. Sean Hogan (Tucson, Ariz.), head coach of the men’s ice hockey team at the University of Arizona, and Dan Phelps (Livonia, Mich.), head coach of Adrian College’s men’s ice hockey team, will serve as assistant coaches. Phelps was an assistant coach with Balboni during the 2011 Games … The United States will field a men’s ice hockey team in the Winter World University Games for the seventh straight time. Team USA finished sixth in the 2011 Winter World University Games.
U.S. WOMEN’S NATIONAL UNIVERSITY TEAM TOPS RUSSIA, 4-2
Pergine, Italy – Katie Augustine (West Chester, Ohio/Miami University) scored twice and two other U.S. skaters added tallies to help the U.S. Women’s National University Team top Russia, 4-2, in the team’s first game at the 2013 Winter World University Games here today.
“We weren’t sure how good we were going to be going into the game, but now we know,” said Mo Stroemel, head coach of the 2013 U.S. Women’s National University Team. “This was a really good Russian team. Not only do we know we have a good team, but a great bunch of people on this team. As a staff, we’re looking forward to continuing the tournament on Thursday and helping this group reach its potential.”
Strong play in the opening period helped Team USA build a 2-1 lead entering the first intermission. Augustine put the U.S. on the board with help from Alisha DiFilippo (Hope, R.I./University of Rhode Island), giving the United States a 1-0 advantage. Then, after a Team Russia goal knotted the score at 1-1, Ramey Weaver (Eagle River, Alaska/Robert Morris University) scored to give Team USA the lead for good. Cassie Catlow (Saundertown, R.I./University of Rhode Island) and Ellie Gleason (Edina, Minn./University of Minnesota) recorded assists on the play.
Molly Sparks (Eagan, Minn./University of Minnesota) added an unassisted goal in the middle frame to increase the U.S. lead to 3-1 after two periods.
The Russians closed the gap to 3-2 with a goal early in the final stanza, but Augustine capped the scoring with an assist from Hayley Williams (Crete, Ill./Robert Morris University).
Katie Vaughan (Pittsburgh, Pa./Penn State University) started in goal for the U.S. and made several tremendous saves, including a stop on a second-period penalty shot.
The U.S. Women’s National University Team is next schedule to play on Thursday (Dec. 12) when it squares off with Great Britain. Puck-drop is scheduled for 6:00 a.m. ET.
2013 U.S. Women’s National University Team Schedule
2013 Winter World University Games – Dec. 10-20 – Pergine, Italy
Notes: For complete information on Team USA, including roster, schedule, bios, statistics and media guide, visit the event page at USAHockey.com … Follow @USAHockeyScores on Twitter for updates and join the conversation on social media by using hashtag #WWUG … Nine different states are represented on the U.S. roster. Michigan and Massachusetts lead the way with five players each, while Illinois has three, Minnesota, Ohio and Rhode Island have two, and Alaska, Pennsylvania and New Jersey each have one … The University of Massachusetts leads all schools with five representatives, while eight other schools have at least one each … Mo Stroemel (State College, Pa.) is the head coach of the 2013 U.S. Women’s National University Team after having previously worked in that same capacity at the 2011 Winter World University Games. Rob Blackburn (Whitmore Lake, Mich.), head coach of the women’s ice hockey team at the University of Michigan, and Kristen Wright (Broomfield, Colo.), head coach of the University of Colorado women’s ice hockey team, are assistant coaches. Both coaches are making their first appearance as assistant coaches with Team USA … The United States is fielding a women’s ice hockey team in the Winter World University Games for the second straight time. Team USA finished fourth in the 2011 Winter World University Games, which was the first time women’s ice hockey was included in the event.
For more information, contact Zack Friedli ([email protected])
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